ASIAIR v2.4.2 Public Beta Released!: Page 3

ASIAIR v2.4.2 Public Beta Released!

9Ej7KtYy

PMTeam@ZWO can you please give me a answer to the previous question thanks.

Luxo

PMTeam@ZWO

ZWO, I don't see any point in testing this until you have actually fixed some bugs, and state which ones.

9Ej7KtYy

???? Hello? PMTeam@ZWO

Corsair

9Ej7KtYy if you're after an exact date of when the, I'm assuming Canon R8, will be added to the ASIAIR Firmware then I highly doubt @PMTeam@ZWO or @Tech@ZWO can help you there.

9Ej7KtYy

Corsair thank you for the info. What ever ZWO thing please respond. I am waiting.

Luxo

PMTeam@ZWO

RE unstable WiFi connections.

I've tried running the ASIAir app 2.4.2 in MacOS (on a M3 MacBook Air) with XCODE and debugging tools both at home and outside at a remote location with no other WiFi nearby. I ran an AUTORUN session with 30sec frames x 500, the camera being my ASI2600MC DUO.

I am sure the issue IS NOT the ASIAir firmware per-se, nor the antenna. The issue lies in the app running on iOS - there is a memory leak in the way the app handles TCP/IP traffic, the app runs for a while, but after lots of I/O its leaking memory and eventually the connection hangs and the WiFi connection dies.

The first symptom I found is this:

using ASIAir in close proximity to other units is likely to trigger the WiFi failure.
using ASIAir with no other WiFi nearby, it was reliable.
using ASIAir connected via ethernet to a WiFi router (a Teltonika RUT50X) , it works fine.

First conclusion: the WiFi implementation is buggy, either/both in the app or ASIAir.

Second conclusion: what pinpoints the app itself as the culprit is this:

If you restart the phone/tablet, reconnect the WiFI and start the app again you should find ASIAir was happily taking subs the whole time and will reconnect. Rebooting the device clears the memory leak, and it will work again, for a while. Closing and restarting the app does not clear the memory leak, however.

gregg_zwo

Luxo
Hello Luxo,

Many thanks for your effort looking into the ASIAIR connection stability problems. I had thought about doing some of those experiments last year, but never had the time.
If I remember correctly, the ASIAIR WiFi connection instability problems first appeared around version 2.0.x or 2.1.x or 2.2.x last year. I only experienced the problem a couple times, because I am no longer using the ASIAIR WiFi in a standard configuration.
I am currently using a WiFi booster/extender (TPLink AC750 Nano) piggybacked onto an ASIAir Plus, which allows much longer WiFi connection (75 feet) from the ASIAir to the iPad in my house. The ASIAir communicates with the WiFi extender over a short distance (a few inches), which then has a separate WiFi connection to the iPad. With the WiFi extender, I have never experienced the WiFi connection problems.
I had always assumed the problem was with the ASIAir firmware inside the device, but your experiments seem to pretty clearly indicate the problem is with the ASIAir app on iOS.
I am surprised that closing and re-starting the app does not clear the memory leak. iOS (in theory) should free up all the leaked app memory when the app is closed. This would imply some kind of strange interaction the app is having with iOS, if it's necessary to re-start the iOS device to clear the leak.
I have also used a short ethernet cable to connect the ASIAir to the WiFi extender, and that configuration also seems to work ok. So the problem seems to be related to longer WiFi connections from the ASIAir to the device running the iOS app, or perhaps related to interference from other nearby WiFi devices.

Btw, I am still running ASIAir app version 2.2.2 on my ASIAir Plus, which is quite stable otherwise. I have not wanted to upgrade until more of the kinks are worked out in the later versions.

Anyway, this is all useful information for ZWO to hopefully be able to track down the source of the problem.

jceko

Luxo Interesting. I was at a star party last week and all of the people running Airs near me (as well as me) had their wifi disconnecting regularly. No one lost any subs since you could just reconnect, but it was annoying.

jeff.smith

Well, I just tried 2.4.2 and I’ll just say don’t waste your time after failing polar alignment and failing to plate solving multiple times I downgraded back to 2.4.1.
At least this one has been stable.

ZWO please get your shit together. People pay a lot of money to be in your eco system and we would prefer it works.

Thanks all.

Hn2z7ENs

PMTeam@ZWO

Sorry for being slow. When I click the above link it sends me to test flight install for 2.4.9 (2.3.3). How do I get 2.4.2?

6UBF9B70

Has the exposure failure + shutdown during autorun been fixed for 2600mc air? I cant use a 2000 dollar camera because you wont address a bug thats been reported by multiple people.

deans

6UBF9B70

I have done autorun for a couple nights with no issues using the latest update, which ever it is. No disconnects and good meridian flips. I also have an ASIair plus running next to it with good results also.

Wanted to add, next month is the OkieTex star party. With hundreds of other users present it will certainly be a good test of connections.

6UBF9B70

deans i also have an asiair with a 2600mm for my mono. I have no issues with it. My problem is with the 2600mc air smart camera.

deans

6UBF9B70

I should have been more clear. I ran my 2600Air those 2 nights, along side the other mount with the ASIAir plus and 2600MC.

6UBF9B70

deans Did you have this issue prior to this update? If not then your device is not affected

deans

6UBF9B70

Actually I had a worse issue in Feb and I sent it back. They replaced both boards and it has worked fine since. My none Air 2600's are very sensitive to USB cables and that is always the first thing I change out if I am having issues. Of course does not apply to our Air units.

6UBF9B70

deans Im currently talking with support to see if they can take a look. It may be a hardware issue but others have reported the same thing so it can be software as well. It started with the 2.4 update so this may have been a regression from that update. I just wish the autorun would continue the plan instead of ending the session when an exposure fails.

deans

6UBF9B70

I have not had a failed exposure on the Air, but that was a sign of bad USB cable on the other 2600. So wonder if it is inside the air on yours.

When mine went bad it would not connect or even show a wifi signal. I bet it is easier for them just to replace the boards instead of trying to figure out what is actually wrong. Would be nice to know what it was though.

9kr69ubP

jceko 2.4GHz? Only 13 channels with 3 non overlapping ones so congestion is common. Use 5GHz and just accept you have to be a bit closer. Last star party I went to I could see about 30 Seestars and Airs on wi-fi

Corsair

9kr69ubP so many things can cause Wi-Fi issues and intereference from other Wi-Fi signals being broadcast is definitely one of them.

I would suggest, for those with an ASIAIR Plus/Pro, to get yourself a travel router - such as a GL.iNET MT-3000 - and connect your ASIAIR to the travel router via Ethernet (no need to enable Station Mode). Then you can configure your travel router to broadcast on a channel that isn't being over saturated with Wi-Fi networks (get the WiFiman on your phone if you're on Android to help with signal and channel analysis).

Also, don't mount your ASIAIR on the OTA/Telescope. Mount it on the tripod spreader/accessory tray instead to stop thermal interference from the OTA/Telescope. Also, if you're using the Wi-Fi from the ASIAIR and not using a travel router, it would avoid having the antenna move around which can easily cause connection to drop out to your device running the ASIAIR App.

gregg_zwo

Corsair
Yes, as I mentioned in my post a few days ago, a travel router/extender is definitely the way to go for those having WiFi problems on the ASIAIR. I've been using the WiFi travel router/extender with my ASIAIR Plus for about 2 years now without any problems. I have the TP-Link AC750 Nano, but the GL.INET MT-3000 is certainly another good choice. The nice thing about the travel routers is that most of them run from 5V power, so they can be powered directly from the USB outlets on the ASIAIR itself.

I have my travel router connected to the ASIAIR via WiFi since I am not in a highly congested WiFi area near my home. But a short ethernet cable can certainly be used to connect them, which eliminates any dependence on the ASIAIR's built-in WiFi, and also reduces problems with WiFi congestion.

For mounting, I do have both my ASIAIR and travel router mounted on my OTA, just to allow all cable connections for cameras, EFW, EAF, Dew Heaters, etc. to be self-contained on the OTA, which helps eliminate risk of cable snags. The only cable I have coming from my OTA to the ground is the 12V power for the ASIAIR, everything else is completely on the OTA.
But I agree there might be some directional WiFi issues sometimes, so mounting the ASIAIR or travel router on the tripod is good alternative in those conditions.

There is still the issue of apparent memory leaks or other bugs in the ASIAIR app itself which may be affecting WiFi performance, from Luxo's investigation. Hopefully ZWO can look into that issue further.

« Previous Page