Setup troubles!

[brennon]

Having problems...this is what I've done so far:

1. Downloaded TCP/IP Stack (Note: I chose WiServer v1.0) from GitHub and WiShield Driver (1.0) from AsyncLabs Wiki.

2. Created /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java/hardware/libraries/WiShield directory.

3. Placed contents of TCP/IP Stack (WiServer) and WiShield Driver .zip files into this new directory.

4. Ensured that APP_WEBSERVER define was commented out in apps-conf.h and that APP_WISERVER was not commented.

5. Opened SimpleServer.pde with Arduino 0017.

6. Edited variable initializations to the following:

unsigned char local_ip[] = {10,0,1,200}; // IP address of WiShield
unsigned char gateway_ip[] = {10,0,1,1}; // router or gateway IP address
unsigned char subnet_mask[] = {255,255,0,0}; // subnet mask for the local network
const prog_char ssid[] PROGMEM = {"WiShield"}; // max 32 bytes

(Note: WiShield is, in fact, the name of my SSID.)

7. Compiled and loaded the sketch onto my Arduino Deumilanove (ATmega328).

8. Red wifi connection LED lights, and I ping the board. Several pings come back, but link LED turns off and I get no further responses. LED turns on and off intermittently.

I previously was able to load this sketch with these parameters, and browse to the server on the WiShield. Now, I can't seem to do anything. I've tried downloading the TCP/IP Stack (v1.1.0, instead of WiServer v1.0), but have the same problems.

As a side note, when I tried to save my changes to the sketch, I was given the message "Some files are marked 'read-only', so you'll need to re-save this sketch to another location." For what it's worth, I saved to the desktop, deleted all .o files, and reuploaded the sketch to the board. Still no luck.

As I have been typing this, the link LED has turned on and stayed on for ten minutes or so. I cannot either ping or browse to the WiShield's IP address, however. I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer--this is driving me nuts!

Best,
Brennon

[gsxrex]

What router are you using? And how far away from the router are you? I assume there is nothing else plugged into your setup?

Also, can you try reseating the shield to the Arduino? I've noticed that sometimes the connection with the long leg headers is not stable because the headers tend to be thinner than a regular bergstik header. Usually replugging it in tends to help.

The read-only error is Arduino's way of telling you to save your modified sketches someplace else so that you don't overwrite the defaults.

[brennon]

Using an Airport Extreme...it's all that's handy right now. Nothing else has problems connecting to it.

Reseated the WiShield...no change.

I should have clarified my aside a bit more. I know why I was getting the error, but I was having all kinds of issues with include statements (both inside and outside the sketch) when I saved outside of the Arduino.app package directory... Seems to be working alright now, though.

Thanks,
Brennon

[brennon]

Hmm...it gets stranger. I have two WiShields, and two Deumilanoves. The other WiShield works fine with both Arduinos, but the one I was using when I first wrote this post only likes one of the Arduinos. Any ideas?

[gsxrex]

Can you double check the soldering around the header pins for me? I wouldn't suspect anything, but you never know.
Anyway, check your PMs as well.

[brennon]

Argh...I thought I had everything sorted, but that was apparently only a dream...

I've changed to a new wireless router. I've got the two Deumilanoves, each with a WiShield attached. I've followed the same setup as I described above. I get intermittent link lights on both WiShields. I can get about one ping response out of 200-300 from either WiShield. I have two other computers on the wireless network each pinging each other and pinging the router with no problems at all.

This is driving me absolutely nuts. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[brennon]

For what it's worth, every now and then, I get solid link lights on both WiShields that last for several minutes. No ping responses, though. Nothing. And, unfortunately, this is getting time critical for me...fingernails gone...

[brennon]

I'm really at my wit's end. I've tried three wireless routers--all with the same results. With the third router, both WiShields connected, and I could ping them for about three minutes. Then, nothing. They disconnect and reconnect over and over. I get a ping response about every 100 packets or so with this router. I'm fully convinced that this is a problem solely with the WiShields, but two WiShields exhibiting the exact same behaviour with three different wireless routers (all of which I know work perfectly well)? Could I be missing something? I'm just loading up the SocketApp sketch. It works perfectly well when the WiShields are connected, but that's proving to be exceedingly rare!

[GregEigsti]

Do all of the hardcoded global network data from the sketch match each of the router's settings perfectly?
What kind of, if any, encryption is being used to secure the wireless LAN? Have you tried with WEP/WAP off?
When using the Airport to connect did the airport have its network extender/repeater (WDS) enabled? In infra mode correct?

Google "WireShark" and get this great tool to do network captures - maybe you can catch the WiShield going offline and (maybe) capture something with some diagnostic value.

Sounds frustrating.
Greg

[brennon]

Yes, INCREDIBLY frustrating...

Network settings match perfectly. Anytime it doesn't, I never get a link light...ever. Using as basic a setup as possible: no encryption, no security, no WDS with the Airport, infrastructure mode, etc. I've already got Wireshark--I'll fire it up and see if I can see anything.