Problems using ispindel in a fermenting keg

[phildo79]

So I ferment in a keg and recently bought an ispindel. Using it for the first time and my concerns have come true. The keg acts as a Faraday cage and no WiFi signal escapes. Does anyone know of a workaround? I could have swore I read a thread on the topic and some people having success but can't locate it ATM.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Some ispindels have more difficulty with this than others because of their design, my one using pcb with the wifi and charge module on either side like a sandwich is like this. The problem is that the wifi antenna is not near the lid but rotated away and so just below the wort / beer surface. This doesn't help the signal. Other designs don't have this problem. Some people have fitted a separate antenna on the board but that again requires a little electronics.

How far is the ispindel from your router?
Solutions include

Passive antenna using coax to boost the signal from the ispindel to the wifi point. There's a certain length of wire you need for this but it's meant to help.

Put a second access point right near or in your ferment fridge, I managed this using an old router that I had lying around.

THis option as well



I have gleaned most of my knowledge from this thread about the ispindel

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ispindle-diy-electronic-hydrometer.598187/
It is not an insurmountable problem.

Not like mine that sank in my NEIPA this week once I put a bit of pressure on the ferment. So I'll be getting the soldering iron out again!

 

[phildo79]

@RoomWithABrew
Mate, your a legend. It's working! My router is in the front room, the keg was in the kitchen. About 40 feet apart. I just brought the keg into the front room and voila, a reading popped up.

Now, 20L of wort is heavy enough so I won't want to be doing this on a regular basis but one of those gadgets in that video could solve that problem.

Thank you so much, mate.
Cheers

 

[RoomWithABrew]

I'd go with the repurposed router, pick them up for nothing, a bit of cable from the main router into the new ( old ) router and away you go.
Cost me nothing. I found it easier to configure the second router with a different name but the same password. Then you can set your ispindel to log onto the brew router only.
I see your brew plan and am just cold crashing a Weldwerks fitbits clone with kveik. Thats been fun other than the spindel sinking.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

latest post on the home brew talk shows the nautilus in action as well. User happy with his and using SS fermenter with it.

http://www.nautilis.eu/en/portfolio-item/nautilis-ispindel-relay/

 

[phildo79]

I'd go with the repurposed router, pick them up for nothing, a bit of cable from the main router into the new ( old ) router and away you go.
Cost me nothing. I found it easier to configure the second router with a different name but the same password. Then you can set your ispindel to log onto the brew router only.
I see your brew plan and am just cold crashing a Weldwerks fitbits clone with kveik. Thats been fun other than the spindel sinking.

By 'bit of cable' do you mean an ethernet cable from the main hub to the secondary? Because that would be a real faff, winding over 50 feet of cable through the house. I don't recall seeing an ethernet port in the kitchen but perhaps there is one.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Yes I did. It is possible to do this over wifi as well which sounds as if it will be easier for you.

 

[phildo79]

Yes I did. It is possible to do this over wifi as well which sounds as if it will be easier for you.

Does it need to be the exact same type of hub? My brain starts to shut down when it comes to this sort of stuff

 

[phildo79]

Would this work?
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/128...mqup8L-LoSAiQc5Z2-AaAj1vEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[phildo79]

Something weird happened. I moved the keg back into the kitchen before going to bed. I got several updates in the early hours of the morning. Quite puzzling. Wonder if it will happen again tonight.

 

[samale]

Something weird happened. I moved the keg back into the kitchen before going to bed. I got several updates in the early hours of the morning. Quite puzzling. Wonder if it will happen again tonight.

You could be having wet dreams about your beer.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

No it certainly doesn't need to be the same model hub at all. Ask around lots of people have one lying around after a change of service provider. Also call charity shops or ebay as options.
I just followed instructions for using second router to extend network. But as I said above couldn't get it working until I gave that access point a different name.
It might have worked in the night because the wifi bandwith was less active and a ping got through.

 

[Regfixit]

Would this work?
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/128...mqup8L-LoSAiQc5Z2-AaAj1vEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It might work... If you can get WifI in the kitchen normally say on your phone etc, but it's just not strong enough to penetrate the keg, then that extender will be able to pick up the Wifi and create a new WiFi next to your Keg that should be strong enough for the job.
I use something similar, but instead of WiFi connection it uses the AC mains to link to my main router. Google Powerline extender. Or here is Argos link Powerline

When I get around to it, I'm planning to set up mesh WiFi so the whole house has seamless WiFi with the same SSID.

 

[phildo79]

Update:
There is an even easier way to get readings. All I did was turn on my hotspot setting in my phone and put it beside the keg. Worked a treat. No need to move the keg to the router or use a second hub or a wi-fi booster (which didn't work).

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Half the parts for the repetidor have arrived, but half the parts is about as useful as no parts. Will let you know if it works well.
You set the ispindel to use the name of your hotspot I assume or some other cleverness?

 

[phildo79]

Half the parts for the repetidor have arrived, but half the parts is about as useful as no parts. Will let you know if it works well.
You set the ispindel to use the name of your hotspot I assume or some other cleverness?

I didn't do anything like that. It just dawned on me that my phone had the capability to act as a wi-fi hub, of sorts. So all I did was turn on the hotspot. The ispindel is already linked to my phone via the ubidots app.

But I get random readings from it when I don't have the hotspot on. I really only want it to tell me when fermentation has ended or if it has stuck. If I wanted constant updates, I would use a second phone and just leave it beside the FV.

 

[Binkei Huckaback]

A good source for a used router is Freecycle. If no-one is offering one, make a wanted post. It's free to join Freecyle and everything offered is free.

If anyone's done this with two Sky routers (the most up-to-date one) and the older, black square one, I'd be grateful for any guidance. I tried it ages ago, but it didn't quite work. I need to get the signal (for now) into a blockwork shed. I get WiFi in the kitchen, outside the kitchen and very occasionally in the shed.

Including the shed, there are three walls (and some big cupboards) on direct line of sight from the router. The ideal site for the extra router - if in the house - would be on the other side of the wall from the existing router.

Sorry if I've hijacked the thread.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

@Binkei Huckaback
I used instructions a bit like these
https://www.techradar.com/nz/how-to/networking/how-to-turn-a-router-into-a-range-extender-1301177I did find that it worked better having that second router with a different name but I did keep the same password as the rest of the network. I did connect the two by wire although connecting by WIFI is also possible.
Further thing to consider with your second router you might be able to get a signal to it on the outside wall that will improve it's power sending to the brewshed. Also things like pringle antennas are useful to boost signals. Not much help though for an ispindel though.