Improving Wifi on Iot lightbulbs

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Improving Wifi on Iot lightbulbs

CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#273247 12-Aug-2020 14:15

Hi Team,

I brought a bunch of these: https://www.bunnings.co.nz/arlec-grid-connect-smart-9-5w-806lm-rgb-cct-es-globe_p0111501

Smart light bulbs. Work really well except for 2 beside the front door which seem to lose wifi on a regular. I have 16 now - and all bar the front door position work great.

I've checked (and changed) the wifi channels, swapped lightbulbs etc, and when running wifi analyser on my phone reception is pretty good. It just seems small wifi antennas maybe.

I have 2x unifi UAP-AC PRO AP's so are pretty decent, running on different channels with a single ssid.

Without trying to disassemble the bulbs and voiding warranty/causing electrical issues any ideas on what I can do? The bulbs themselves are encased in a frosted glass done so I can make them uglier without it being a problem.

RunningMan

8953 posts

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#2539425 12-Aug-2020 14:30

Connecting to a 2.4 GHz SSID? Should be better for coverage than 5 GHz.

CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2539449 12-Aug-2020 14:48

RunningMan:

Connecting to a 2.4 GHz SSID? Should be better for coverage than 5 GHz.

Good thinking - bulbs are 2.4 ghz only.

RunningMan

8953 posts

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#2539451 12-Aug-2020 14:55

Hmm. Bayonet or ES base? If bayonet, does rotating them 180 degrees help to reposition the antenna better? Or grab the coverage maps for the AC Pro and rotate them for best coverage (it's not uniform all the way around, and it may be an extra dB or so is all you need.

CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2539457 12-Aug-2020 15:03

ES Base. I'll check out the coverage maps, thats a good idea

michaelmurfy

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#2539462 12-Aug-2020 15:13

I noticed a number of issues with your UniFi access points (as they're on the GZ cloud controller) and have amended this. There is Wireless AI running across your access points and so power as well as channels are automatically managed by the controller.

Give it a shot now and see if this has improved for you.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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SATTV

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#2539463 12-Aug-2020 15:15

Sounds counter intuitive but try dropping the power on the unifi to see if connectivity improves.

Alternatively add another access point and drop the power.

kobiak

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#2539466 12-Aug-2020 15:16

how far is the router from patch bulbs?

Mine was not that great too, outside as well on ground level, and router is on second level (some 15-18m between bulbs and router). But bulbs on the same level or above works without problems. Mine fix was to install second AP on ground level with minimal transmission power as mesh network and everything works flawlessly now.

helping others at evgenyk.nz

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CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2539479 12-Aug-2020 15:40

@michaelmurfy:

I noticed a number of issues with your UniFi access points (as they're on the GZ cloud controller) and have amended this. There is Wireless AI running across your access points and so power as well as channels are automatically managed by the controller.

Give it a shot now and see if this has improved for you.

Just reset the most problematic lightbulb and the issue remains unfortunately.

It connects after one or two tries resetting in then will stop working after a few minutes. It may later on randomly start as well.

CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2539482 12-Aug-2020 15:44

kobiak:

how far is the router from patch bulbs?

Mine was not that great too, outside as well on ground level, and router is on second level (some 15-18m between bulbs and router). But bulbs on the same level or above works without problems. Mine fix was to install second AP on ground level with minimal transmission power as mesh network and everything works flawlessly now.

I live on a split level house and have an AP at each end. It has pretty good coverage.

As per michaelmurfy above there is AI controlling the AP's. It's interesting though - there is one further away bulb in the same style light fitting that works fine.

CokemonZ

1051 posts

Uber Geek

#2539486 12-Aug-2020 15:49

SATTV:

Sounds counter intuitive but try dropping the power on the unifi to see if connectivity improves.

Alternatively add another access point and drop the power.

More power is not always the answer.

John

I'm on the cloud controller with AI magic happening, and already have 2 AP's.

Good suggestion though, and appreciate it. When I measure with my phone in the same location I get good reception, so it makes me think a little bit it's the return path thats the issue.

michaelmurfy

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#2539499 12-Aug-2020 16:03

I did reduce the power slightly on the access points as a test so isn't this. Perhaps swap out the bulbs to see if others exhibit the same behavior?

CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2539551 12-Aug-2020 17:16

Ok - I've swapped out the most problematic position, and it's been working for a few minutes now. I'll keep an eye on it tonight and hope.

Thanks for your help!

richms

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#2539658 12-Aug-2020 18:46

Could someone nearby be running a deauther and its just that your outside lights are within range of it?

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#2539837 13-Aug-2020 07:24

What is signal strength and MCS rates on the bulbs with a problem?

CokemonZ

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#2540035 13-Aug-2020 11:44

So I went down a rabbit hole looking at deauthors :) - int this case I'm in the middle of suburbia, and it's only 2 outside lights - of which I have a few, so I think it's unlikely.

The connection stayed up overnight, so I'm marking this under done. Thanks everyone! especially @michaelmurfy , both for helping sort this out and having the cloud controller!