iSpindel - digital WiFi hydrometer

[Harry Bloomfield]

I think the default lease time is 12 hours. My main router, which handles DHCP is an ex-BT router, with the firmware changed to OpenWRT. That is wired to a second router on the ground floor, which is a Netgear WNDR3400v2. My iSpindle connects to the latter router, because it is nearer.

There are three laptops in the place, they also sometimes seem to lose their IP access and the only way to recover access until now, has been to force a full cold reboot. It has been these problems with laptops, which has prompted me to try to allocate everything a static IP in the router and had me wondering if the iSpindel might be suffering the same issue. I have around 25 to 30 items which can appear at various times on my LAN, though usually not all at the same time.

Confirming why the iSpindle loses contact, will be a long process. I have only used it and had it loss contact twice in the past 3 months and I have only used it those two times. I will see what happens now it has a static IP allocated.

 

[kelper]

Is your second router configured as a range-extender? I have similar issues and tried fixed IPs but it did not seem to make any difference. Every few weeks some gadget refuses to connect and I have to reboot. Our Android phones never fail to connect, it's always Windows PCs! My Tilt sometimes won't connect to my Raspberry Pi and I have to reboot it. Well-designed clients and servers (routers and gadgets) should not have these problems.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

My FTTC comes in via the eaves, straight to my OpenWRT router in my loft. That one then has a wired LAN to the ground floor and Netgear. The second router is just configured as a normal, separate router, with its wired ports and 2 +5Ghz wifi. Most of my gadgets are configured to enable them to connect to whichever router provides best wifi access. The OpenWRT manages to give some access throughout my garden. The Netgear helps with the more difficult ground floor/ thick walls access.

I have noticed one benefit from setting up static IP's, which I don't understand....

I have an on all the time IP camera, which specs a 25fps rate and wired LAN. It has been in place for years, on a static allocated IP and it would normally produce a reported fps of 2 to 6, depending on the complexity of the scene. Since setting everything up with fixed IP's the fps has gone way up, I am seeing 3 to 4 times the fps reported.

 

[kelper]

@Harry Bloomfield

That sounds like a 'router-behind-router configuration' which is unusual. Do both routers have their DHCP servers enabled? That could cause issues as each would not know which IP addresses the other router had allocated. I'm not a network guru but a happy fiddler.

You could try making the second router an extender or access point so it got IPs from numero uno.

I have such a setup because I need one router to use a proxy and appear to be in the US so I can receive streaming music from Pandora.

How many IP addresses are being used? I have over thirty! Lifx bulbs and Sonos speakers account for 12. Then there are laptops and phones. I also have a Tilt, an iSpindel and some radiator valves and thermostats which all have a hub.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

That sounds like a 'router-behind-router configuration' which is unusual. Do both routers have their DHCP servers enabled? That could cause issues as each would not know which IP addresses the other router had allocated. I'm not a network guru but a happy fiddler.

You could try making the second router an extender or access point so it got IPs from numero uno.

Both routers able to provide DHCP would really make a mess of things. No, only my OpenWRT router has DHCP enabled. I have around 25 to 30 items, now all provided by static addresses by the main router, the OpenWRT.

 

[The Cat]

This is what I have this morning for my first attempt. I have not calibrated the gravity on it yet have just used it as is so it is not totally accurate but I am using hydrometer readings to see how much difference there is. Using it more to see if it will accurately tell me when fermentation has ended this time round.

Nice to see the overnight temperature from the heat pad didn't drop too much in the garage.

 

[The Cat]

OK brick wall time. Ubidots has not received any data for 4 hours. I have it set up to send every 15 mins but not received anything for over 4 hours.

Refresh doesn't seem to do anything either. Any suggestions I can make a quick check on anyone please?

 

[kelper]

look in your profile to see how many dots you are sending and receiving - it gets capped on a free account.

 

[The Cat]

look in your profile to see how many dots you are sending and receiving - it gets capped on a free account.

Thanks have tried that but I look way under the STEM allowance from what I can see. Wonder if it is struggling to connect for some reason?

 

[kelper]

What is the signal strength (RSI)?

 

[The Cat]

What is the signal strength (RSI)?

The last value recieved at around 09:00 seems to be -80. Thanks fo the help :)

 

[kelper]

That's quite low. Can you move it closer to the router or get a wifi extender?

 

[The Cat]

That's quite low. Can you move it closer to the router or get a wifi extender?

I think I will need to look at the wifi side of things by the look of it - it's in the FV which is in the garage so moving isn't an option at the moment.

It was quite happy yesterday maybe it will connect again later then - main thing is my airlock is bubbling quite happily and the temperature is remaining good.

I will look into a wifi extender then many thanks for your help.

 

[Hanglow]

I had to move my BT wifi extender in order to get a decent signal. Also BT has a habit of cutting out for a couple of hours in the early hours, I assume they work on the exchange then or similar, but it is a bit annoying

 

[SteveA]

OK brick wall time. Ubidots has not received any data for 4 hours. I have it set up to send every 15 mins but not received anything for over 4 hours.

Refresh doesn't seem to do anything either. Any suggestions I can make a quick check on anyone please?

I’m fairly new to them too (struggling to get the gravity / formula setting right) but lost connection once when the battery ran out and once due to (I think) the amount of trub that had stuck to the lid.

 

[kelper]

I don't put my Tilt or iSpindel in for the first couple of days to avoid this. I take an OG manually.

 

[The Cat]

I don't put my Tilt or iSpindel in for the first couple o days to avoid this. I take an OG manually.

Do you think it is worth me taking it out, sanitising and putting it back in? Or just do it better next time?

 

[kelper]

I have done that a few times! Just see what it reads before and after cleaning to decide if it's worthwhile.

 

[The Cat]

I have done that a few times! Just see what it reads before and after cleaning to decide if it's worthwhile.

I think I will suck it up this time and leave it in there the whole point of buying it was to not open the thing so often. Got a wifi extender coming and will use that next time and also not put the ispindel in for a few days.

I took a manual reading to start so it's ok for now. Cheers again.

 

[kelper]

I love watching the fermentation slow down. you can see that it is still dropping when the SG drops 1 point a day or less, can go on for an extra week.