B2 Internet problems

[John Smith]

Recently purchased a B2 (have a JB7) and set it up, connected to internet but not finding any album details. I have the web interface but it doesn’t always connect and if it does it keeps dropping out. My broadband and internet are very reliable for all my other devices so I don’t understand why the B2 seems to be having problems. It says it is connected and it is showing the time but my home hub says not connected. I have tried rebooting the hub and reconnecting but just get same result. Any ideas anyone?

[Daniel Taylor]

Please check the WiFi signal strength, using the WiFi Strength command from the Maintenance menu.  Here is the standard advice regarding that:

Your signal strength should be better than -50 (-40 being better, -60 being worse) and not fluctuate wildly.

To improve your signal strength, try the following:

Move your B2 closer to your router.

Switch the WiFi dongle to USB C.

Move your WiFi dongle to the end of a USB extension cable.

You can buy a new WiFi dongle that has an antenna.  Look for one that has the RT5370 chipset.

If none of that helps, you could try plugging a network cable between the inside back of the B2 and your router (and remove the WiFi dongle).

[Jeff. M.]

I turned off 5ghz band on my home hub! It could be trying to connect to that. Also people have had problems with mesh systems, do you have one of those? 

Jeff. 

[Tom Barron]

I suspect the wireless lan interface on the B2 is flapping.  At least
that's what is happening with mine (purchased 2021-11-21, running s/w
from Oct 22 2021 12:29:15).

The B2 is 6 inches from the router/wap.  Signal strength is -7dBm.

It has the usb ethernet dongle with visible antenna, plugged in to USB A.

I also connected the B2 with direct wired ethernet so that I could see
(via ssh to the B2 on its ethernet IP) /var/log/messages when the B2 becomes
unreachable at its wlan IP.

The log contains sequences of messages that show interface wlan0 getting
errors, getting taken down, the usb device behind wlan0 going away and
then getting discovered anew, the interface then coming back up, etc.

This issue may be specific to the usb ethernet device that shipped with
these B2s since when it is discovered there is a message indicating that
the device has a firmware version that the B2 kernel does not recognize:

    mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Warning: unsupported EEPROM version 0d

Sample messages from when wlan0 goes down:

Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.196465] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.196626] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.196736] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.196916] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.197178] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.197373] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.197447] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.197552] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.197705] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.197863] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.198064] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.198305] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.198451] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.198636] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.198742] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.198881] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Error: RX urb failed:-71
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2741.446802] usb 1-1.3.3: USB disconnect, device number 7
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2741.447568] wlan0: deauthenticating from 02:6a:e3:63:d4:99 by local choice (Reason: 3=DEAUTH_LEAVING)
Dec  5 16:38:56 BrennanB2 user.err kernel: [ 2741.460903] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: mt7601u_rxdc_cal timed out
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info mdev.wlan: DEVTYPE: wlan, ACTION: remove, DEVPATH: /devices/platform/soc/20980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3/1-1.3.3/1-1.3.3:1.0/net/wlan0, MDEV: wlan0
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info mdev.wlan: trying to bring wlan0 down
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2741.858254] usb 1-1.3.3: new full-speed USB device number 9 using dwc_otg
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.058268] usb 1-1.3.3: new high-speed USB device number 10 using dwc_otg
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.200305] usb 1-1.3.3: New USB device found, idVendor=148f, idProduct=7601, bcdDevice= 0.00
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.200369] usb 1-1.3.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.200382] usb 1-1.3.3: Product: 802.11 n WLAN
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.200393] usb 1-1.3.3: Manufacturer: MediaTek
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.200403] usb 1-1.3.3: SerialNumber: 1.0
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.298262] usb 1-1.3.3: reset high-speed USB device number 10 using dwc_otg
Dec  5 16:38:57 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.432149] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: ASIC revision: 76010001 MAC revision: 76010500
Dec  5 16:38:58 BrennanB2 user.warn kernel: [ 2742.564718] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: Warning: unsupported EEPROM version 0d
Dec  5 16:38:58 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2742.564744] mt7601u 1-1.3.3:1.0: EEPROM ver:0d fae:00
Dec  5 16:38:58 BrennanB2 user.debug kernel: [ 2742.931953] ieee80211 phy1: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
Dec  5 16:38:58 BrennanB2 user.info mdev.wlan: DEVTYPE: wlan, ACTION: add, DEVPATH: /devices/platform/soc/20980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.3/1-1.3.3/1-1.3.3:1.0/net/wlan0, MDEV: wlan0
Dec  5 16:38:58 BrennanB2 daemon.info ifplugd(wlan0)[209]: Link beat lost.
Dec  5 16:38:58 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2743.364966] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
Dec  5 16:38:58 BrennanB2 user.info mdev.wlan: trying to bring wlan0 up
Dec  5 16:38:59 BrennanB2 user.info kernel: [ 2744.104044] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
Dec  5 16:39:09 BrennanB2 daemon.info ifplugd(wlan0)[209]: Executing '/etc/ifplugd/ifplugd.action wlan0 down'.
Dec  5 16:39:09 BrennanB2 daemon.warn ifplugd(wlan0)[209]: client: ifdown: interface wlan0 not configured
Dec  5 16:39:09 BrennanB2 daemon.info ifplugd(wlan0)[209]: Program executed successfully.

[John Smith]

I will try connecting to the hub with an Ethernet cable and see if that works before I try anything more technical. Thanks.

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

The B2 does not like 2 live Ethernet connections at once.  When using cable Ethernet you should remove the WiFi dongle.

Fred.

[Tom Barron]

I'll just add that I am not trying to *use* the B2 with two live internet connections.  I just added the hard-wired connection in order to debug the issue with the wlan interface since the logs are not persisted between reboots and I needed a way to see them when the wlan interface goes AWOL.  The linux kernel itself and the busy box shell are all that I exercise for this and they generally have no problem with both an eth0 and a wlan0 interface.

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

But the issue you are seeing could be the result of the fact that you are presenting the Brennan unit with two active internet connections. While the Brennan software Linux build is indeed cut down (Debian ??) distro, I do not know what may have been left out or included to keep it small and fast booting.

Fred

[Tom Barron]

Well I have the same issue, behaviorally, with only the wlan interface.   One just can't see it because the B2 becomes totally unreachable and no logs are left behind when you reboot it to inspect.

Note that wlan0 works for a while, then starts flapping, and it sure doesn't look like the B2 kernel was somehow modified to work with only one interface:

# cat /etc/issue
Welcome to Brennan B2

# cat /etc/os-release
NAME=Buildroot
VERSION=2019.05.1
ID=buildroot
VERSION_ID=2019.05.1
PRETTY_NAME="Buildroot 2019.05.1"

# cat /etc/network/interfaces
# Configure Loopback
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
# Configure ethernet (built-in)
iface eth0 inet dhcp
    post-up /etc/init.d/S49ntp restart >/dev/null 2>&1
# Configure ethernet (usb dongle)
iface eth1 inet dhcp
    post-up /etc/init.d/S49ntp restart >/dev/null 2>&1
# Configure wireless lan
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
    udhcpc_opts -t 5 -T 5 >/dev/null 2>&1
    post-up /etc/init.d/S49ntp restart >/dev/null 2>&1

# ip a
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue qlen 1000
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast qlen 1000
    link/ether b8:27:eb:72:fc:aa brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet 192.168.0.19/24 brd 192.168.0.255 scope global eth0
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 fe80::ba27:ebff:fe72:fcaa/64 scope link
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
3: wlan0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc mq qlen 1000
    link/ether 1c:bf:ce:cd:ce:77 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet 192.168.0.94/24 brd 192.168.0.255 scope global wlan0
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 fe80::1ebf:ceff:fecd:ce77/64 scope link
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
#

[PMB]

Hi jls...,

I would check the WiFi signal level at the B2 before trying Ethernet - use the front control to go to Settings >> Maintenance >> WiFi Strength and then refer to Daniel's post.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[John Smith]

Tried an Ethernet connection but the B2 when switched on said no network. Don’t understand that as it is connected directly to hub?

With dongle signal strength is around -23 to -27. Is that good? At the moment the B2 without a functioning reliable internet is no better than my JB7. Beginning to think I have wasted my money!

On Sunday, 5 December 2021 at 14:39:25 UTC Daniel Taylor wrote:

[JFBUK]

Hi

going back to your first post.

When you say your hub was not showing a connection were you signed into your home hub and looking at the list of connected devices ?

Do you have a computer from which you try some network tests from ?

John

[PMB]

Hi jls...,

-23 to -27dBm is a very good signal, so probably not the problem here.

Please email us on -   thebrennanb2   @   gmail   .   com   - no spaces, with a brief description of the problem. Include an address (in the email, not here) so we can send you a replacement WiFi dongle to try.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[PMB]

Hi tba...,

Please email us on -   thebrennanb2   @   gmail   .   com   - no spaces, with a brief description of the problem. Include an address (in the email, not here) so we can send you a replacement WiFi dongle to try.

Paul

Brennan Support.