Unintended Consequences........

RE: Unintended Consequences........

colporteur — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 17:50:02 GMT

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I have re-read your post and decided to invest a little time in analyzing the issue. I sketched out this drawing to make sure I have captured the details. The broadband router is new. It has four different devices that connect to it. It has a wired side that gets used to configure the greenhouse device when necessary. The device wireless network connections are not consistent at times intermittent.

I have worked in the industry that supported broadband routers. Each model has its nuances. A number of years ago I did some research for a magazine article I wrote on Raspberry Pi connecting to broadband routers. I can share the article but only if you contact me. I don't own the rights to the article in order to post it in a public forum.

The writing was about configuring wireless on a Pi and how it can be impacted by distance and type of wireless router the device is trying to connect to. At one point I had a over a hundred feet of extension cord across my yard to see how far I could get before the devices disconnected. The writing may give you some insight into wireless connection issues. I seem to recall it talked about some wireless tools.

My test for you dilemma would be a simple one. Install another wireless router and wire it to the broadband router. I would use a router that has external antenna. You can beg, borrow or steal the test router. It just to establish something reliable.

Here are my thoughts. Try to establish one device with a consistent wireless connection. It doesn't matter what device but you have to feel confident one of the devices is reliable. You now have a stable configuration (i.e. router and device). Now make changes to this setup, do you find any issues. Device position, device obstructions, antenna directions.... If you get to this point and have gain some confident, move another device to that router.

I agree, replace the broadband router! What if the provider sends the same type. What if the location is the problem. What if there are obstructions. It may not be easy to replace the broadband router. Working in the industry, I had access to the supply chain for all models of broadband devices the company used. I had the flexibility of giving the customer a few different units and asking them to try stuff. You don't have that luxury.

I don't know what your technical back ground is. Looking at the details in your posts I see you as being methodical in your approach to problem solving. If there are 5 variables in an equation and three keep changing without your knowledge, while you are working on one of them, what are the chances you will solve the equation? You need to eliminate variables.

I recently had an intermittent wi-fi on a Samsung DVD. The unit is old and went through an online upgrade. The vendor insists nothing changed. It all of a sudden doesn't like the network that it uses to connect to netflix. I isolated the issue to the device by stringing a 100ft of CAT5 cable from the basement router to the device. On wireless sometimes yes it will work and sometimes no. If you stand on one foot, chew gum and rub your belly it works. Well about 90% of the time. I get the grand kids to help me out when it goes doesn't. At some point after this health crisis I will shop around for a replacement Samsung. The vendor says the software is not the issue. I'm not convinced.

If you would like to read the article, drop me a line and I can share it with you. It is a tutorial for setting up wireless on Pi's written for an intermediate to advanced user.

RE: Unintended Consequences........

colporteur — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 01:06:20 GMT

Thanks for the story. I don't think the experience is unique to you or centric to computer networking. An upgrade to my satellite TV system has my wife telling me how much she misses the old provider. No mention in her commentary of the problems with the old system or additional cost that were associated.

I have to giggle thinking, some time in the future you are going to discovery the cause of this "dog fault". One of those faults that doesn't give you enough information to find a solution yet is fertile ground for others to offer "I fixed that, with this easy solutions."

I have one or two dog faults around, that occasionally spur me to action thinking I will finally have the solution. Like the hole left in a bucket of water when you pull your foot out, the answer is gone just as you get there. From your methodology description, I hold out hope you will discover an cause. You may never fix it but at least you know what causes it:)

RE: Unintended Consequences........

Fred27 — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:10:44 GMT

Is your Ethernet connected PC OK? i.e. Is it the WiFi that's the problem? If so, you could leave the new router doing the broadband side of things and use your old reliable one on WiFi duties.

RE: Unintended Consequences........

dubbie — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:00:08 GMT

Neil,

Sounds like life to me. I try to minimise these episodes by only updating or upgrading when absolutely necessary and certainly never to a new system hardware or software. Always wait until the initial bugs have been sorted out.

I try never to buy a new car, always get one a few months old. I based this on purchasing a brand new motorbike when I was 20. It was a new model - very snazzy. First the crankshaft split in half (still under guarantee) and the garage spent months arguing with the manufacturer who was going to pay for it. Then it started running rough, especially when accelerating. Back to the garage several times while they declared there was nothing wrong with it. Eventually the master mechanic too kit out for a spin. Turns out there was a design fault on a small rubber house joining the carburettor (or something) and at the point where the tube joined the bracket the rubber would split due to vibration. You couldn't see it, it didn't affect low speeds, only when attempting to travel at normal road speeds. Cost about 50p to replace and took them all summer to find and fix.

Dubbie

RE: Unintended Consequences........

genebren — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:58:35 GMT

I hate when that happens. I consider myself to be an above average user of computers/networks/etc., but nothing brings be to my knee crying faster than working on my home network. This sort of problem reminds me of the worst argument than my wife and I had, leading me to proclaim in a rather load voice "I am not your IT person!". Needless to say, that did not go over too well.

Best of luck getting everything squared away.