A Complicted Problem To Solve?

[PRejto (Peter)]

My remote automated observatory was crippled for the first time last night by a problem that at first blush seems easy go solve, but upon reflection isn't as best I can reason. I'm hoping I'm wrong!

Long story short, I suddenly was unable to stay logged into my OTA's computer which was/is wirlessly connected to a Ubiquity Access point (AP) in the observatory. The observatory computer has a wired connction to the AP and I could reach that computer and control the roof, but not the OTA's. Also, I lost all connection to the wifi plugs that are wirelessly connected to the AP so could not shut down the mount or the OTA computer without regaining access via wifi.

The problem was solved immediately when I phsically disconnected/reconnected power to the AP. First I tried rebooting the main router that distributes internet to my property. This did not solve the problem with the Ubiquity AP...only physically rebooting it.

At first I thought I'll just add a wifi switch to the power for the AP, but that cannot work for obvious reasons....no internet, no control of the switch!

So, what is the solution? I have found referrences to this sort of potential solution: https://www.johnson-creative.com/?sr...18uCLpljHdQRua

It seems designed to monitor the internet and if it drops out will reboot the device. Does anyone have any experience with these or any other recommendation?

One other idea I had might be to put a timer on the Ubiquity AP and force it to restart every 24 hours (during the day, obviously). This might preclude a simiar failure that I experienvced last night. Seems crude but should work, but offers no immediate solution to the experience of last night...which was a first in 2+ years of reliable operation.

Thanks,

Peter

[Startrek (Martin)]

Just a stab in the dark , if possible maybe update the firmware in the AP and Router to latest versions ?
Also update the drivers to your network adapters in the PC ( in particular the USB port that’s connected to the AP ?
Finally check power management in USB drivers ( disable power save mode in USB drivers in Device Manager of PC )

A tough one to diagnose and fault find !!

Fortunately my NexDome OBS is hardwired so never had a comms issue

Martin

[PRejto (Peter)]

Thanks Martin,

The failure was quite random. The AP is not connected in any way to any USB port on any computer. It is hardwired to the main router in my house. The AP certainly always had internet because the observatory computer is hardwired with CAT5 to the AP and the computer was accessible. But, all equipment connected wirelessly was dropped.

Your suggestion to look for updates is certainly worthy!

Thanks,

Peter

[joshman (Josh)]

Can you get a hardwired (ethernet) controllable power plug for your AP?


You could have it kind of "bootstrap" itself?

[Dekker (Derrick)]

Hi Peter, do I understand correctly that the Access Point (AP) is a separate device to "the main router that distributes internet to my property"?


Surely the AP has a web interface were you can view WiFi device status, perform firmware updates and soft reset the device? If a power cycle to the AP resolved the issue, then it's likely a soft reset through the web interface will also resolve it. You could access the web interface through your hard-wired observatory computer (assuming you are remote desktopping into it).

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Sorry Peter, I'm not familiar with the Ubiquity AP but we run a zone director with 5 access points and if one drops out another takes over. It's only used in the house and shed but if you have the capacity to add another access point it could help.
My son runs a lot of server gear, full populated blade server cabinet in the house and multiple 24-48 port switches (plus other full sized server for our firewall).

[PRejto (Peter)]

I think what I will try is to use an older router I have and hardwire it into the switch with internet coming into the observatory. I will put a wifi power switch on the POE for the main AP controlled via wifi from the second router. That way, if the main AP goes down I can cycle it via the second router.

I will also try to configure the computers on the mounts to connect to the second router if the first router drops out.

Hopefully this will work!

Thanks again everyone,

Peter