diff --git a/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.cpp b/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.cpp
index b183f0d0..b5311437 100644
--- a/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.cpp
+++ b/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.cpp
@@ -127,13 +127,13 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     driver.esp_deselect();
   }
 
-  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_network(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len) {
+  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_network(const std::string ssid) {
   	driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     // Send Command
     driver.send_cmd(SET_NET, SpiDrv::PARAM_NUMS_1);
-    driver.send_param((const uint8_t*)ssid, ssid_len, SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(5 + ssid_len);
+    driver.send_param((const uint8_t*)ssid.data(), ssid.length(), SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(5 + ssid.length());
 
     driver.esp_deselect();
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
@@ -149,14 +149,14 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     return (data == WIFI_SPI_ACK) ? WL_SUCCESS : WL_FAILURE;
   }
 
-  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_passphrase(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, const char *passphrase, const uint8_t len) {
+  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_passphrase(const std::string ssid, const std::string passphrase) {
 	  driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     // Send Command
     driver.send_cmd(SET_PASSPHRASE, SpiDrv::PARAM_NUMS_2);
-    driver.send_param((const uint8_t*)ssid, ssid_len, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.send_param((const uint8_t*)passphrase, len, SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(6 + ssid_len + len);
+    driver.send_param((const uint8_t*)ssid.data(), ssid.length(), SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.send_param((const uint8_t*)passphrase.data(), passphrase.length(), SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(6 + ssid.length() + passphrase.length());
 
     driver.esp_deselect();
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
@@ -172,15 +172,15 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     return data;
   }
 
-  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_key(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, uint8_t key_idx, const void *key, const uint8_t len) {
+  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_key(const std::string ssid, uint8_t key_idx, const std::string key) {
 	  driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     //Send Command
     driver.send_cmd(SET_KEY, SpiDrv::PARAM_NUMS_3);
-    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)ssid, ssid_len, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)ssid.data(), ssid.length(), SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
     driver.send_param(&key_idx, KEY_IDX_LEN, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)key, len, SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(8 + ssid_len + len);
+    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)key.data(), key.length(), SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(8 + ssid.length() + key.length());
 
     driver.esp_deselect();
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
@@ -245,13 +245,13 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     driver.esp_deselect();
   }
 
-  void Esp32Spi::set_hostname(const char* hostname) {
+  void Esp32Spi::set_hostname(const std::string hostname) {
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     // Send Command
     driver.send_cmd(SET_HOSTNAME, SpiDrv::PARAM_NUMS_1);
-    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)hostname, strlen(hostname), SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(5 + strlen(hostname));
+    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)hostname.data(), hostname.length(), SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(5 + hostname.length());
 
     driver.esp_deselect();
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     ip_out = gateway_ip;
   }
 
-  const char* Esp32Spi::get_current_ssid() {
+  std::string Esp32Spi::get_current_ssid() {
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     // Send Command
@@ -697,14 +697,14 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     driver.esp_deselect();
   }
 
-  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_ap_network(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, uint8_t channel) {
+  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_ap_network(const std::string ssid, uint8_t channel) {
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     // Send Command
     driver.send_cmd(SET_AP_NET, SpiDrv::PARAM_NUMS_2);
-    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)ssid, ssid_len, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)ssid.data(), ssid.length(), SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
     driver.send_param(&channel, 1, SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(3 + ssid_len);
+    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(3 + ssid.length());
 
     driver.esp_deselect();
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
@@ -720,15 +720,15 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     return (data == WIFI_SPI_ACK) ? WL_SUCCESS : WL_FAILURE;
   }
 
-  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_ap_passphrase(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, const char *passphrase, const uint8_t len, uint8_t channel) {
+  int8_t Esp32Spi::wifi_set_ap_passphrase(const std::string ssid, const std::string passphrase, uint8_t channel) {
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     // Send Command
     driver.send_cmd(SET_AP_PASSPHRASE, SpiDrv::PARAM_NUMS_3);
-    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)ssid, ssid_len, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)passphrase, len, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)ssid.data(), ssid.length(), SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)passphrase.data(), passphrase.length(), SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
     driver.send_param(&channel, 1, SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(4 + ssid_len + len);
+    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(4 + ssid.length() + passphrase.length());
 
     driver.esp_deselect();
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
@@ -944,17 +944,17 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     driver.esp_deselect();
   }
 
-  void Esp32Spi::start_client(const char* host, uint8_t host_len, uint32_t ip_address, uint16_t port, uint8_t sock, uint8_t prot_mode) {
+  void Esp32Spi::start_client(std::string host, uint32_t ip_address, uint16_t port, uint8_t sock, uint8_t prot_mode) {
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
 
     // Send Command
     driver.send_cmd(START_CLIENT_TCP, SpiDrv::PARAM_NUMS_5);
-    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)host, host_len, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
+    driver.send_param((uint8_t*)host.data(), host.length(), SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
     driver.send_param((uint8_t*)&ip_address, sizeof(ip_address), SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
     driver.send_param(port, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
     driver.send_param(&sock, 1, SpiDrv::NO_LAST_PARAM);
     driver.send_param(&prot_mode, 1, SpiDrv::LAST_PARAM);
-    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(17 + host_len);
+    driver.pad_to_multiple_of_4(17 + host.length());
 
     driver.esp_deselect();
     driver.wait_for_esp_select();
diff --git a/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.hpp b/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.hpp
index 047dcd7c..38c952ad 100644
--- a/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.hpp
+++ b/drivers/esp32spi/esp32spi.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <string.h>
+#include <string>
 #include "pico/stdlib.h"
 #include "spi_drv.hpp"
 #include "ip_address.hpp"
@@ -110,14 +111,14 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     void get_network_data(uint8_t *ip_out, uint8_t *mask_out, uint8_t *gwip_out);
     void get_remote_data(uint8_t sock, uint8_t *ip_out, uint8_t *port_out);
 
-    int8_t wifi_set_network(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len);
-    int8_t wifi_set_passphrase(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, const char *passphrase, const uint8_t len);
-    int8_t wifi_set_key(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, uint8_t key_idx, const void *key, const uint8_t len);
+    int8_t wifi_set_network(const std::string ssid);
+    int8_t wifi_set_passphrase(const std::string ssid, const std::string passphrase);
+    int8_t wifi_set_key(const std::string ssid, uint8_t key_idx, const std::string key);
 
     void config(uint8_t valid_params, uint32_t local_ip, uint32_t gateway, uint32_t subnet);
 
     void set_dns(uint8_t valid_params, uint32_t dns_server1, uint32_t dns_server2);
-    void set_hostname(const char* hostname);
+    void set_hostname(std::string hostname);
     int8_t disconnect();
 
     uint8_t get_connection_status();
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     void get_subnet_mask(IPAddress &mask_out);
     void get_gateway_ip(IPAddress &ip_out);
 
-    const char* get_current_ssid();
+    std::string get_current_ssid();
     uint8_t* get_current_bssid();
     int32_t get_current_rssi();
     uint8_t get_current_encryption_type();
@@ -149,8 +150,8 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     uint32_t get_time();
     void set_power_mode(uint8_t mode);
 
-    int8_t wifi_set_ap_network(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, uint8_t channel);
-    int8_t wifi_set_ap_passphrase(const char* ssid, uint8_t ssid_len, const char *passphrase, const uint8_t len, uint8_t channel);
+    int8_t wifi_set_ap_network(const std::string ssid, uint8_t channel);
+    int8_t wifi_set_ap_passphrase(const std::string ssid, const std::string passphrase, uint8_t channel);
 
     int16_t ping(uint32_t ip_address, uint8_t ttl);
 
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     void start_server(uint16_t port, uint8_t sock, uint8_t prot_mode);
     void start_server(uint32_t ip_address, uint16_t port, uint8_t sock, uint8_t prot_mode);
     void start_client(uint32_t ip_address, uint16_t port, uint8_t sock, uint8_t prot_mode);
-    void start_client(const char* host, uint8_t host_len, uint32_t ip_address, uint16_t port, uint8_t sock, uint8_t prot_mode);
+    void start_client(const std::string host, uint32_t ip_address, uint16_t port, uint8_t sock, uint8_t prot_mode);
     void stop_client(uint8_t sock);
     
     uint8_t get_server_state(uint8_t sock);
diff --git a/examples/pico_wireless/demo.cpp b/examples/pico_wireless/demo.cpp
index d82468b0..f220b5ab 100644
--- a/examples/pico_wireless/demo.cpp
+++ b/examples/pico_wireless/demo.cpp
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ int main() {
 
     printf("starting connection\n");
 
-    bool connected = wireless.wifi_set_passphrase(NETWORK, sizeof(NETWORK), PASSWORD, sizeof(PASSWORD));
+    bool connected = wireless.wifi_set_passphrase(NETWORK, PASSWORD);
 
     printf("waiting to establish connection status\n");
-    while(wireless.get_connection_status() != 3) {
+    while(wireless.get_connection_status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
       sleep_ms(1000);
       printf("still waiting\n");
     }
diff --git a/examples/pico_wireless/secrets.h b/examples/pico_wireless/secrets.h
index 1c56ef07..f273e9b2 100644
--- a/examples/pico_wireless/secrets.h
+++ b/examples/pico_wireless/secrets.h
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@
 //DO NOT COMMIT THIS FILE!!!
 
 //Your wireless network's name and password
-static const char NETWORK[] = "network name here";
-static const char PASSWORD[] = "network password here";
+#define NETWORK "network name here"
+#define PASSWORD "network password here"