diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 415050c..84c23e8 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,20 @@ class StatusJS {
     );
   }
 
+  public async connectToProvider(provider: any, privateKey: any) {
+    let web3: any = new Web3();
+    web3.setProvider(provider);
+
+    this.shh = web3.shh;
+    this.mailservers = new mailservers(web3);
+
+    await web3.shh.setMinPoW(constants.post.POW_TARGET);
+    _sig.set(
+      this,
+      privateKey ? await this.generateWhisperKeyFromWallet(privateKey) : await web3.shh.newKeyPair()
+    );
+  }
+
   public isConnected() {
     return this.shh.isListening();
   }