Struggling with a reliable network connection

norbs12

So I bought my Duet Wifi quite a while ago, it would randomly drop out and I kind of just always assumed the Wifi was just terrible on it since the antenna is tiny. After dealing with random disconnects for a long time, I finally caved and bought a ethernet module from filastruder thinking that it would solve all my problems. Welp... not much difference, so something else needs to be the issue. Issue seems to get worse the longer the board is powered. Board is well cooled and the MCU generally stay under 50C.

I also have a Duet Maestro on another machine and it doesn't have any of this behavior. I really need to get this solved, it's the only thing wrong with an otherwise great printer. Are there any hardware issues that could cause this? Is there any component that might be the culprit? Anything I can replace on the data lines going to the processor?

dc42

Have you tried changing the WiFi channel on your router? When I arrived at 3D meet up Sweden on Friday, initially we couldn't get a reliable connection to one of our printers, which uses a Duet WiFi module in access point mode. A WiFi scan revealed that there were lots of other WiFi signals around, although of course the Duet was the strongest because we were right next to it. We changed the WiFi channel from 6 to 2 and it had worked perfectly since then.

Veti

@dc42 said in Struggling with a reliable network connection:

We changed the WiFi channel from 6 to 2 and it had worked perfectly since then.

As a general guide only channel 1,6 and 11 should be used as those channels do not overlap.
Overlapping frequencies can be configured, but it can cause interference resulting in slowdowns,
Unfortunately if your neighbour does not adhere to that there is nothing you can do.

see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels

norbs12

@dc42 said in Struggling with a reliable network connection:

Have you tried changing the WiFi channel on your router? When I arrived at 3D meet up Sweden on Friday, initially we couldn't get a reliable connection to one of our printers, which uses a Duet WiFi module in access point mode. A WiFi scan revealed that there were lots of other WiFi signals around, although of course the Duet was the strongest because we were right next to it. We changed the WiFi channel from 6 to 2 and it had worked perfectly since then.

@veti said in Struggling with a reliable network connection:

@dc42 said in Struggling with a reliable network connection:

We changed the WiFi channel from 6 to 2 and it had worked perfectly since then.

As a general guide only channel 1,6 and 11 should be used as those channels do not overlap.
Overlapping frequencies can be configured, but it can cause interference resulting in slowdowns,
Unfortunately if your neighbour does not adhere to that there is nothing you can do.

see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels

While good info, I've I think you guys missed the part where I said that as a solution to what I thought were wifi issues, I swapped to a ethernet module (genuine from filastruder).

It's really odd behavior, when it's working it's very stable, I can upload a 500MB gcode with no errors, but a lot of times it degrades the longer it's been on. It get's as bad as constant disconnects from the web interfaces as well as corrupted gcode uploads.

I'm fairly technical, work as a server engineer for a living, so I'm good at troubleshooting. This really resembles a hardware issue.

Veti

@norbs12 said in Struggling with a reliable network connection:

Board is well cooled and the MCU generally stay under 50C.

i only have a maestro, but that seems high with cooling. my maestro does not even reach that without cooling.

norbs12

@veti I've got a fan constantly blowing on my board but also the Maestro runs cooler in general. DC42 has said mid 80's are the limits on the Duet 2 MCU:
https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/7274/mcu-temperature-limits/2

Phaedrux

Have you calibrated the CPU temp? Maybe it's hotter than you realize?

https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Calibrating_the_CPU_temperature

norbs12

I have not but since it powers on at around 35C i’m assuming the actual temp is about 10C lower and not the cause of my issues. Thanks though, wasn't aware of that.