I have also used an older router as an access point before. Most will let you set them up as an access point.
Usually with the extender setting it will not let you change the name for a extender so there would be no way to make sure that the controllers and wifi strips are actually connecting to the extender and not the router.
If both do this at the same time it would be unlikely it is the wifi strips. If they are paired to a collective you can set a different controller as the preferred wifi master that is different from the one that is currently the wifi master. If it still does it that only leaves the router as a common hardware device since you have two different wifi strips and tried 2 different controllers as a wifi master. I had this issue and it was my router causing. I replaced the router in December of 2023 and have not had any more wifi issues with the 4 wifi strips and wifi feeder I have.
The tank or sump is not between the router and the wifi strips? Water can block a wifi signal since it is line of sight. Anything between that can block or degrade signal strength can also cause this issue.
This is true. I’m going to try it anyway. It’s worth a shot. With the amount of work I’ve already put into is chasing the problem, I’ll try anything at this point.
I just noticed something on mine. I noticed some red outputs and they were on wifi strips but not all of them. I got to looking and the wifi master had just rebooted. So that can also cause the wifi communications to drop but it was not long enough for an alert to be sent. I just happened to open the app at the right time and noticed the reconnecting one at a time. I went to the device properties and noticed that the controller I have set for the preferred wifi master had rebooted. That will also cause a wifi communications drop so you may check and make sure you are not getting a reboot when it happens.
Sweet. Thanks. Guessing for the amount of times I tried it, I’m probably not. Lol
That was directed more to @kevinf but it may be useful later if you have an occasional drop in wifi communications with the wifi strips that seems to correct itself quickly.
They are Tuya protocol wifi strips but as long as something in your router does not block the communications between the controller and router they should work. Make sure you have your 5ghz channel set to a different name than your 2.4ghz channel. If you cannot change the name tey turning off the 5ghz channel when you do the pairing and see if it pairs then. If it does then the wifi strip is logging in to the 5ghz when you pair it. The controller and the wifi strip have to be on the same channel. Also make sure the device with the app on it that you are using to pair the wifi strip is also on the same channel that controller you are pairing to is also on. Making sure they get on the same channel is most of the issues. Another is some routers will see the communications between the controller and wifi strip as a security risk and block it. If you get a access point get one that you can hook to the main router using a wired connection and set it to a different login name than your other router channels. Also you can turn off 5ghz on the access point. With the wired connection on most routers that will bypass any security from intercommunications since it is a wired connection to the router. The wifi part is handled by the access point only. You will have to switch the wifi login on the controllers to the access point and then pair the wifi strips again. If it was already paired use replace to pair it again on the access point.
Thanks for the reply Connor. I've tried and spent numerous hours on it. I was sent this attachment after purchasing an Access Point and I have already purchased a TpLink. Do you suggest trying these Access Points? I have a T-Mobile Router that was mesh but I separated the networks to 2.4mHz and 5.0mHz. That didn't work so I got the AP that is strictly 2.4mHz. Still no beans. Let me know your thoughts!
I am not a fan of AP extender type units. I feel like they are unreliable on their own.
I have six wifi strips that work fine
I have 4 of the wifi strips and have not had any issues with any of them since I replaced my router in December 2023. They continue to work even without internet when it goes out which is usually multiple times a day.
