Topic: Any participants with RED connected to a wifi client?

[meteo-melin]

Hello,

One of my stations will be moved to a place where it is not possible to connect it with a wired connection.
I'm currently trying to make it works by connecting it to a wifi AP set in client mode.

Unfortunately this is very noisy as you can see on the signal graph: http://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=statistics&bo_show=station&bo_sid=680&bo_station_id=675

Do you have any suggestions to have it running better?

Thanks a lot.
Clement

[saratogaWX]

I'm using a Cisco RE1000 in WiFi extender mode in the garage -- the RED board is connected to the ethernet port on it and it's working fine (except for the occasional change of IP address when DHCP lease expires).  I, too, couldn't run a physical cable to the location.  I'd also tried a pair of power-line ethernet extenders, but got better results with the RE1000 (higher throughput). 

[miraculon]

I am running a GridConnect industrial AP configured as a client. I have my Blitzortung controllers out in the garage where it gets quite cold in the winter. This AP was rated for -30°C, which is why I bought it.

Was the station quiet before you added the WiFi client? Can you try a different power supply for the AP? Maybe it is a noisy supply. I can't think of any particular reason that the WiFi link should introduce noise unless the AP has poor EMI characteristics.

Greg H.

[meteo-melin]

Thank you four your answers.

Yes the station was (is) working pretty good with a wired connection.

Currently the interference levels stay the lowest possible. They do not reach level such 70 or 80 sig/s.

Il'll try to find an other power supply.

[meteo-melin]

Sadly, I had no 9V/DC 1A power supply. I'm waiting it to arrive.
I also ordered some ferrites.

[meteo-melin]

Unfortunately, the new power supply and the ferrites do not solve the problem.

It appears that those interferences are transmitted through the ethernet cable.
Indeed, with the AP powered on but not connected to RED, everything runs smoothly. Immediately after plugging in the ethernet cable from the AP, the detector goes in interference mode.

[miraculon]

Are you using STP or UTP Ethernet cable? If it is UTP, you might try STP (shielded).

Greg H.

[meteo-melin]

Tried with FTP cable... still the same.
Interference is about 50sig/s.

Note that the RJ45 port on the AP is unshielded.

EDIT:

[Joel]

What happens if you insert a switch between the RED controller and the AP ?

[Maumelle Weather]

I have a 25ft. STP cable running from my Red controller to my Airport Express AP. Also, please make sure the controller is properly grounded. This was of my major headaches on interference/noise levels.

John

[meteo-melin]

At first, I thought it would help but this is not the case. The signal rate stays at about 40sig/s.

After a good night, I asked myself: "Is that problem so complicated? Is it really a power supply or hardware matter?" 

Back to basics: I simply switched from automatic mode to manual mode, set proper gains and thresholds and the station is back on duty (at least for now...).