JoJo's No Funny Business Office Tank Thread

tharbin

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I'm using one Hydros wifi strip but not for anything critical. It keeps disconnecting from my wifi. I installed a dedicated 2.4ghz access point but it must still be trying to get on the main dual band router somehow. I'm sure it's a configuration problem that is somehow my fault but it's frustrating.

@JoJosReef, I really like the controller board.
As @tbrown said, make sure you have at least one 2.4 only SSID. Your other SSIDs can be 5.0 or even 5.0/2.4 but the Hydros should connect to a different SSID that only has 2.4 available. A lot of IoT-type hardware has that requirement. I have three 5.0/2.4 SSIDs for guest/home/test and one 2.4 only SSID for IoT.
 

tharbin

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Ok, I'll run a few more tests when I get back home but at this time it looks like I can't connect to Hydros even when I'm on Wi-Fi if the internet access is down but the router is up.

There's a possibility I was on the 5 GHz and not the 2.4 GHz.
I think that when you try to connect to the Hydros you need the internet. The question is can the controller connect to the strip with only internal network WiFi? The way to test that is to turn off the internet and then trigger an event on the controller and see if the strip responds to it or not.
 

tbrown

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I think that when you try to connect to the Hydros you need the internet. The question is can the controller connect to the strip with only internal network WiFi? The way to test that is to turn off the internet and then trigger an event on the controller and see if the strip responds to it or not.
Yeah. I had another idea but it's going to take a little more finagling to make work for the rest and my wife is already mad at me for turning the Internet off and on while she's busy browsing Pinterest.
 

Fish Styx

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Yeah. I had another idea but it's going to take a little more finagling to make work for the rest and my wife is already mad at me for turning the Internet off and on while she's busy browsing Pinterest.
How Dare You Greta GIF
 

Mschmidt

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I'm using one Hydros wifi strip but not for anything critical. It keeps disconnecting from my wifi. I installed a dedicated 2.4ghz access point but it must still be trying to get on the main dual band router somehow. I'm sure it's a configuration problem that is somehow my fault but it's frustrating.

@JoJosReef, I really like the controller board.

As @tbrown said, make sure you have at least one 2.4 only SSID. Your other SSIDs can be 5.0 or even 5.0/2.4 but the Hydros should connect to a different SSID that only has 2.4 available. A lot of IoT-type hardware has that requirement. I have three 5.0/2.4 SSIDs for guest/home/test and one 2.4 only SSID for IoT.
This.

I spoke with customer support the other day about my issues (with hydros connections, not the rest of them...) and he told me the same thing. It won't connect to a dual band and extenders cause more problems on to of that.
 

tharbin

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This.

I spoke with customer support the other day about my issues (with hydros connections, not the rest of them...) and he told me the same thing. It won't connect to a dual band and extenders cause more problems on to of that.
My guess is that they are using something like ESP32s in their controllers. If so you also may want to make sure all of the controllers are connecting to the same access point on your network if you have more than one access point. I've heard of issues with the WiFi on ESP32s when they connect to different access points. This would rarely be a problem with an aquarium setup as all of the controllers are usually close together but if you have multiple access points that are reachable they could connect to different access points based on traffic. I plan to set up so that only one of my access points broadcasts the SSID for the Hydros, which means I need to set up a separate vlan for it as I have a few IoT devices scattered around the house that cannot see the access point near the aquarium.
 

Mschmidt

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My guess is that they are using something like ESP32s in their controllers. If so you also may want to make sure all of the controllers are connecting to the same access point on your network if you have more than one access point. I've heard of issues with the WiFi on ESP32s when they connect to different access points. This would rarely be a problem with an aquarium setup as all of the controllers are usually close together but if you have multiple access points that are reachable they could connect to different access points based on traffic. I plan to set up so that only one of my access points broadcasts the SSID for the Hydros, which means I need to set up a separate vlan for it as I have a few IoT devices scattered around the house that cannot see the access point near the aquarium.
Gesundheit. ;)

I think I understood some of that, and what I got sounds like what I heard before. Separate and dedicated 2.4 band network for the controller with no interference from other devices or band lengths.
 

tharbin

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Gesundheit. ;)

I think I understood some of that, and what I got sounds like what I heard before. Separate and dedicated 2.4 band network for the controller with no interference from other devices or band lengths.
Yes and if you have multiple radios, like a mesh network or--like in my case multiple access points (radios) scattered throughout the house, try to make sure the controllers all connect to the same access point. If you only have one access point, like a WiFi router, then this is not an issue.

Some mesh networks and most multiple-access-point networks allow you to broadcast a particular SSID from particular radios. So if you set up a 2.4 network and call it say 'Aquarium' you want that to be broadcast only from the access point that is closest to the tank if possible.

This is based just on some things I have read about WiFi issues with ESP32s but it seems plausible and likely an issue with many devices similar to an ESP32. It is just conjecture on my part that Hydros is even using ESP32s or similar in their controllers but it is a very popular and cost effective way to provide the kind of functionality you get from Hydros. In fact I think I remember the Reef-Pi project started to connect in ESP32-type devices a few years back. I may be mis-remembering this but either way what I said above should give the best chance of success with any low-power WiFi 2.4-only device.

Optimally you want all of the devices fairly near a single WiFi radio with a 2 .4GHz-only connection just for the Hydros collective.
 

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Yes and if you have multiple radios, like a mesh network or--like in my case multiple access points (radios) scattered throughout the house, try to make sure the controllers all connect to the same access point. If you only have one access point, like a WiFi router, then this is not an issue.

Some mesh networks and most multiple-access-point networks allow you to broadcast a particular SSID from particular radios. So if you set up a 2.4 network and call it say 'Aquarium' you want that to be broadcast only from the access point that is closest to the tank if possible.

This is based just on some things I have read about WiFi issues with ESP32s but it seems plausible and likely an issue with many devices similar to an ESP32. It is just conjecture on my part that Hydros is even using ESP32s or similar in their controllers but it is a very popular and cost effective way to provide the kind of functionality you get from Hydros. In fact I think I remember the Reef-Pi project started to connect in ESP32-type devices a few years back. I may be mis-remembering this but either way what I said above should give the best chance of success with any low-power WiFi 2.4-only device.

Optimally you want all of the devices fairly near a single WiFi radio with a 2 .4GHz-only connection just for the Hydros collective.
I might need you to walk me through some configurations. I sort of understand the concept but I'm not sure how to implement it properly. I bought the 2.4ghz extender that was recommended on Amazon and it does have a different name when I look at my list of available networks but obviously something still isn't right as far as it being a dedicated connection point for the Hydros gear.
 

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I might need you to walk me through some configurations. I sort of understand the concept but I'm not sure how to implement it properly. I bought the 2.4ghz extender that was recommended on Amazon and it does have a different name when I look at my list of available networks but obviously something still isn't right as far as it being a dedicated connection point for the Hydros gear.
Glad to help if I can. Probably a DM is best so that we don't further trash JoJos thread.
 
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JoJosReef

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Glad too help if I can. Probably a DM is best so that we don't further trash JoJos thread.
This topic is a bit serious even for my thread ;~)
 
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JoJosReef

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Glad to help if I can. Probably a DM is best so that we don't further trash JoJos thread.
But you're welcome to resolve anything here! With my large following (sponsorship deals coming any day now), it's bound to help out more people.
 

Mschmidt

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But you're welcome to resolve anything here! With my large following (sponsorship deals coming any day now), it's bound to help out more people.
When do the giveaways start and how can we keep tim from winning them all?
 

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I might need you to walk me through some configurations. I sort of understand the concept but I'm not sure how to implement it properly. I bought the 2.4ghz extender that was recommended on Amazon and it does have a different name when I look at my list of available networks but obviously something still isn't right as far as it being a dedicated connection point for the Hydros gear.
You may need an access point rather than an extender. That was my trouble; the extender could separate the bands, but in the end caused more trouble. @tharbin can probably say that in science too.
 

tharbin

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You may need an access point rather than an extender. That was my trouble; the extender could separate the bands, but in the end caused more trouble. @tharbin can probably say that in science too.
Well said.
 

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I was able to solve all my Hydros connection issues with a dedicated router configured with only the 2.4ghz band active. A $25 item from Walmart. To maintain connectivity for the wireless powerbar, I found I needed to place the router within 5 feet of the powerbar. Since doing so, zero disconnections in months of use.

Now, my only concern, is the recent post from Telegram where he found that if a sense port device goes bad, it disables the entire sense bus on that Hydros controller.
 

tharbin

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I was able to solve all my Hydros connection issues with a dedicated router configured with only the 2.4ghz band active. A $25 item from Walmart. To maintain connectivity for the wireless powerbar, I found I needed to place the router within 5 feet of the powerbar. Since doing so, zero disconnections in months of use.

Now, my only concern, is the recent post from Telegram where he found that if a sense port device goes bad, it disables the entire sense bus on that Hydros controller.
This is probably the easiest, and best solution for most home networks.

Don't like what you just said about the sense ports. I assume it is if a device shorts rather than opens?
 

tharbin

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Thanks for this. The problem is actually one I would have assumed on any aquarium controller. I doubt that any of the controllers individually fuse each peripheral power line. His optical sensor shorted and took down the 5v rail to the sense ports on that controller. That is no different from a common household circuit. A device that shorts takes down the run. I won't be too concerned with this personally but if it bothers me I will just put a PTC (self-resetting electronic fuse) in line with each sense device.
 

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