Need help getting the ESP8266 Shield connecting to a webpage and several questions.

Wireless & IoT Wifi
1

I’ve been trying to get a piece of code that sends a text message to a phone when an [ IFTTT applet site is visited, I’ve been following [this tutorial regarding the text message itself and [ this one for the WiFi shield for the ability to connect to a webpage and an HTTP request.

Here is the code I currently am trying to get to work (I removed any network info and the textmessage trigger link for privacy):

#include <SoftwareSerial.h> // Include software serial library, ESP8266 library dependency
#include <SparkFunESP8266WiFi.h> // Include the ESP8266 AT library
 
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
String url = "/trigger/ESP/with/key/dwSukgpyQsyampQMkXXXX";
Serial.print (url);
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
if (esp8266.begin()) // Initialize the ESP8266 and check it's return status
    Serial.println("ESP8266 ready to go!"); // Communication and setup successful
else
    Serial.println("Unable to communicate with the ESP8266 :(");
   
int retVal;
retVal = esp8266.connect("network", "networkpassword");
if (retVal < 0)
{
    Serial.print(F("Error connecting: "));
    Serial.println(retVal);
}
 
IPAddress myIP = esp8266.localIP(); // Get the ESP8266's local IP
Serial.print(F("My IP is: ")); Serial.println(myIP);
 
ESP8266Client client; // Create a client object
 
retVal = client.connect("maker.ifttt.com" + url, 80); // Connect to sparkfun (HTTP port)
if (retVal > 0)
    Serial.println("Successfully connected!");
   
client.print("GET / HTTP/1.1\nHost: maker.ifttt.com" + url + "\nConnection: close\n\n");
 
while (client.available()) // While there's data available
    Serial.write(client.read()); // Read it and print to serial
}
 
void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
 
}

In line 27 you can see I’m trying to connect to the site which will send a text message out but the issue is that it will not connect to the full desired site. Basically, my problem is that it will connect to any “simple” site like google.com but it can’t for “longer/complex” links. I was wondering if you would have any idea how would I solve this problem and get this to work. I’ve tried just using the addition symbol to combine the “simple” link and the rest of my desired link but that doesn’t work either.

Here’s the Arduino connecting to simple site working smoothfully:

https://ibb.co/jLjCh7w

Here’s the Arduino connecting to my desired “complex link” site which doesn’t work:

[https://ibb.co/xD9pv7J

Some other questions:

  • - Where can I find a full reference for functions [ the library I’m currently using in this code? I’ve tried looking around in the Github but I can’t seem to find it.

  • - I'm fairly new to using Arduinos and this WiFi shield especially and I was also wondering if it's possible to use AT commands directly into the Arduino editor or some sort of console?
    • ](https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_ESP8266_AT_Arduino_Library)

    Thank you and I will appreciate any help I could get!](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/esp8266-wifi-shield-hookup-guide#installing-the-esp8266-at-library)](How to Send Text Message (SMS) using ESP8266)](Explore Integrations - IFTTT)

    2

    Hi GREASEF1RE,

    We will need to do a bit more digging to help with the issue with your code if we are able to but since that is not a SparkFun tutorial, our support is a bit limited here. Off the top of my head, I would think that it might be something to do with the string/IP Address length of the longer URLs not being supported by the [ESP8266 Arduino core.

    For your other two questions, we have the full AT Command set linked on the Product page as well as in the “Extras” folder in the GitHub repository. Here is a [direct link to that document.

    Second, if you want to communicate directly to the ESP8266 via serial, try using the [Serial Passthrough example. That will send any data sent over the serial port of the Arduino the WiFi Shield is mounted on directly to the serial port on the ESP8266. This is a great way to directly communicate with the ESP8266 with just your Arduino.

    I hope this information helps answer your questions. I will try and look into the issue regarding the URL string and see if I can find any answers or tips for help with that.](SparkFun_ESP8266_AT_Arduino_Library/examples/ESP8266_Serial_Passthrough/ESP8266_Serial_Passthrough.ino at master · sparkfun/SparkFun_ESP8266_AT_Arduino_Library · GitHub)](https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/4/0/3/4A-ESP8266__AT_Instruction_Set__EN_v0.30.pdf)](Arduino/cores/esp8266 at master · esp8266/Arduino · GitHub)