WiFi Unreliable

DessiVerse

@phaedrux After reaching out to the internet provider, customers are not allowed to change the network channel manually for some reason. Which doesn't make sense.

However, it's really odd that the duet would be restricted to channel 6. For the price the duet is, I wouldn't expect such a weird design flaw.

Phaedrux

As DC42 speculated above it may be related to internal harmonics with the duet frequency, but that's speculation. If we can't change your channel to test, who knows.

For what it's worth, I would suspect that most people are using channel 1 (as I am as well) without issue.

DessiVerse

@phaedrux Wait, if it's a problem with the channel wouldn't the signal be worse? When I ran the M122 tests the signal showed it was fine in all cases, even when it was being slow.

Phaedrux

Not necessarily. Good signal strength is part of it, but that just means the transmissions are coming in loud and clear. There can be crosstalk and interference that causes re-transmissions, but without more detailed info from the router side it's hard to judge what's going on behind the scenes.

Wifi is as close to magic as we're every likely to get. It's incredibly complicated and an insane amount of work has been put into it to make it largely seamless for the end user, but unfortunately it's not always the case.

DessiVerse

@phaedrux what other information do you need? Is there anything else I can do from the Duet's end?

I'm still working with the ISP to try to change the signal channel.

Phaedrux

Unless there is some more detailed settings pages there's nothing I can see that we could try. I found the manual for that model router but it was a very basic user manual with no info on actual settings pages. If it's locked down so that you can't even change the channel selection or wifi mode I doubt there would be any chance of more advanced options being available either.

What I suspect might be happening is that the router is misidentifying the capabilities of the Duet and initiating band steering trying to force it over to the 5ghz network which doesn't work. Or it's detecting it as a slow client and throttling it's performance to keep it from taking up too much air time from other faster clients. Just speculation on my part though.

DessiVerse

@phaedrux said in WiFi Unreliable:

What I suspect might be happening is that the router is misidentifying the capabilities of the Duet and initiating band steering trying to force it over to the 5ghz

So I know this isn't happening because I did separate the two networks for one test, and had the same issue.

DessiVerse

I'm working with my ISP today to try to get any more information that I can. I'm still very much on the fence of it being a router issue given that the problem is only happening with the Duet. To me, the duet is having an issue with the router, not the router having an issue with the duet.

Especially given that running SBC mode there isn't an issue.

stuartofmt

@dessiverse said in WiFi Unreliable:

....... I'm still very much on the fence of it being a router issue ....

Especially given that running SBC mode there isn't an issue.

I agree that this is not clear-cut by any means. In this instance, I've tended to give greater weight to the lost packets from the ping test compared to the "clean" behavior in AP mode. To me this suggests something between the Duet and the other Computer. So I think the network "cards" are likely OK at both ends and that the tests point to "something" (hardware or software) in the network links. But that's just me - it could just as easily be something else.

Your ISP should give you admin access to the router - I've had several in the past and all, on request, did. If they don't then frankly - they are not "good". I now, always, use my own router even if the one provided is just used as a modem. I found the ISP provided ones usually lacking in some capability and / or setting-wise.

As an example one was set up to prioritize VOIP (which I did not use). It tended to slow some other types of traffic. Their default QoS settings were an issue. On another - with a satellite - my computer was first attached to the base router. When I moved near the satellite it was determined to stay (even after reboots) to the base (with a very weak signal).

Its a process of elimination and where possible bifurcation or in the case of an ethernet Duet sidestepped

These things are sent to try us. I just wish they did not succeed so often!!!!

DessiVerse

@stuartofmt the packet loss is consistent across multiple computers.
Here are the "advanced settings" that I can change from the router:

My biggest frustration with this is the lack of any phone or priority support. The amount of time wasted "troubleshooting" this is costing more than it would be to just buy a different board and call it a day.

To attempt to wrap this up; when using SBC mode is it possible to combine SBC with Octoprint in anyway?

It still makes no sense to me at all that SBC would run fine, all other devices run fine, yet the duet has a million network issues but somehow it's my modem that's the issue not the duet.

droftarts

@dessiverse There's a couple of other people that have reported problems using the xfinity routers, see https://forum.duet3d.com/search/?term=xfinity&in=titlesposts
One ended up using a Raspberry Pi as a network bridge.

Also, not sure what has changed, but the latest version of DuetWiFiServer.bin shipping with 3.3RC1 is v1.26, you're on v1.25. May be worth updating to that.

Also, just had a thought. Can you post your config.g? There's a bug in 3.2.2 where if you have a heater, usually heater 0 (bed heater), but also heater 2, configured with PWM and a low duty cycle, it can interfere with processes on the Duet including networking. If you notice when your network speed drops, is it when your heaters are on? Updating firmware to RRF 3.3RC1 will fix this.

Ian

DessiVerse

@droftarts Is using the pi as a network bridge SBC mode?
Give me a second to post a reply to the rest.

droftarts

@dessiverse said in WiFi Unreliable:

Is using the pi as a network bridge SBC mode?

No, it's just connecting the Duet WiFi to the Pi WiFi, then the Pi WiFi connecting to the xfinity WiFi. The Pi bridges the connection between the two. There should be guides around on the Pi side to do this.

Ian

DessiVerse

@droftarts said in WiFi Unreliable:

Also, not sure what has changed, but the latest version of DuetWiFiServer.bin shipping with 3.3RC1 is v1.26, you're on v1.25. May be worth updating to that.

The firmware I'm currently running is:
RepRapFirmware for Duet 3 Mini 5+ version 3.3beta3 (2021-04-22 13:48:16) running on Duet 3 Mini5plus WiFi (standalone mode)

Recv: - WiFi -
Recv: Network state is active
Recv: WiFi module is connected to access point
Recv: Failed messages: pending 0, notready 0, noresp 0
Recv: WiFi firmware version 1.26
Recv: WiFi MAC address f0:08:d1:02:ec:f2
Recv: WiFi Vcc 3.33, reset reason Power up
Recv: WiFi flash size 2097152, free heap 22376
Recv: WiFi IP address 10.0.0.201
Recv: WiFi signal strength -42dBm, mode 802.11n, reconnections 0, sleep mode modem

That appears to be the versions you're referring to, no?

Here is the config.g file

; Configuration file for Duet 3 Mini 5+ (firmware version 3)
; executed by the firmware on start-up
;
; generated by RepRapFirmware Configuration Tool v3.2.3 on Sun Apr 18 2021 18:45:52 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

; General preferences
G90                                                ; send absolute coordinates...
M83                                                ; ...but relative extruder moves
M550 P"Archie"                                     ; set printer name

; Network
M552 S1                                            ; enable network
M587 S"White Lotus" P"exampl'e password"  	   ; Configure access point
M586 P0 S1                                      ; enable HTTP
M586 P1 S0                                         ; disable FTP
M586 P2 S0                                         ; disable Telnet

; Drives
M569 P0.0 S0                                       ; physical drive 0.0 goes backwards
M569 P0.2 S1                                       ; physical drive 0.2 goes forwards
M569 P0.1 S0                                       ; physical drive 0.1 goes backwards
M569 P0.3 S1                                       ; physical drive 0.3 goes forwards
M584 X0.0 Y0.1 Z0.2 E0.3                           ; set drive mapping
M350 X16 Y16 Z16 E16 I1                            ; configure microstepping with interpolation
M92 X80.00 Y80.00 Z400.00 E359.92                  ; set steps per mm
M566 X900.00 Y900.00 Z60.00 E300.00                ; set maximum instantaneous speed changes (mm/min)
M203 X6000.00 Y6000.00 Z300.00 E3600.00            ; set maximum speeds (mm/min)
M201 X500.00 Y500.00 Z200.00 E2500.00              ; set accelerations (mm/s^2)
M906 X900 Y900 Z900 E1100 I30                      ; set motor currents (mA) and motor idle factor in per cent
M84 S30                                            ; Set idle timeout

; SILENCE
M569 P0 D3 V0
M569 P1 D3 V0
M569 P2 D3 V0
M569 P3 D3 V0

; Axis Limits
M208 X0 Y-30 Z0 S1                                           ; set axis minima
M208 X220 Y195 Z250 S0                                       ; set axis maxima

; Endstops
M574 Y1 S1 P"io5.in"                                         ; configure active-high endstop for low end on X via pin io5.in
M574 X1 S1 P"io6.in"                                         ; configure active-high endstop for low end on Y via pin io6.in
M574 Z1 S2                                                   ; configure active-high endstop for low end on Z via pin io2.in

; Z-Probe
M950 S0 C"io3.out"                                           ; create servo pin 0 for BLTouch
M558 P9 C"^io3.in" H5 F3500 T6000                            ; set Z probe type to bltouch and the dive height + speeds
G31 P500 X-54 Y6 Z0.558                                      ; set Z probe trigger value, offset and trigger height
M557 X15:190 Y30:190 S30                                     ; define mesh grid
M851 Z-3.32                                                  ; set the z offset accordingly

; Heaters
M308 S0 P"temp0" Y"thermistor" T98801 B4185                  ; configure sensor 0 as thermistor on pin temp0
M950 H0 C"out0" T0                                           ; create bed heater output on out0 and map it to sensor 0
M307 H0 R0.307 C472.0 D2.21 S1.00 V23.8                      ; disable bang-bang mode for the bed heater and set PWM limit
M140 H0                                                      ; map heated bed to heater 0
M143 H0 S120                                                 ; set temperature limit for heater 0 to 120C
M308 S1 P"temp1" Y"thermistor" T100000 B4725 C7.06e-8        ; configure sensor 1 as thermistor on pin temp1
M950 H1 C"out1" T1                                           ; create nozzle heater output on out1 and map it to sensor 1
M307 H1 B0 S1.00                                             ; disable bang-bang mode for heater  and set PWM limit
M143 H1 S285                                                 ; set temperature limit for heater 1 to 280C

; Fans
M950 F0 C"out3" Q500                               ; create fan 0 on pin out3 and set its frequency
M106 P0 C"PartCool" S0 H-1                         ; set fan 0 name and value. Thermostatic control is turned off
M950 F1 C"out4" Q500                               ; create fan 1 on pin out4 and set its frequency
M106 P1 C"HotEnd" S1 H1:0 T45                      ; set fan 1 name and value. Thermostatic control is turned on

; Tools
M563 P0 S"HotEnd" D0 H1 F0                         ; define tool 0
G10 P0 X0 Y0 Z0                                    ; set tool 0 axis offsets
G10 P0 R0 S0                                       ; set initial tool 0 active and standby temperatures to 0C

; Custom settings are not defined

; Miscellaneous
M501                                               ; load saved parameters from non-volatile memory
M911 S10 R11 P"M913 X0 Y0 G91 M83 G1 Z3 E-5 F1000" ; set voltage thresholds and actions to run on power loss
T0                                                 ; select first tool

@droftarts said in WiFi Unreliable:

No, it's just connecting the Duet WiFi to the Pi WiFi, then the Pi WiFi connecting to the xfinity WiFi. The Pi bridges the connection between the two. There should be guides around on the Pi side to do this.

This sounds like it can be really helpful. I'll have to research this.

droftarts

@dessiverse said in WiFi Unreliable:

Duet 3 Mini 5+ version 3.3beta3

Okay, so it's not that, though would be worth updating from beta to release candidate (3.3 RC1). Update the DuetWiFiServer to 1.26 at the same time; it fixes a minor bug whereby it was transmitting a small amount of extra unwanted data on the wifi module SPI interface (says @dc42, though I doubt this is the issue).

For pi network bridge, see https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/access-point-bridged.md
However, I was slightly wrong; the Pi would be wired via Ethernet to your hub. However, this should test if the Duet is at issue.

Ian

DessiVerse

@droftarts said in WiFi Unreliable:

the Pi would be wired via Ethernet to your hub

What do you mean by hub? The duet or my modem?

droftarts

@dessiverse Sorry, by hub I mean your xfinity router. I assume it's got at least one ethernet port! So you would have an Ethernet cable going from your xfinity router to the raspberry pi. The RPi would allow your Duet to connect to its WiFi, and bridge the connection between the WiFi and Ethernet.

Ian

dc42

@dessiverse, FWIW I recall some time ago that a Duet WiFi user was unable to get good WiFi connectivity from the Duet on WiFi Channel 1, but switched to another channel (6 AFAIR) and it worked much better. However, that's no help to you if your ISP won't allow you to change the channel.

DessiVerse

@droftarts said in WiFi Unreliable:

The RPi would allow your Duet to connect to its WiFi, and bridge the connection between the WiFi and Ethernet

I'm finding a bunch of guides that do the reverse of this. Not having so much luck on the other way around.

droftarts

@dessiverse The guide I linked to earlier, https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/access-point-bridged.md does the right thing:

In the above image, the 'Router' is your xfinity box, which is connected by Ethernet ('LAN') to the 'RPi', with a wireless connection to the 'Laptop', which is where the Duet 2 WiFi would be.

Edit: Just checked, your Xfinity TG4482A should have 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/broadband-gateways-userguides

Ian