Skytrak has arrived and works, well,sort of

[ste1010]

After my previous post about my skytrak arriving and being faulty the replacement arrived today.
Looks great apart from the network connectivity is flakey to say the least. After charging all day I have used it for a couple of hours and have been completely frustrated over the network connectivity. In network mode the connection drops every 10 minutes or so. I have set up a WAP in my garage right next to my IPad and skytrak, and it still drops. If this isn't sorted quickly with an update it will be going back. I think the technology is great, the implementation is a let down.

additionally I doubted if the replacement was even new. The back cover over the window looks like it had been removed, torn, and then stuck back down. I rang the U.K. support team to check it was a new device and the couldn't really care. Very disappointing.

let see what happens in the next 30 days otherwise it's going back.

[Thinman]

switch channels on your wifi

[Lukej88]

What do you mean by switching channels? Within the router genie or in the Skytrak app when connecting to network mode. I found tonight that when connecting to network mode in the ST app there is a choice to enter a wifi network manually, you can then choose from open, wpa, wpa2, wpa2 mixed etc.

The only reason I ask is I have had network mode disconnects, wifi disconnects and usb disconnects. This week I am having a very hard time connecting via network mode and wifi mode. I have been reading all of the posts and trying everything that is suggested. Things seem to work best for me in usb mode, but I still get kicked out of TGC.

I am starting to think that maybe my router is the issue I run a Netgear 6100 that is brand new, but I dont want to purchase another router if Im not sure that is the culprit.

[Thinman]

in the router you can change the channel for the 2.4g wifi signal. should typically be 10 to choose from plus auto. never know which will work best for you based on local interference.

[ste1010]

I have changed the router wirelss mode to a fixed channel (10) rather than auto. I also have a choice for wireless mode of 802.11n, 802.11g/n mixed and 802.11b/g/n mixed. I will try 802.11n and see how I get on.

[ganders75]

First, reset your Skytrak with a paperclip so that it forgets all the current settings. You don't want it jumping back after you set it up again.

Next you'll need to login to your WAP.

If your WAP is dual band, first split the 2.4GHz and 5Ghz bands to have different names. Skytrak can only connect to the 2.4GHz band anyway, so use that for both devices. On your iPad make sure that you tell it to forget the 5GHz network so it doesn't jump from one to the other. I'd also make sure you tell it to forget any other wifi connections it might pick up (like in the main house, if you're in an out building) just to rule this out. If you're using a PC too and it's hardwired to a port on the WAP, then that's fine too - that's how I run mine.

Then you want to use either InSSIDer (from metageek, just use the free version) on your PC or Wifi Analyzer on an android device to check your wifi signal interference and noise levels. Sorry, I don't think there is an equivalent on an iPad due to Apple's stupid restrictive policy on accessing the wifi card, you'll just have to man up and move away from Apple devices - failing that close your eyes and try channel 3,4,8 or 9 ;o). InSSIDer works best if you install it on a laptop and just put it right next to the Skytrak. Choose a wifi channel which is not being used by everyone else in your neighbourhood. If you leave the channel on Auto, it will only ever choose 1, 6 or 11 - so you have a fair bit of room to play with if you're on manual, you just want to slot in between those channels where there is the least noise/contention. The problem you're solving here is if you leave it on Auto and have a "smart" router - it will constantly be monitoring it's signal and occasionally decide to jump to a different channel. Of course, it will still only choose 1, 6 or 11 like everyone else on Auto, so you'll still get loads of noise on the new channel. You can also get a slight network blip when it does this.

(This is where it gets a bit hazy, as I've not had to do this in a while - hopefully someone will correct me if I have the procedure wrong...)

So, from a PC the easiest way is to then connect via USB, fire up the Skytrak app, configure your network connection to use the 2.4GHz band you setup above, unplug the USB. Your unit should search and find the Skytrak and connect. From memory I think lights will go (from bottom) green, flashing yellow, red -> green, solid yellow, red -> green green red.

From your iPad, I think you'd have to connect via direct connection rather than USB, but all the other steps should be the same.

[Dadams]

Why is the Wifi connection with Skytrak such that all the steps you listed required? In our house we control, TV, audio, climate, security, video, etc. via Wifi and all work fine, no freezing up, dropped connections etc.

[dborden0]

The more devices running on your wifi, the worse the performance and more interference. Video streaming takes up a lot of bandwidth. I limit my kids bandwidth in the QOS, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do anything on wifi.

[ganders75]

To me, sounds like there a few things going on. I'm betting all those things use the 5GHz band, or are smart enough to jump between the 5GHz band and the 2.4GHz without causing you any problems. The Skytrak isn't like that. It needs a solid connection to the app on the 2.4GHz band at all times. If the connection is dropping every 10 minutes or so, I would suggest that it's either interference with the environment or something on the client machine which is the problem. At least, that's where i'd be looking if I was trying to sort it out...

The Skytrak is using an older wifi connection architecture, and doesn't support the 5GHz band at all. So, you can get problems with the client machine switching network between 2.4GHz and 5GHz - when this happens you'll get some downtime on the client machine as it attempts to connect to the new network. Also if you're getting interference from something in the environment (like a microwave, your fridge, your washing machine or a cordless telephone) your client machine or your Skytrak can lose connection just for a moment, and then has to reconnect - again that will take a few seconds.

Selecting the channel on your router is something that everyone should do, and the two products I mention above are just the ones I use and recommend. Generally, you'll be surprised how much difference it can make to the throughput that you'll see. Contention/noise on the band is one of the major factors in slow wifi speeds and poor coverage/dropped connections.

That said, maybe I explained the steps badly - there really is nothing to it:
1. Reset your Skytrak - this is just so we start from zero
2. Separate your 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz channels - if you don't do this and they have the same SSID & password then your client machine might jump between the two interchangeably
3. Forget any networks on your client machine so it doesn't switch without you asking it to, then connect it to the 2.4Ghz band only
4. Connect to the 2.4GHz band using standard Skytrak method

All the inSSIDer/Wifi Analyzer stuff is just to make sure that you are not getting problems on the line due to other users in your area. If you want to be safe, just steer clear of channels 1, 6 or 11.

[ste1010]

Only running 2.4ghz, disabled 5ghz so that shouldn't be an issue.