Reader Network Communication Issues - Interference & Obstruction
The Readers wirelessly communicate with VAC01 in order to send Usage and Status Records, and to receive Commands and Updates.
They do so via Zigbee Wireless Communication Technology .
Some key characteristics of Zigbee being;
- it operates in the 2.4GHz Frequency band
- it provides transmission distances of 10–100 meters (33–328 ft) Line-of-sight
- its devices can transmit data over long distances by passing data through a mesh network of intermediate devices to reach more distant ones
~ i.e. other Readers
~ i.e. other Readers
If you're seeing Reader issues, such as those described in the Articles;
Or if you are finding Readers Logs and Statuses to be regularly missing and/or not arriving in Logical Order
And you have determined that it is not the hardware that is at fault,
then it is likely that Wireless Interference or Line-of-sight Obstruction may be the cause.
Wireless Interference
Wireless Network connectivity issues can be caused by wireless interference occurring on the same 2.4GHz Frequency band used by the Readers with Zigbee.
Typically this comes from strong Wifi Signals being broadcast in the local area.
This ZigBee and Wi-Fi Coexistence article goes over the concept.
First of all If possible, try to do the following;
- try to keep local Wifi signals broadcasting on just the 5GHz Frequency band, rather than on the 2.4GHz band
- avoid having VAC01 or Readers in close proximity to WiFi emitters
- if you must have WiFi on 2.4GH band, try to keep it broadcasting on just a single WiFi Channel (as oppose to an Auto setting which may bounce around to different WiFi channels without notice)
Otherwise, as described in the ZigBee and Wi-Fi Coexistence article
we can try to adjust the Wireless Network channel that VAC01 is using to avoid possible WiFi interference.
If we have an idea of what the strongest WiFi channels are in your area,
Laundroworks can change the Wireless Network (Zigbee) channel accordingly to not overlap with heavily populated WiFi channels
In order to determine what channels the strongest local WiFi signals are being broadcasted on
below are a few free App recommendations that you could use to scan for WiFi networks in your area
Regardless of the App you decide to use, do a "WiFi Scan" of the 2.4Ghz band and notify Laundroworks of the results (sending a screenshots showing the full channel spectrum is best) so we can select the best Zigbee channel to use to avoid the busiest WiFi channels in your area.
Line-of-sight Obstruction
The Readers need a Line-of-sight to VAC01 in order to communicate wirelessly with it.
Either a direct Line-of-sight within a transmission distance to 10–100 meters (33–328 ft),
Either a direct Line-of-sight within a transmission distance to 10–100 meters (33–328 ft),
or a Line-of-sight to an Intermediate device, which has a Line-of-sight path to VAC01.
An example of an obstruction in the Line-of-sight would be thick Concrete walls.
Specialized Intermediate Readers are available from Laundroworks to act as signal boosters to aid in propagating signals between Readers, and ultimately VAC01,
so long as Lines-of-sight may be established.
Where they cannot be established, it is recommended that a Location be split up into multiple sub-locations, each with its own dedicated VAC01,
capable of providing a Line-of-sight path to the Readers they are to communicate with.
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