ZWO ASIAir Pro - Station Mode

[CheshireChris]

I have a ZWO ASI Air Pro - latest firmware & App Version (Android)

I can't get Station Mode to stay active. I have the ASI connected to a hardwire ethernet connection and that all works as expected. I then turn on Station Mode, connect to my 2.4Ghz WiFi - all ok. The ASI connects and gets an IP address from my router that l can ping. However when l disconnect the ethernet cable l can no longer ping the Station Mode IP address, plug the cable back in and l can ping the Station Mode IP address again.

Am l missing something obvious ?

Chris

 

[Elp]

If you're trying to connect to the air over WiFi, the ethernet cable has nothing to do with it.

[Elp]

See this video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qa5znE54Bgc

[CheshireChris]

Hmmm....

You have to restart the app (as described in the video) after Station Mode has been activated; then a connection can be made. Trouble is an active Station Mode connection doesn't survive an ASI restart (can't ping the Station Mode IP) - you have to reconnect the ethernet cable or connect to the ASI's own WiFi and do it all over again to connect via Station Mode. Bit of a pain but not a show stopper. I wouldn't mind so much if this was made clear in the ASIAir manual - it isn't. Mind you, very little else is made clear in the manual either.

 

Chris

 

 

[Elp]

If you're connecting to your router it's likely if DHCP is activated it assigns a different IP address every time to the air. If this is the case you won't be able to ping as the assigned address will have changed.

[CheshireChris]

Nope - not that. I always bind IP addresses to a devices MAC address so that l always know what IP address they will have. First thing l do with any new device on my network.

Chris

 

[StevieDvd]

If you have the ASIAir as the Wi-Fi network and switch it to station mode without an ethernet connection it would/should get an ip address from your network. That should stay unless you reset it.

However, if you have an ethernet connection when you next powerup it will likely take priority over Wi-Fi and be given the same ip address as before. Disconnecting the ethernet than may not automatically switch to Wi-Fi (as you are experiencing). When using Astroberry/Stellarmate/Raspberry OS you can set a connection order, I don't recall this option on the ASIAir.

If you remove the ethernet cable and restart the ASIAir on Wi-Fi is it connecting in station mode correctly?

 

 

 

[CheshireChris]

44 minutes ago, StevieDvd said:

If you have the ASIAir as the Wi-Fi network and switch it to station mode without an ethernet connection it would/should get an ip address from your network. That should stay unless you reset it.

However, if you have an ethernet connection when you next powerup it will likely take priority over Wi-Fi and be given the same ip address as before. Disconnecting the ethernet than may not automatically switch to Wi-Fi (as you are experiencing). When using Astroberry/Stellarmate/Raspberry OS you can set a connection order, I don't recall this option on the ASIAir.

If you remove the ethernet cable and restart the ASIAir on Wi-Fi is it connecting in station mode correctly?

 

 

 

No, if my ASIAir is in station mode and working and i then restart the ASIAir l can no longer ping its WiFi ip address. I then reconnect the ethernet cable and reconnect to the ASIAir. Station Mode is still set to on with the same IP address it had before the restart. I can then ping the WiFi ip address. Disconnect the ethernet and restart the App (NOT the ASIAir) l can then connect via WiFi.

The main reason l wantted to use Station Mode is l have a good outdoor WAP: using that means one less cable to trip over in the dark .

Chris

 

[Elp]

2 hours ago, CheshireChris said:

Disconnect the ethernet and restart the App (NOT the ASIAir) l can then connect via WiFi.

Have you tried a different version of the app? It shouldn't make a squat of difference but curious as to why it works upon an app restart.

[CheshireChris]

11 hours ago, Elp said:

Have you tried a different version of the app? It shouldn't make a squat of difference but curious as to why it works upon an app restart.

Is it possible to download earlier versions? The ZWO site only has the latest version (2.1.5) available to download.

I'm beginning to think this is just a 'feature' of the ASIAir app and is something that hasn't been implemented well. I've been searching ZWO's support area --> ZWO Support Forum - not found anything yet. I might post the question there as it is monitored by ZWO support.

Chris

 

 

 

[LaurenceT]

I also had problems with station mode with the Asiair, in the end I just bought a mini TPLink router and stuck it on top of the Asiair and it worked flawlessly.

It's funny how the ZWO Seestar manages to get a perfect station mode connection in the batting of an eyelid and works all the time.