A common challenge our customers may face is the possibility of Keep Connect initiating more reboots than intended. This issue can arise in various situations, such as ISP-related problems, unique router configurations affecting internet communication or a congested network traffic.
To address this, we can extend the Secondary backup check interval from 1 minute to 5 minutes. This adjustment allows Keep Connect a 5-minute window to retry reaching the Secondary domain (cnn.com) in case the initial attempt (google.com) fails due to heavy network traffic.
Minimize DNSFail #
Another setting that helps minimize unnecessary reset is to toggle or enable the setting “Ignore DNS Failures if Ping 8.8.8.8 Works”.
The term “DNSFail” in Keep Connect signifies that, during its attempt to access the internet, it encountered difficulty in resolving the public IP address of the specified domain website. For instance, if Keep Connect is configured to test the domain google.com, it may initially fail to determine the public IP address. As an example, when attempting to ping google.com, it might fail to locate the domain’s public IP on the first try, but succeed on the subsequent attempt.
This situation can sometimes be misleading for Keep Connect, leading it to initiate a reboot when, in reality, the internet connection is still functional.
In essence, if Keep Connect, through your Wi-Fi network, cannot access the domain name google.com, it will perform a ping to 8.8.8.8 (which is essentially Google’s public IP address). If this ping succeeds, Keep Connect will refrain from initiating a reboot.
Adjusting "Loss of WiFi Reset Mode" to Minimize WiFi_Fails #
One setting that can be fine-tuned to reduce unnecessary resets “WiFi_Fail” is the “Loss of WiFi Reset Mode.” This setting determines how Keep Connect responds to disconnections from the WiFi network.
Let’s try understanding each available Loss of WiFi Reset Modes:
Reboot/Retry before resetting (default): When Keep Connect disconnects from the WiFi, it initiates a self-reboot (without affecting the router) and attempts to reconnect. If it successfully reconnects, it returns to the blue status. If it fails to reconnect, it proceeds to reboot the router. This mode is typically used for standard operations. If it only returns online without rebooting your router, it means Keep Connect successfully reconnected to the WiFi network without restarting the router.
Regular Resets: This mode promptly reboots your router if Keep Connect gets disconnected from the WiFi network. It’s useful for situations where Keep Connect is in a remote location, and homeowners want to ensure it consistently monitors internet connectivity.
Block Resets and await reconnection: In this mode, Keep Connect refrains from rebooting the router if it gets disconnected. Instead, it remains in a reconnecting state until the WiFi network becomes available. This mode is suitable for homeowners experiencing frequent drop-offs and who wish to avoid unnecessary resets, which could disrupt their activities. In this mode, Keep Connect patiently awaits reconnection to the router.
Depending on the frequency of WiFi resets and your specific needs, you have the option to switch to the “Block Resets” mode. This mode is ideal when you want to prevent interruptions to your online work caused by unnecessary reboots due to WiFi_Fail. Otherwise, the default Reboot/Retry before resetting will work just fine for you
802.11 Wireless Mode and Reduce Wireless Transmit Power #
The final setting we can explore is the 802.11 Wireless Mode, along with the Reduce Wireless Transmit setting.
The 802.11 Wireless Mode determines which Wi-Fi protocol Keep Connect uses. By default, Keep Connect utilizes the 802.11n mode (b/g/n), which is a common Wi-Fi protocol in modern devices. This means that most of your Wi-Fi devices on your network are likely using the 802.11n mode to connect to your router.
This default setting might occasionally result in Keep Connect disconnecting from the Wi-Fi network, potentially leading to a reboot. To mitigate this, you have the option to switch to the 802.11g mode (b/g) or even the 802.11n mode. By doing so, Keep Connect will use a Wi-Fi protocol that is less frequently employed by other devices on your network, reducing the chances of interference and drop-offs.
The “Reduce Wireless Transmit” setting, as its name suggests, reduces the wireless transmission range, making it more focused during its Wi-Fi scanning process. This adjustment is particularly useful for preventing dropouts. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Keep Connect needs to be relatively close to your router for this setting to be effective.
