How to ensure continued Wifi connectivity

Hardware MKR Family MKR1000
1

I use the below standard code in setup to connect to wifi when the MKR1000 is initialized.

while (status != WL_CONNECTED) {
status = WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
delay(1000);
}

I am afraid that wifi connection could drop / disconnect and my supposedly stand alone device will be useless. How can I ensure that my MKR1000 can independently deal with dropped wifi connections ?

2

There are quite a few threads where this issue is mentioned.

You might want to get familiar with what others have already done first.

3

Ballscrewbob,

I have read through a lot of the threads that deal with that problem. I conclude that the issue is fixed with firmware 19.5.2 but that version is not useable with WiFi101 and therefore MKR1000.

Am I incorrect with that conclusion?

4

@ eewoz

Its been a while since I had any of the MKR's connected up so I cannot confirm that.

Maybe its about time I did an update on one of them to check.

EDIT
Taken one and updated..It runs on thingspeak so will be able to see if it was ever fixed or not.
Most I have had out of one was 4 days before needing a full reset

5

@ eewoz

UPDATE..

5 days and counting since the firmware update...something of a record for my MKR.
I would concur with you that the issue now seems fixed.

6

Ballscrewbob:
@ eewoz

EDIT
Taken one and updated..It runs on thingspeak so will be able to see if it was ever fixed or not.
Most I have had out of one was 4 days before needing a full reset

Hey Ballscrewbob,

It sounds like you are having success. What was the updating that you performed?

Thanks.

7

The std firmware update as mentioned further up the post.

Results here live

Method used here

EDIT
Video of method used here.

8

Ballscrewbob,

I followed the steps you went through in your video. I see in your video in the WiFi101 Firmware/Certificates Updater you are able to select WINC1501 Model B (19.5.2) firmware. When I get to that step I am only able to select WINC1501 Model B (19.4.4) firmware. I have version 1.8.1 of the Arduino program. Any idea why I am not able to access version 19.5.2 of the firmware?

9

You need 1.8.2 IDE installed.

Attaching clean up instructions to help you go to 1.8.2 after you do a regular UNINSTALL and BEFORE you put 1.8.2 in.

Make sure all your boards and libs are up to date in 1.8.2 BEFORE you do it.
Also you may want to save the preferences file if you have any special boards defined etc.

CLEAN UP BEFORE INSTALLING ANOTHER COPY OF THE IDE OR ARDUINO CREATE.pdf (345 KB)

10

I installed 1.8.2 and was able to load firmware version 19.5.2. We will see how it does! Thanks!

11

My live results would suggest they fixed a good number of bugs !

Hopefully you find it the same.