topic Re: Router WiFi Connection in Broadband

Router WiFi Connection

Jmlx1 — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 10:27:53 GMT

I have a device which regularly loses WiFi connection and then won't reconnect without restarting the router (sagecom). I've tried device changes - restarting the device etc. but the only things that work are router side - turning the router off and on / restarting through the interface / switching off WiFi and switching it on again.

Any suggestions?

Re: Router WiFi Connection

KeithFrench — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 14:23:03 GMT

What device is this and which Wi-Fi band is it connected to, the 2.4 or 5GHz band?

Slow speed, intermittent dropouts, breaks in the signal or no signal on some or all devices or no internet access might be caused by Wi-Fi interference from other local networks, which can also lead to a permanent reduction in speed. No ISP can be responsible for your local environment, this is mainly a byproduct of the popularity of Wi-Fi.

Generally speaking, the 2.4GHz band suffers much more from interference than the 5GHz band, but the 2.4GHz one can sometimes have a better range, but this all depends on your local area.

Have you had TalkTalk’s Wi-Fi optimisation disabled on your Sagemcom FAST5364 router? When this is enabled, as it is by default, it has the power to override any Wi-Fi configuration changes that I might suggest that you need to make. This will not help rectify this type of problem if Wi-Fi Optimisation is allowed to change my suggested settings. Only TalkTalk can do this for you, you cannot do it yourself. If not, just request they disable this for you in your reply.

The next stage involves sending out a guide to you to help you get me some important diagnostic results so that I can analyse them for you and recommend changes to your router configuration to solve them.

I only send this out to people who request it.

Re: Router WiFi Connection

Jmlx1 — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 15:12:30 GMT

Thanks for you reply. The device is an esp32 microcontroller. It's connecting on 2.4GHz.

The problem (I think) isn't the disconnecting so much as it won't reconnect.

There are error messages in the device logs, but essentially it fails in its request for an IP address. So, I suspect it's a DHCP thing. I had a look in the sagecom logs (via the UI) but didn't see anything particularly helpful (like a failed request etc. )

Re: Router WiFi Connection

KeithFrench — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 15:17:06 GMT

What operating system is running on this device? I have one way to prove if DHCP is working, but that will depend on the OS. It could be that WiFi interference is corrupting the DHCP process.

Re: Router WiFi Connection

nophead — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:03:37 GMT

ESP32s don't run an OS, they are tiny embedded systems, they just have a library for Wifi.

It might output something useful on its serial port when the connection fails.

Re: Router WiFi Connection

KeithFrench — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 20:59:50 GMT

Then the only help I can offer is WiFi interference, which I suspect could be the problem all along especially as it only works in the 2.4GHz band.

Re: Router WiFi Connection

Jmlx1 — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 08:01:11 GMT

Thanks for your replies,

As nophead says, there's no OS as such. You write and compile some c code against a set of provided libraries.

The error message on failed re-connect isn't (to me) all that helpful:

WiFiGeneric.cpp:113] set_esp_interface_ip(): Netif Set IP Failed! 0x5007

This morning - I tried watching the serial logs and restarted the router. It starts with that error message - then I restart and it keeps trying to connect as the router comes up:

Trying to connect to MYSSID. Waiting 1 sec...
Trying to connect to MYSSID. Waiting 2 sec...
Trying to connect to MYSSID. Waiting 4 sec...
Trying to connect to MYSSID. Waiting 8 sec...
Trying to connect to MYSSID. Waiting 16 sec...

etc.

then when the router has restarted:

WiFi Connected! IP Address = xx.xx.xx.xx

I'll try leaving it connected my pc so I can grab the serial logs if it disconnects.

In the router UI, how long does it normally take before things are removed from the list of items under WiFi? I notice it's still listed there even when it's been disconnected over 24 hours - and I assume the signal strenth posted is what it last saw?

Re: Router WiFi Connection

Jmlx1 — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 09:10:56 GMT

I'm going to try switching it to requesting a static IP and see if that helps with stability

Re: Router WiFi Connection

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 06:57:25 GMT

Morning,

How are you getting on?

Thanks

Re: Router WiFi Connection

Jmlx1 — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:01:40 GMT

Morning, it appears that switching to a static IP has solved the reconnection problems. Doesn't explain why it didn't work with dynamic IP, but it's OK for now.

Thanks all

Re: Router WiFi Connection

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:05:15 GMT

Morning,

Thanks for confirming.

Thanks