Solved Slow upload and then failure.
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So after updating my duet, wifi firmware, etc I finally realized the issue was the printer was trying to connect to the Unifi AP 2 floors down, instead of the one 20 feet away from it. I updated and restarted my wifi mesh system and now the signal strength is -50db, so its better. But upload is still a little slow, but it didn't fail at least. Something strange is still going on because I have 3 other printers in this room and they don't have connection issues. (also this duet previously was working for years just fine)
But now I created a new issue for myself, since updating the wifi server to 2.1 beta3 my static IP does not work at all.
Previously, my config.g had this line in it:
;M552 P192.168.0.215 ; set static IPNow it does nothing, I also tried this in config.g
;M587 S" " P" ." I192.168.0.215 ; set static IPAnd no luck. What is the proper way to set static on the new wifi server?
Board: Duet 2 WiFi (2WiFi)
Firmware: RepRapFirmware for Duet 2 WiFi/Ethernet 3.5beta2 (2023-02-08)
Duet WiFi Server Version: 2.1beta3
Duet Web Control 3.5.0-beta.2 -
@TheBasedDoge said in Slow upload and then failure.:
What is the proper way to set static on the new wifi server?
The proper way would be DHCP reservation on the router, but setting a manual IP should work.
Can you upload the wifi server version 1.27 and see how it behaves? You should be able to get 1.27 from this zip file. https://github.com/Duet3D/RepRapFirmware/releases/download/3.4.5/Duet2and3Firmware-3.4.5.zip
For the Unifi controller you may want to see if you can turn off band steering for the Duet client. It may be trying to force the Duet onto the 5ghz band, which it does not support.
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Will try after the current print finishes. I think 1.27 is what I previously had, then i updated to 2.1beta3 to try and solve this issue. Should i just revert back and leave it? I will check the band steering option also. M552 P192.168.0.215 ; set static IP was working on the old 1.27 version.
edit, ok band steering appears to be a setting for the AP, not per client, but I checked all 4 APs I have and it was already off.
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OK, dowgraded to 1.27, static IP is working. -55db signal strength, didnt try to upload a file yet. Should i just not upgrade the wifi server anymore?
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Well 2.1 is a beta release for testing, so your findings are useful. You can continue to use 1.27 for now and we'll have to investigate the issue.
I'm curious to know if your upload performance is better or the same.
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@Phaedrux
I just tested again, uploaded a file and I am getting ~350 KiB/s, and it did not fail. I tried 4-5 times. So this is better, but previously uploads completed in under 10 seconds at most.
So this is usable again at least, im still stumped as to what changed because i've been using this same board, same wifi system, etc for years so nothing really has changed in my setup. -
You could try stepping back to 1.26 and 1.25 to see if it's something in those updates that changed.
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@Phaedrux Well the problems continue, it's basically still doing the same upload / slow / fail behavior. At this point it seems like a hardware issue. Are the wifi chips known to fail? could my antennae be damaged / bad? I have no wires near the antennae, it's exposed, very close to the AP, etc. It should be fine.
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Is this a Duet wifi with external antenna?
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@Phaedrux Mine does not have the external antennae, it's the older one with the little PCB antennae.
I saw this thread
https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/2825/converting-the-duet-wifi-to-use-an-external-antennaMaybe i should just do this?
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I saw this thread
https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/2825/converting-the-duet-wifi-to-use-an-external-antenna
Maybe i should just do this?That's the proper way to do it. I've done it "improperly": I cut the 'inner' one of the two traces and soldered the external antenna as in the photo:
On the matter of slow uploads: have you ever tried another SD card?
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@infiniteloop Well, i could try that first. Did it work out well for you?
Which trace did you cut, can't tell from the photoAlso yes I have tried another SD card.... no change.
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One thing I would suggest trying to help isolate the problem is to setup the Duet in Access Point mode. This takes the entire wireless router out of the equation. The duet creates it's own wifi network and your connect your device to that network. Then test at least 2 different computers to see if it's the duet hardware or your computer wifi device that is having the issue. If you get better performance like this, that would indicate something off with the wireless router settings or interference. If the problem persists with both devices, the Duet hardware is most likely having an issue. If only 1 device has an issue, the problem likely lies there.
https://docs.duet3d.com/User_manual/Reference/Gcodes#m589-configure-access-point-parameters
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@TheBasedDoge said in Slow upload and then failure.:
Well, i could try that first. Did it work out well for you?
Yep. I built my Duet into a modded Apple G4 casing - internally, that has a solid metal cage, but I re-used Apple's WiFi antennas: works flawlessly since 2019
Also yes I have tried another SD card.... no change.
Sorry to hear that.
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@Phaedrux
Good idea, i will try AP mode and see what happens before I try anything with the wifi card@infiniteloop
Ok, I have to see a photo of the G4 Duet now lol. Also which trace did you cut? i could not tell from your photo. -
Ok, I have to see a photo of the G4 Duet now lol.
Promised. Will try to take some shots… if that works in the darkness over here.
Also which trace did you cut?
Back in 2019, I found this on the web: ESP mit externer WLAN Antenne. You don't need a translator to understand, just look at this image from that post:
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@infiniteloop
Wow, that is awesome. I love those mac case mods.Ok, so AP mode has the following result
- With a computer 1ft away from the printer I was able to upload a file no problem, it maxed out 400kib/s. I only tried one time but it worked the first time.
- With my desktop PC that I normally use in the next room over, it took several minutes to even bring up DWC. i started a transfer and it's going at like 30 kib/s at most, and finally failed. WifiInfoView shows me signal strength is -67db.
So yeah... I guess it's just a crap antennae?
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I mean, -67db isn't that bad really. Not amazing, but not great.
What did the computer right next to it get for signal strength?
The fact it worked properly on the near computer at least lets us know the hardware is working and points to where the issue is.
If you wanted to try the antenna mod, that's up to you, but would definitely void any warranty you may have remaining. (6 months from purchase)
How is the Duet mounted? Is there any metal near the antenna?
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@Phaedrux I bough this duet in 2017 .... so I guess any warranty is already gone.
The nearby PC is showing -29DB.
I guess -67 isn't that bad.. but then why wouldn't it be able to upload any files?Duet is in a 3D printed case at the bottom of the printer (open frame design) There is no metal really near it at all.
Also its showing the AP mode hotspot as a wireless B device.... is that even right?
