Flashing Dreamcatcher with new firmware - 1.0.5 released 2023-05-30

Syed · 2023-06-02T17:54:03.286Z

@maxboysdad Could you please describe your wifi network, in as much detail as possible?

maxboysdad · 2023-06-02T18:21:43.476Z

@Syed

Router is tp-link AX6600 Archer GX90 served internet by Google Fiber (DHCP) : 3 wired LAN ports; one serves a 15-position switch that has six positions occupied, including four ubiquiti mesh nodes (80 feet away) and my Samsung TV (20 feet away) plus one computer on my repair bench (off and on) (eight feet away), one serves a smart switch on my radio/mesh tower (60 feet away), one serves my Dell XPS-8950 (Win 11 pro) computer (four feet away) reserved address.
Wireless 2.4 Ghz Channel 11 serves Two IP phones, Two cell phones, One HP5C4CE9 printer, my wife’s laptop reserved address, One Raspberry Pi Access Point, One Dreamcatcher 2301 (esp32s3 DCE5BO) reserved address. This Dreamcatcher 2301 is mounted on the wall within six inches of where the v3.05 was, and connected with the same RG6Quad to the LNB, powered with the same 5.0 volt power supply.

Would it help if I assigned a static ip address under “Routing”, as opposed to using a “reserved” DHCP address?

Interesting that this stall always occurs around the time the packet count gets just above 4700, isn’t it?

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This was the next one:

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kenbarbi · 2023-06-02T20:42:04.797Z

Clearing Logs

Don’t forget - - everybody - - to clear the large Dreamcatcher Logs, go to this page and Clear Logs Ken -

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Jonvw · 2023-06-03T04:07:54.311Z

Is it 4700 packets, or is that just roughly the number of packets transmitted in one hour?

Did it stay connected longer on the 1.0 firmware it came with, when dream catcher was only rebooting every 6 hours?

Alternatively, in case it’s not the reboot causing the issue, what’s your DHCP lease time set to?

maxboysdad · 2023-06-03T17:26:07.026Z

@Jonvw
The Dreamcatcher 2301 itself is consistently running and downloading in a continuous manner. However, the wifi disconnects in a short time after it is connected. It seems to be around 4700 packets downloaded. That is the number downloaded total at the time the wifi disconnects, according to the figures shown on the GUI when the “connection error” takes place. It has changed in the amount of time connected. After 1.03 it did stay connected for a while longer, but still the same behavior in 1.03 and 1.05. It comes to about 80 minutes or less, depending on the Bitrate figure, and is usually right around 3 MB added to the SD Card. Right now it is stopped at 4714, and as the two examples I posted shows, this is fairly consistent. My lease time is currently set at 120 minutes. This is why I asked the question about if a static address would help, but I have seen no reply. I am not an IT mechanic, so am floundering a bit among some of this. Your input is definitely welcome!
I am open to making changes to my system if you have useful suggestions.

Jerry

maxboysdad · 2023-06-03T19:25:34.897Z

1326 hrs. MDT 03-06-2023 I have reset lease time to 1440 minutes (24 hrs), to see if this helps.

1410 hrs. MDT 03-06-2023 Wifi stopped at 4680 packets downloaded. 44 minutes.

Jerry

Syed · 2023-06-04T15:56:34.377Z

@maxboysdad I’ve tried to research the issue as best as I can, but since it seems to be related to your local network, I’m not having much luck. I have no idea what could be causing the same issue on both your 3.05 and your new Dreamcatcher.

Probably the best I can do at this point is to provide a refund, if you like.

tylerhoot · 2023-06-04T20:30:53.250Z

To get mine to behave good and because of my wifi password length I had to setup a small wifi router just for it and port forward port 80 and set a DHCP reserve for it’s Mac address right next to the device I ended up using a glinet gl-mt300n-v2 to get it all working good

AL0I · 2023-06-04T20:51:41.991Z

TP-Link typically provides firmware updates for routers, at least for the first few years after release. It looks like firmware updates have been released for both Version 1 and Version 1.60 of your router. You did not (as near as I can tell) indicate what firmware you are using, but you might want to consider updating the router firmware if you have not done so. Recent firmware updates have provided bug fixes, and some might be relevant to your Othernet equipment.

Make sure to use the firmware update for your particular router model and version, if you decide to do the update. I have done firmware updates on a couple of different TP-Link routers, and it is comparatively painless. Do get assistance if you think it is beyond your technical skills.

maxboysdad · 2023-06-05T14:59:39.598Z

I sincerely am not interested in a refund. I also do not believe this problem has anything to do with my network. I now believe it truly has to do with the firware and its negotiation abilities with wifi. There are nine other clients that are having zero problems with the network, and at this point it appears that there is something missing from the negotiations the dreamcatcher performs during the reboot process.

maxboysdad · 2023-06-05T15:04:25.488Z

Thank you for your input. I am familiar with the Glinet equipment, and have several of their routers in service currently. However, my own personal desire is to get the dreamcatcher improved to the point that extra equipment is not required to get it to function normally and remain connected to a “normal” home-type network, if that is possible. That will then make it perform up to the standard and goal of Syed’s plan for Othernet.

Jerry

maxboysdad · 2023-06-05T15:12:36.442Z

Thank you for your suggestions. To address your statements about my router, here is the information from the device: Hardware version Archer GX90 v1.0 Firmware version 1.1.1 Build 20230119 rel. 60482 (5553). The unit is set to automatically update from 0200 to 0400 every day. I have run the “Check for Updates” in the System section several times and it indicates that the firmware is up to date.

BillMc · 2023-06-06T16:06:08.544Z

I am not having any Wifi disconnect problems, 2301 board with 1.0.5. , in US

I am having a problem where files seem to not be written to the SD card after a day or so. I “cleared logs” and then “format SD card” and it will work for a day or so. I am judging this by the “NEWS” tab which seems to get the day I reset it only.

Reception has been pretty rock solid since the 1.0.5 release, no “RX need to restart” issue.

Syed · 2023-06-19T14:33:57.756Z

@BillMc Is saving files to the SD still a consistent problem?

BillMc · 2023-06-20T17:36:43.070Z

Yes, I have used the built in formatter to reformat the SD card and I get one day of news before it stops saving. No Wifi issues though.

Syed · 2023-06-28T03:47:22.010Z

@BillMc Could you try formatting the SD card on your PC? There might be a bug in the firmware’s formatter, which @Daniac discovered.

Daniac · 2023-06-28T10:41:11.753Z

No the bug is not necessarily the onboard format, I am experiencing issues with folder creation and file saving no matter how I format the SD card.

Now I have tried manually creating the folders and focusing on the messages folder, I am watching the message download but it is not placed in the folder.

The tmp folder just keeps growing in file count though, I suspect the files are being dropped there instead of where they belong?

Si3inc · 2024-07-12T01:31:37.934Z

@Syed - I’m excited to get started with my 2301! However, while trying to flash the latest firmware, I keep getting an ERROR in the MultiDownload application. The log reads as follows:

[2024-07-11 16:34:04,700][ESP8266Loader_multi[1]][espDownloader.py][line:770][ERROR]: ESP8266 Chip sync error esp_sync_blocking.
no log file output …
test offset : 0 0x0
case ok
test offset : 65536 0x10000
case ok
test offset : 32768 0x8000
case ok

I have tried two different SD cards, two different cables, and storing the .bin files in multiple locations. I read on another forum that the board may need a reset pin jumper set, but that was not for the Dreamcatcher board. Any suggestions?

Syed · 2024-07-12T02:02:45.484Z

Hello! I think your setting may be wrong. We don’t use an ESP8266. The module is an ESP32-S3.

Also, what are you using the SD card for? That’s not involved in the flashing process.

Si3inc · 2024-07-13T00:00:18.179Z

I see. The link provided to the Espressif Flash Download Tool is for the “ESP8266 FLASH DOWNLOAD TOOL V3.97” as is linked here:

espressif.com

Tools | Espressif Systems

Espressif provides certification test tools and flash download tools to meet users' testing needs.

The instructions with that link are as follows:
Here are the instructions for updating the firmware on your ESP32-based Dreamcatcher.

Connect your Dreamcatcher to your PC with a USB-C data cable.
Download the Espressif Flash Download Tool . This tool requires Windows.
Download the three files necessary for flashing from Github. Remember the location of these files.

I think this is where the ESP8266 reference comes from. I don’t see anywhere in the tool that allows me to specify ESP32-S3. I’ve tried two other ESP flash tools and neither will communicate with my Dreamcatcher. I’m 90% sure this is something I am doing wrong, but 10% wondering if the board has an issue.

I see that the screenshoit posted last year by maxboysdad shows the tool as ESP32S3, but as you can see in the screen shot here it is now a different tool.

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