Classic Skyview Wifi-connection issue

[AlanR]

PocketFMS-EasyVfr and twin D1000 Classic SV's both with wifi dongles.
I haven't had any wifi connection problems for literally years.until 4weeks ago!
I did though have connection problems back in 2015 on initial SV installation. when I had loads of wifi none-connection issues but after a while without me doing anything it all worked perfectly and has done for the last 9years without any problem at all.
However 4weeks ago on initial aircraft startup from cold I could not get 'Send Flightplan to Skyview'. I checked IpadMini6 wifi settings and sure enough no wifi hotspot connection to SV's. Also tried to connect via Samsung Android tablet without success. I waited and waited....but could not get a wifi connection to Skyviews.
After outbound flight ( Lunch) for return flight it obtains wifi connection immediately on startup.!
Since this all started 4weeks ago...now i find the same thing happens every time on cold startup....No wifi connection to Skyview!...Why?
But after first initial flight of the day, then all is good...connects immediately every time.....Why?...and why is it doing this after all these years of behaving perfectly?


Alan

 

[AlanR]

Bump!
Has anyone got any theories on why the above is happening?

 

[kurtfly]

From what you describe it sounds like your WiFi adapter plugged into Skyview is failing. At least that would be my first guess as it is cheapest to try. If you have another Skyview owner at your airport you could borrow to see if it fixes you problem.

Kurt

 

[AlanR]

Thanks for the input Kurt. Yes that is what you logically think was the problem...Either one or both of the wifi dongles going bad.

However, from when I had problems before like this in 2015 I accumulated a total 'stock' of 6 Dynon wifi dongles, all new, and have recently tried changing and going back to what I originaly had plugged in to the Skyviews in 2015.
Unfortunately it makes no difference what wifi dongles are fitted to my twin Skyviews. I now still get the same result!
From cold start, no wifi connection. Fly and try again later and all connects and work fine!....So frustrating!.......For 9years all has been good working perfectly and now I am back to the same problems I had on first installation!...I just don't get what is going on.
The problem I have come to the conclusion must be either in one or both of my Skyviews......
Both Skyview units went back to Dynon in 2018 and rebuilt following 'Screen of Death' failures so I would have thought they in theory anyway they should be physically in good condition.

 

[Tom broadhurst]

Mine are doing exactly the same thing they are classic screens and started having no wi fi about 6 months ago when cold then after about 30 minutes the wi fi comes on sometimes not every time , I pulled my pilot side out and wiggled the wi fi unit around and it started working I am going to put duct tap on it to hold it in place to see if it works not sure what is going on

 

[kurtfly]

My Avionics shop had another customer with a new Skyview system that the WiFi adapter would not be recognized by the HDX display. After trying another WiFi with same results tried moving it to the other port. The other port worked. The first port works good with the usb mem stick. How do you explain that. Seems like a possible software issue?

Kurt

 

[AlanR]

Yes I agree...I believe the answer to the problem lies in the Dynon Software.

 

[Tom broadhurst]

Well I have a little more information on the wi fi issue now that I have tried a few things I tried to connect my phone to the sky view wi fi today and it would not hook up I took my screen out and put a usb extender cord where the wi fi module was and put the screen back in and had the module where I could see it and my phone hooked to it every time I turned it on and off 4 or 5 times sent flight plans to the screen and worked every time so if you put a usb plug on the panel and plug the wi fi there it will work mine did every time

 

[RV8JD]

Well I have a little more information on the wi fi issue now that I have tried a few things I tried to connect my phone to the sky view wi fi today and it would not hook up I took my screen out and put a usb extender cord where the wi fi module was and put the screen back in and had the module where I could see it and my phone hooked to it every time I turned it on and off 4 or 5 times sent flight plans to the screen and worked every time so if you put a usb plug on the panel and plug the wi fi there it will work mine did every time

Thanks for the info, but tough to read without punctuation.

 

[Tom broadhurst]

Oh I think most people can read it just fine

 

[RV8JD]

Oh I think most people can read it just fine

Wow, pretty poor attitude. I guess I won’t be going out of my way to help you if the opportunity arises.

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

Oh I think most people can read it just fine

Maybe, maybe not, but why would you choose to inconvenience the the folks that you're asking for help, rather than take the few seconds required to make your questions and comments more legible?

 

[Tom broadhurst]

i am not asking for help , i was sharing things I have been doing to see if it works better in a different location , why does any of this have to get to the point of saying I didn’t do this or that right , I see plenty of mis spelled words and incorrect sentences on other web sites and dont think anything of it but I guess here it’s a big deal have a nice day

 

[Biggiesauls]

Well I have a little more information on the wi fi issue now that I have tried a few things I tried to connect my phone to the sky view wi fi today and it would not hook up I took my screen out and put a usb extender cord where the wi fi module was and put the screen back in and had the module where I could see it and my phone hooked to it every time I turned it on and off 4 or 5 times sent flight plans to the screen and worked every time so if you put a usb plug on the panel and plug the wi fi there it will work mine did every time

Holy run-on sentences Batman. I get the jist, but…

So what you’re saying is we need to REMOVE the WiFi dongle from being directly connected to the usb ports on the back of the Dynon screens. We need to purchase USB-A extension cables, of an undetermined length, that will be used to move the WiFi dongle location downward so they now truly dangle below the screens and or instrument panel. I see a bit of logic here in that the screens could be blocking wifi signals. I will test this idea later this week.

tl/dr. Our dongles need to dangle.

 

[Tom broadhurst]

I used my number 2 skyview port , I took that usb cord and plugged it into my primary display where the wi fi module was and plugged the Dynon wi fi module into the panel port , it worked every time in that location , I can only hope everyone can read this and the dots are in the right place

 

[Tom broadhurst]

You can see the Dynon skyview wi fi module in the panel in this picture. It works great in this location

 

[ve0kog]

I have seen a few pictures of the panels with both USB ports right in front: one for the wifi module, and the other for the data stick, which makes DB updates and log capture more convenient. I can't decide if these ports look GREAT or that I won't accidentally bump into and break off the USB modules with my clumsy hands, but it sure should help with the wifi signal strength.

 

[BalsaBat]

I'm not sure this is the same issue, but I've had intermittent connection issues with HDX panels/Foreflight/iphone that I haven't sorted out. Sometimes Foreflight doesn't see the connection even though the phone seems to be connected. My wifi dongles are directly on the back, so signal strength could possibly be the issue and I'll try "dangling the dongles".

However, if it's a signal strength issue, wouldn't that appear a weak signal on the wifi symbol on the phone (like it does on home wifi when you get too far from the router?) I have also heard that the intermittent software connection issue is a matter of starting the Dynon panel first, then the phone or at least the phone app. (or maybe it was vice-versa?) If its a sequence issue, that might explain the consistency of Alan's morning failure to connect, if he consistently started the Dynon and phone apps differently for the first flights of the day. For example, immediately after entering the flight plan into his app, perhaps he would likely have that app open. Then, with the app still open perhaps the Dynon panels were started and the software wouldn't connect. After the flight, perhaps the app then gets closed (i.e. during lunch), and for the later flights the Dynon is started first?? Mystery.

Ted

 

[ve0kog]

if it's a signal strength issue, wouldn't that appear a weak signal on the wifi symbol on the phone

There could be transient interference from the nearby avionics wiring which does not last long enough for the wifi bars to disappear but enough to break the connection. then FF may or may not gracefully recover when the connection is reestablished (it sounds like it does not)

I have not moved the wifi adpater to the front of the panel yet , but I'm now flying a Stratux receiver and connecting it in Foreflight for adsb traffic. So far no issues with the disconnects or receiving in flight ADSB weather in FF. It's good to have a backup anyway.

 

[Tom broadhurst]

This is my experience . As I mentioned before since I moved the wi fi module to the front of the panel as shown in the picture , I have not had one disconnect so it must get a better signal