diff --git a/ArduinoUtils.cpp b/ArduinoUtils.cpp
index 953b6c1..0229c8c 100644
--- a/ArduinoUtils.cpp
+++ b/ArduinoUtils.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "ArduinoUtils.h"
+#if defined(ARDUINO)
 #include <Arduino.h>
 #include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
+#include <ESP8266httpUpdate.h>
 
 bool StartWifi(const char *wifiSsid, const char *wifiPassword,
                bool hotspotFallback) {
@@ -106,4 +108,50 @@ bool StartWifi(const char *wifiSsid, const char *wifiPassword,
   }
 
   return (!hotSpotEnabled);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+
+void CheckFirmware(String url, String FIRMWARE_NAME, int FIRMWARE_VERSION) {
+  Serial.println("Checking for firmware updates.");
+
+  WiFiClient client;
+  HTTPClient httpClient;
+  String versionURL = url + FIRMWARE_NAME + ".version";
+  httpClient.begin(client, versionURL);
+  int httpCode = httpClient.GET();
+  if (httpCode == 200) {
+    String newFWVersion = httpClient.getString();
+
+    Serial.print("Current firmware version: ");
+    Serial.println(FIRMWARE_VERSION);
+    Serial.print("Available firmware version: ");
+    Serial.println(newFWVersion);
+
+    int newVersion = newFWVersion.toInt();
+
+    if (newVersion > FIRMWARE_VERSION) {
+      Serial.println("Preparing to update firmware.");
+
+      String firmwareURL = url + FIRMWARE_NAME + ".bin";
+      t_httpUpdate_return ret = ESPhttpUpdate.update(client, firmwareURL);
+      switch (ret) {
+      case HTTP_UPDATE_FAILED:
+        Serial.printf("HTTP_UPDATE_FAILED Error (%d): %s",
+                      ESPhttpUpdate.getLastError(),
+                      ESPhttpUpdate.getLastErrorString().c_str());
+        break;
+      case HTTP_UPDATE_NO_UPDATES:
+        Serial.println("HTTP_UPDATE_NO_UPDATES");
+        break;
+      case HTTP_UPDATE_OK:
+        break;
+      }
+    } else {
+      Serial.println("No Firmware update necessary.");
+    }
+  } else {
+    Serial.print("Http Error: ");
+    Serial.println(httpCode);
+  }
+}
+#endif 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ArduinoUtils.h b/ArduinoUtils.h
index e00514f..f2676ed 100644
--- a/ArduinoUtils.h
+++ b/ArduinoUtils.h
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 #pragma once
+#if defined(ARDUINO)
 
+#include <Arduino.h>
 bool StartWifi(const char *wifiSsid, const char *wifiPassword,
-               bool hotspotFallback);
\ No newline at end of file
+               bool hotspotFallback);
+
+void CheckFirmware(String url, String FIRMWARE_NAME, int FIRMWARE_VERSION);
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Participant.cpp b/Participant.cpp
index e2fc0ea..21edb60 100644
--- a/Participant.cpp
+++ b/Participant.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ Participant::Participant(int port) {
   this->participants.push_back(this);
 
   int randomPort = (rand() % (65535 - 49152 + 1)) + 49152;
-  SetupUDP(randomPort, ipAddress, port);
+  this->localPort = randomPort;
+  // SetupUDP(randomPort, ipAddress, port);
 }
 
 Participant::Participant(const char *ipAddress, int port) {
@@ -40,12 +41,15 @@ Participant::Participant(const char *ipAddress, int port) {
   this->participants.push_back(this);
 
   int randomPort = (rand() % (65535 - 49152 + 1)) + 49152;
-  SetupUDP(randomPort, ipAddress, port);
+  this->localPort = randomPort;
+  // SetupUDP(randomPort, ipAddress, port);
 }
 
-void Passer::Control::Participant::SetupUDP(int localPort,
-                                            const char *remoteIpAddress,
-                                            int remotePort) {
+void Participant::begin() {
+  SetupUDP(this->localPort, this->ipAddress, this->port);
+}
+
+void Participant::SetupUDP(int localPort, const char *remoteIpAddress, int remotePort) {
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined(_WIN64)
   UdpWindows *thisWindows = static_cast<UdpWindows *>(this);
   thisWindows->Setup(localPort, remoteIpAddress, remotePort);
@@ -56,6 +60,7 @@ void Passer::Control::Participant::SetupUDP(int localPort,
   UdpArduino *thisArduino = static_cast<UdpArduino *>(this);
   thisArduino->Setup(localPort, remoteIpAddress, remotePort);
 #endif
+  this->connected = true;
 }
 
 #if defined(ARDUINO)
@@ -63,6 +68,9 @@ void Participant::Update() { this->Update(millis()); }
 #endif
 
 void Participant::Update(unsigned long currentTimeMs) {
+  if (this->connected == false)
+    begin();
+    
   if (this->publishInterval > 0 && currentTimeMs > this->nextPublishMe) {
     ClientMsg *msg = new ClientMsg(this->networkId);
     this->Publish(msg);
diff --git a/Participant.h b/Participant.h
index f32a772..f89a25e 100644
--- a/Participant.h
+++ b/Participant.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public:
 
   const char *ipAddress = "0.0.0.0";
   int port = 0;
+  int localPort = 0;
 
 #if defined(ARDUINO)
   const char *remoteIpAddress = nullptr;
@@ -62,6 +63,9 @@ public:
   // i.e.
   // Participant p = Participant("127.0.0.1", 8000);
 
+  void begin();
+  bool connected = false;
+
 #if defined(ARDUINO)
   virtual void Update();
 #endif