Periodic Packet Loss

[Team3266Spencer]

I'm getting 100% packet loss about every 10 seconds for 2 when connected to a robot wirelessly. The router was configured with FRC's tool and QOS is disabled. This is making the system almost unusable. It's not electrical or code because if I tether directly to the bridge there is no packet loss.

[Team3266Spencer]

I'm bumping this because more people are online right now and I really want to resolve this issue.

[Joe Ross]

Is the radio in AP mode? Are there lots of other wireless networks around? You can use a tool like inSSIDer to see the channel assignments.

Does this only happen on your computer or multiple computers? I had an issue with the wireless driver on my computer that was similar, but not as frequent, that decreased significantly when I updated my wireless driver.

[Greg McKaskle]

As Joe mentioned, I've seen a number of Windows laptops that will interrupt wifi for about one second in order to scan for available access points that are in the area. I generally see the blips at around 69 second intervals, but have seen some at 34 seconds as well. I'd try installing the latest drivers from the computer vendor and see if this helps.

Another issues I've heard, but never seen, has to do with IT departments detecting a rogue APs and attempting to shut them down. It may be worth contacting the school or other IT officials and describing what you are doing and your symptoms.

Finally, it may be worth checking that your AP and laptop are set to 5 GHz. This tends to be less crowded and have fewer issues.

Greg McKaskle

[Team3266Spencer]

I've tried both 2.4 and 5 and disabled all my antivirus and internet security. I think my computer is refreshing the network because it doesn't have internet connectivity. Is there anything I can do about this?

[Joe Ross]

Have you tried another computer yet or checked the wireless environment? If you haven't isolated it to your computer, it doesn't make much sense spending a lot of time troubleshooting your computer.

[dravis]

I am experiencing the same problem. I have tried different network settings, removed all other wireless networks, and tried 2 separate laptops. Every 10 seconds I lose packets and the robot is undrivable. Tether works fine.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Team3266Spencer]

What computer are you using?

[Team3266Spencer]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

Have you tried another computer yet or checked the wireless environment? If you haven't isolated it to your computer, it doesn't make much sense spending a lot of time troubleshooting your computer.

Yes I have isolated it to my computer. Sorry didn't see that anyone responded to this thread.

[dravis]

I tried two different dell laptops that we use every year for development/testing. I have not finished configuring the PC2Go yet but will try it when it is ready.

You are saying you don't have this problem with other laptops?

[Team3266Spencer]

Originally Posted by dravis

I tried two different dell laptops that we use every year for development/testing. I have not finished configuring the PC2Go yet but will try it when it is ready.

You are saying you don't have this problem with other laptops?

On my development computer I have this problem but on our drive station laptop (classmate) there are no issues.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Team3266Spencer

On my development computer I have this problem but on our drive station laptop (classmate) there are no issues.

Windoze on your development computer is probably responsible. Try shutting down all unnecessary apps (including start-up apps) and see what happens.

[Ether]

Or you can use a digital storage oscilloscope to look at the RTS pin on your computer's RS232 port while running the RTS toggle app downloadable here.

[dravis]

Originally Posted by Ether

Windoze on your development computer is probably responsible. Try shutting down all unnecessary apps (including start-up apps) and see what happens.

Problem solved. Someone installed Autodesk Inventor and the update manager was running. Killing that stopped the issue.

Thanks!

[Team3266Spencer]

Originally Posted by dravis

Problem solved. Someone installed Autodesk Inventor and the update manager was running. Killing that stopped the issue.

Thanks!

This was the issue for me as well. Stopped each of my startup programs and checked for packet loss. When I killed the Autodesk update manager the packet loss stopped.