Duet 2 WiFi wifi dead

A Former User

@nitrofreak said in Duet 2 WiFi wifi dead:

What is it with these wifi modules breaking?

The terminology you are using is incorrect, the wifi modules are not generally as you call it breaking.

What is more common is that the signal between the module and the router is too weak to sustain an adequate connection.

Initially I had this issue and began thinking of swapping the wifi modules to ethernet module's, but with the recent advent of the particular wifi module model becoming available with an external antenna, I have successfully been installing those modules on all my duet 2 boards which has led tome getting very reliable results.

I have linked to the module I am using below.

it might be a plan to think before blaming the hardware with such a sweeping statement. Where wifi is concerned there are geographical power restrictions on the amount of power a wifi module is allowed to pump out, this restriction is generally what hampers the wifi module in the duet

ESP8266

NitroFreak

@calvinx said in Duet 2 WiFi wifi dead:

The terminology you are using is incorrect, the wifi modules are not generally as you call it breaking.

What is more common is that the signal between the module and the router is too weak to sustain an adequate connection.

Initially I had this issue and began thinking of swapping the wifi modules to ethernet module's, but with the recent advent of the particular wifi module model becoming available with an external antenna, I have successfully been installing those modules on all my duet 2 boards which has led tome getting very reliable results.

I have linked to the module I am using below.

it might be a plan to think before blaming the hardware with such a sweeping statement. Where wifi is concerned there are geographical power restrictions on the amount of power a wifi module is allowed to pump out, this restriction is generally what hampers the wifi module in the duet

ESP8266

I´m using my words very carefully. It is not the router which is the problem; my Duet wifi sits about 3 meters away from my router with a direct line of view.

Also, it does not seem a connection issue, i have -57dbm of connection strength. When the wifi connects it connects.
The times it does not connect the Duet does not manage to make a connection to the wifi module.

It gives me this:

M122<CR>
Trying to connect at 230400 baud: failed
Trying to connect at 115200 baud: failed
Trying to connect at 74880 baud: failed
Trying to connect at 9600 baud: failed
Error: Installation failed due to comm write error
ok
WiFi module is disabled

When i try to enable the wifi module with M552 S1 and then check the status with M552 this happens:

Wifi module is being started

And i hope you are joking if you suppose i change the wifi module on my warrantied Duet by hot air desoldering that old chip and voiding my warranty.

A Former User

@nitrofreak said in Duet 2 WiFi wifi dead:

@calvinx said in Duet 2 WiFi wifi dead:

The terminology you are using is incorrect, the wifi modules are not generally as you call it breaking.

What is more common is that the signal between the module and the router is too weak to sustain an adequate connection.

Initially I had this issue and began thinking of swapping the wifi modules to ethernet module's, but with the recent advent of the particular wifi module model becoming available with an external antenna, I have successfully been installing those modules on all my duet 2 boards which has led tome getting very reliable results.

I have linked to the module I am using below.

it might be a plan to think before blaming the hardware with such a sweeping statement. Where wifi is concerned there are geographical power restrictions on the amount of power a wifi module is allowed to pump out, this restriction is generally what hampers the wifi module in the duet

ESP8266

I´m using my words very carefully. It is not the router which is the problem; my Duet wifi sits about 3 meters away from my router with a direct line of view.

Also, it does not seem a connection issue, i have -57dbm of connection strength. When the wifi connects it connects.
The times it does not connect the Duet does not manage to make a connection to the wifi module.

It gives me this:

M122<CR>
Trying to connect at 230400 baud: failed
Trying to connect at 115200 baud: failed
Trying to connect at 74880 baud: failed
Trying to connect at 9600 baud: failed
Error: Installation failed due to comm write error
ok
WiFi module is disabled

When i try to enable the wifi module with M552 S1 and then check the status with M552 this happens:

Wifi module is being started

And i hope you are joking if you suppose i change the wifi module on my warrantied Duet by hot air desoldering that old chip and voiding my warranty.

And I'm choosing my words very carefully.

Your intimation was that there is a large number of wifi modules failing in the duet wifi boards, when that is not the case, so dont try to intimate that there is a problem that is not as wide spread as you tried to intimate.

So if your system is still under warranty as you say it is, then contact the vendor and get something done about it instead of bleating about it.

Also please show me where I said you should change your WiFi module? you can't because I didn't.

I was relaying My experience of MY CHOSEN route of how I improved my systems, nothing more.

andrewe

I managed to fix for now I masked around the wifi module with Kapton tape and gave it a blast with a heat gun for 2 seconds. I've handled it and restarted it a few times and it seems reliable again now.

dc42

@andrewe said in Duet 2 WiFi wifi dead:

I managed to fix for now I masked around the wifi module with Kapton tape and gave it a blast with a heat gun for 2 seconds. I've handled it and restarted it a few times and it seems reliable again now.

Great stuff! I was about to offer to repair your board if you send it to me and cover the return postage.

andrewe

Thanks! hopefully, it will keep going now. I examined it close up and couldn't see a bad solder joint so I'm guessing it was bad solder somewhere in the module.

A Former User

@dc42

I would fully understand if you didn't want to answer such a commercially sensitive question.

Is there any data available on the failure rates of the Wifi modules

Remembering that the wifi modules (as are all of the components for the Duet boards) supplied to Duet3D (or their board manufacturer) by an external vendor and the quality thereof is outside the control of Duet3D before anyone says anything........

dc42

@calvinx said in Duet 2 WiFi wifi dead:

Is there any data available on the failure rates of the Wifi modules

I don't have any detailed stats to hand, but I know that our assemblers occasionally have to replace the WiFi module on newly-assembled boards to get the WiFi working. It's possibly the second most often replaced component, after stepper drivers (but of course there are 5 stepper drivers, so more of them to fail).

The fact that @andrewe got his working just by heating it makes me wonder whether it was a fault internal to the WiFi module, or the Wii module wasn't properly soldered to the Duet PCB.

A Former User

if we are to take 2 seconds of hot air literally I wouldn't put my money on the issue being solder joints as it would take longer to reflow no?

andrewe

@bearer It could have been a bit longer but I tested for continuity between each leg and the pads on the front and back the best I could. I'm going to try and hunt down a spare wifi module just in case