HL2 Ethernet failure?

[Pez]

Hello all, 

I have two (2) HL2’s. One of them is having trouble obtaining an IP address, and when (if) it does, it seems to drop it after a short time.. 

I have configured this problem HL2 with a different MAC (with SparkSDR) so that I can have both HL2's on my network with static IP addresses. Regardless of whether the other (good) HL2 is on the network or not, this problem HL2 struggles to get a connection.

In general, it will have the HW light ON and the CLK will be flashing. It will then flash the SPD (75) light, and at the same time, the router will show ethernet activity on the port LED’s, but then that's it. The router traffic stops (port lights go out) and the HL2 goes back to the start… It continues to do this, every 3 or 4 seconds. 

It is like the HL2 ethernet port is dying as it tries to obtain an IP address, or as it negotiates the speed? 

At first I thought it was the location that I had this HL2 installed in my network, but I have now got it sitting right next to my good HL2, and the problem remains. Even on a different switch, even if I replace the good HL2 with this problem one, the problem remains. 

Can anyone offer any suggestions? Thanks in advance. 

[Pez]

Further information: Occasionally, I can get a connection for a few seconds. If I am fast, can connect with SparkSDR in these few seconds until it drops the connection again. 

For clarity, this same thing happens with this HL2 connected directly, on multiple different PC's. I have tried an isolated direct connection, an isolated connection via a switch, and I even setup an entirely separate IP network with totally different hardware (router and PC), just to be sure - because I could. The same problem occurs. 

I'm thinking I have a faulty HL2 on my hands. :( 

[ron.ni...@gmail.com]

Try pinging your two HL2's multiple times, and see if there is any difference in connectivity, packet loss, or packet latency.  Also try swapping network cables and network port outlets.  That might indicate something.  73, Ron, n6ywu

[Steve Haynal]

Hi Pez,

Is the run/clk LED (closest to the ethernet port) blinking at a rate of 2Hz or 1HZ? Is it the same rate as your good HL2? Can you please send a high resolution photo (most phone photos are good) of the ethernet connector and MAC IC area? I want to identify if you have a KSZ9021 or KSZ9031. There were about a 5-10 HL2s which made it into the wild with the wrong pullup for the KSZ9021. That can cause the problems you describe.

When did you purchase your HL2 and when did it ship?

It sounds as if you've done the following, but please confirm

1. Try different cables, switch ports

2. Inspect that the ethernet cables are well inserted

3. Inspect that the ethernet jack on the PCB is well soldered

4. Tried with just the single "bad" HL2 on your network

5. Checked if there is any difference when booting in factory recovery mode.

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/Updating-Gateware#gateware-factory-and-application-images

73,

Steve

kf7o

[Pez]

Thanks Steve and Ron,

@Ron, I have done all of this but this particular HL2 is mostly unresponsive - I can't ping this HL2 because it hasn't got an IP address. I have swapped ports, and even tried it on a different network all together., 

@Steve, thanks for the info.  Please see below: 

Is the run/clk LED (closest to the ethernet port) blinking at a rate of 2Hz or 1HZ? Is it the same rate as your good HL2? 

Both HL2's are flashing at 2Hz

When did you purchase your HL2 and when did it ship?

My good HL2 is from April. My bad HL2 is from June (recent).

Can you please send a high resolution photo (most phone photos are good) of the ethernet connector and MAC IC area? I want to identify if you have a KSZ9021 or KSZ9031. There were about a 5-10 HL2s which made it into the wild with the wrong pullup for the KSZ9021. That can cause the problems you describe. 

I will take a picture and upload this shortly.

It sounds as if you've done the following, but please confirm

1. Try different cables, switch ports - CONFIRMED

2. Inspect that the ethernet cables are well inserted - CONFIRMED

3. Inspect that the ethernet jack on the PCB is well soldered - CONFIRMED 

4. Tried with just the single "bad" HL2 on your network - CONFIRMED  (Also not I tried this HL2 on a totally different network - same problem) 

5. Checked if there is any difference when booting in factory recovery mode. I have not checked this yet.

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/Updating-Gateware#gateware-factory-and-application-images

Thanks for your help!

[Pez]

@Steve - it is the KSZ9021 - see below:




73

[Steve Haynal]

Hi Pez,

Thank you for the picture, and also for following the repair guidelines:

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/Repair

It does seem likely there is something broken with your new HL2. If factory recovery and a good visual inspection don't reveal anything, then we will begin the exchange process. 

Do you live in the US? If so, I will send you funds and address to ship just the HL2 board to me via priority mail flat rate small box. If it is a repair I can do easily, I will make the repair and return the board. (I like to see 0-2 returned HL2s per month just to keep tabs on what might be going wrong during manufacturing so that we can improve.) If it is not something I can e3asily repair, I will contact Makerfabs to send you a replacement and keep your broken board for parts and/or a future repair.

If you do not live in the US, please contact Makerfabs directly to arrange an exchange and CC me. I will confirm with Makerfabs that you do have a broken board. Also, please only ship the broken HL2 in static bag to keep shipping expenses low.

You can also choose to have the broken board go to me in the US, but that can take longer and cost more for shipping. 

73,

Steve

kf7o

[Steve Haynal]

Just an interesting observation regarding your board. It has a KSZ9021RNI, not a KSZ9021RN as other boards I have here. The RNI is the industrial version of that chip and has a wider specified operating temperature range. I saw no other differences in the datasheet. Usually the industrial version is a little more expensive, so I am surprised that Makerfabs used it in this last batch. Maybe no RN parts were available.

73,

Steve

kf7o

[Steve Haynal]

Also, the date code on that IC is 2013 week 36. Being that old could mean that some ICs in that batch were damaged by handling or moisture over the years. I did check 4 boards I have here, date codes are from 2022, 2017, 2014 and 2014 and all work, so older ICs do work and it is nice to make use of older stock rather than going to waste.

[Pez]

Thanks for your assistance Steve. That is all very interesting information. I reloaded the gateware just now, and it has not helped I'm afraid. I am outside the USA so I will email makerfabs and CC you. 

Interestingly,  In factory mode, I am having more luck with obtaining an IP,  it seems to be an improvement however it will still fail sometimes. When it does get an IP, it seems to take significantly longer to obtain an IP address compared with my good HL2. (FYI, my HL2's were not on the network at the same time. I assume that in factory mode, the default MAC address is used?  Therefore I made sure there were no conflicts by removing the good HL2.)
Another observation is that my bad HL2 has been troublesome from the start. It has been getting worse (more unreliable IP connections) as time has gone on. 

Did you see any issues with 'pull-up' that you mentioned? 

Thanks again for your help!
73

[Steve Haynal]

Hi Pez,

I expect no problem with the wrong pull-up. The pull-up controls the blink rate of the clk/run LED, and 2HZ is what is expected for the KSZ9021. If you want to check the actual value of the pull-up, it is R34 on the bottom side of the board. I think there was a picture with discussion posted once. You can search past threads for R34:

https://groups.google.com/g/hermes-lite/search?q=R34

73,

Steve

kf7o

[Kurt V.]

What is your QTH? Maybe you can find someone else living close to your QTH to do some testing. 

[Grégory Salaun]

Hi All,

I have exactly the same issue.I have one HL2 purchase a month ago and one purchased a week ago.

I changed the the mac address to have them both on the same network with SparkSDR, since then a whole lot of troubles.

When I turn on the bad HL2 i will have the DN2 and DN3 blinking 2HZ, when I try to do the firwmare reset by grounding PTT and CW at startup the DN2 will blink 2HZ and the DN3 will blink at 1Hz.

I have tried everything, directt connection to PC, change of cables, using the ethernet cable I use on my good HL2, nothing works.

The Hermes is just not recognized anywhere on the network.

Cannot ping, cannot find in SparkSDR, cannot do anything.

Did you solve the issue ?

Thanks

Greg

xv9bpo

[Grégory Salaun]

Hi all,

Me again, I should also say that I did put a firmware to have the 10 slices for using this HL2 for skimmer purpose.

It may be of help to know about this as well I presume.

Anyway as I cannot get an IP on the HL2 I cannot flash the firmware to see if that is the issue.

Thanks

Greg