2.4 GHz WiFi and Hydros hint

[william Lutman]

Here's my help for connection issues with your Hydros. Buy a dedicated 2.4 single band router. Install it above your tanks. Signal problems gone. $30-$50 on amazon. This was $29

 

[Peace River]

Here's my help for connection issues with your Hydros. Buy a dedicated 2.4 single band router. Install it above your tanks. Signal problems gone. $30-$50 on amazon. This was $29

+1. I recently did this myself!

 

[Sam7]

Hmm, so they dont have long range then? Why is that

 

[Peace River]

I am not sure about the range, but for me, the controllers were on the other side of a cinder block wall from the primary router (that is already finicky about 2.4ghz) and the Hydros controllers don't appear to have a strength of signal identifier.

 

[Sam7]

Ah ok gotcha

 

[n2585722]

Hmm, so they dont have long range then? Why is that

Range itself is not an issue but if there is something between the router and the controllers that can block the signal then you will have communication issues. Water is one thing that will block the signal. Metal can also block the signal. The signal travels is a straight line. It will not bend around items that will block it at the high frequencies used with wifi.

 

[Sam7]

Range itself is not an issue but if there is something between the router and the controllers that can block the signal then you will have communication issues. Water is one thing that will block the signal. Metal can also block the signal. The signal travels is a straight line. It will not bend around items that will block it at the high frequencies used with wifi.

I see...thats makes sense....Thanks

 

[slingfox]

I have a dedicated 2.4ghz router specifically for this purpose. It works well with the Hydros XP8 but I have been through two Hydros WiFi Power Strips and those are complete junk. They must have purchased the most bargain bin WiFi chip in those units since they are the single most unreliable WiFi device I have ever had the misfortune of using.

 

[william Lutman]

Hmm, so they dont have long range then? Why is that

WiFi is blocked by water

 

[Peace River]

I have a dedicated 2.4ghz router specifically for this purpose. It works well with the Hydros XP8 but I have been through two Hydros WiFi Power Strips and those are complete junk. They must have purchased the most bargain bin WiFi chip in those units since they are the single most unreliable WiFi device I have ever had the misfortune of using.

Interesting. Once I figured out how to reset the Hydros power strips, all three of mine have worked great.

 

[braaap]

I have a dedicated 2.4ghz router specifically for this purpose. It works well with the Hydros XP8 but I have been through two Hydros WiFi Power Strips and those are complete junk. They must have purchased the most bargain bin WiFi chip in those units since they are the single most unreliable WiFi device I have ever had the misfortune of using.

They did. They rebranded some other junk. Any manufacturer that only has a 2.4g chip instead of a dual chip is trying to save $1. It is a pathetic practice.

 

[william Lutman]

I have a dedicated 2.4ghz router specifically for this purpose. It works well with the Hydros XP8 but I have been through two Hydros WiFi Power Strips and those are complete junk. They must have purchased the most bargain bin WiFi chip in those units since they are the single most unreliable WiFi device I have ever had the misfortune of using.

Buy this one, it is the same, but less painful if it dies. Currently $29 Amazon
https://a.co/d/1Pp2qbC

 

[Peace River]

They did. They rebranded some other junk. Any manufacturer that only has a 2.4g chip instead of a dual chip is trying to save $1. It is a pathetic practice.

I don't think that 2.4 ghz is just a cost-cutting shortcut, it’s the standard for most aquarium controllers and IoT devices. The lower frequency has better range, works through walls and stands more reliably, and uses less power than 5 ghz. Since these devices only send tiny bits of data, there’s no real benefit to using 5 GHz anyway. That’s why Apex, GHL, Hydros, Inkbird, RoboTank/ReefPi, Kasa, and most smart-home sensors all stick to 2.4 GHz. It’s mainly about reliability and compatibility, not saving a dollar on parts.

Dual-band chips are great for high-bandwidth devices like phones or cameras, but for low-power IoT gear, 2.4 ghz seems to be the better engineering choice.

 

[n2585722]

I have a dedicated 2.4ghz router specifically for this purpose. It works well with the Hydros XP8 but I have been through two Hydros WiFi Power Strips and those are complete junk. They must have purchased the most bargain bin WiFi chip in those units since they are the single most unreliable WiFi device I have ever had the misfortune of using.

My 4 wifi strips have worked without any issues after I replaced my router back in December of 2023. Before that I was having communications issues with them and the wifi feeder about 2 to 3 times a week.

 

[slingfox]

Buy this one, it is the same, but less painful if it dies. Currently $29 Amazon
https://a.co/d/1Pp2qbC

Thanks for the recommendation. I will pick this up. I currently have the second Hydros WiFi Strip on my tank but only the least critical things are plugged into it (ie, cabinet lights, extra temperature probe, aquarium fan, spare outlet I use during maintenance, etc.)

 

[slingfox]

Interesting. Once I figured out how to reset the Hydros power strips, all three of mine have worked great.

I hope they work well for you. The first one I had worked for 15 months without issue. Then when I was away during winter break it lost communication. That strip was running my ATO so I had to have someone stop by and pour in a few gallons of RODI into the tank. The second WiFi strip I purchased to replace the first one losses connection once or twice a month. It eventually reconnects (sometimes takes a few hours, sometimes a few days) but I do not trust it to run anything mission critical.

 

[n2585722]

Thanks for the recommendation. I will pick this up. I currently have the second Hydros WiFi Strip on my tank but only the least critical things are plugged into it (ie, cabinet lights, extra temperature probe, aquarium fan, spare outlet I use during maintenance, etc.)

They are the same except for color and that one does not come with the mounting bracket since that is added to the box by CoralVue.

 

[slingfox]

They are the same except for color and that one does not come with the mounting bracket since that is added to the box by CoralVue.

Yes, upon closer inspection it looks the same as the Hydros. I am pretty sure these China made units have the absolute cheapest WiFi chip available. Maybe it is more reliable since it doesn’t have to communicate with the existing Hydros collection which is another layer of complexity. Still seems like something that cannot be trusted but I could test it out to see if it can run a few months without going offline.

Currently my Hydros WiFi strip loses connectivity once or twice every month or so. Very annoying.

 

[n2585722]

Yes, upon closer inspection it looks the same as the Hydros. I am pretty sure these China made units have the absolute cheapest WiFi chip available. Maybe it is more reliable since it doesn’t have to communicate with the existing Hydros collection which is another layer of complexity. Still seems like something that cannot be trusted but I could test it out to see if it can run a few months without going offline.

Currently my Hydros WiFi strip loses connectivity once or twice every month or so. Very annoying.

The communications is the same and is local to your router. It is a Tuya communications protocol that is used.

 

[william Lutman]

I don't think that 2.4 ghz is just a cost-cutting shortcut, it’s the standard for most aquarium controllers and IoT devices. The lower frequency has better range, works through walls and stands more reliably, and uses less power than 5 ghz. Since these devices only send tiny bits of data, there’s no real benefit to using 5 GHz anyway. That’s why Apex, GHL, Hydros, Inkbird, RoboTank/ReefPi, Kasa, and most smart-home sensors all stick to 2.4 GHz. It’s mainly about reliability and compatibility, not saving a dollar on parts.

Dual-band chips are great for high-bandwidth devices like phones or cameras, but for low-power IoT gear, 2.4 ghz seems to be the better engineering choice.

Actually Google Home and Alexa are also 2.4. every wireless webcam too. I have 5G and 2.4 from Xfinity router, but all Xfinity pods are 5G only. So I have setup dedicated 2.4 for all Aquarium equipment. From RO make and distribution, to Apex and Hydros (two separate collections), lights, WiFi switches, everything is on its own network. Interestingly, you can plug a $29 TP-Link into Ethernet port on Xfinity pod to build out coverage. So, Xfinity 5G mesh delivers 5G to every corner of my house, and supplies Internet to my 2.4 routers all configured together.