WiFi issues

[drgary]

I recently configured a Raspberry Pi Zero W to use with my amateur radio hobby. At home when I ask the computer to identify wifi networks it sees nothing. If I configure it specifically to connect to my home network by editing the wpa_supplicant.conf file it still fails. However at work it sees all of the available networks and, just for fun, when I tried it in a local restaurant the system saw 4 or 5 networks and I was able to connect to one of them.

This one has me baffled. Can anyone suggest why it does not see my networks at home? Could it be because there is a hypen in the SSID at home? All of my other devices don't have a problem with that but I am groping for an answer.

Thanks,
Gary

[pcmanbob]

Hi.

My pi zero w connect to my network with a hyphen in the ssid.

Is your home network 2.4ghz or 5ghz , pi zero w only supports 2.4ghz wifi.

[drgary]

Thank you for your reply. My home network is both 2.4 and 5.8GHz. Based on your experience the hyphen isn't the problem and it hasn't been for any of the other devices on my network. I'm stumped.

[B.Goode]

Maybe something to do with WiFi channels?

Could your home ap be broadcasting on a channel that is outside the range that the RPi is configured to cooperate with?

[drgary]

B.Goode, great idea. I'll check that when i get home. Thanks

[drgary]

I checked my router/access point and it is set to automatically assign channels. I interpret that to mean that they are all available. I'm still stuck.

[pcmanbob]

Are you sure the pi is in range of the router ? when at home.

Is your router broadcasting the SSID ?

You say your router is using all channels but what setting are you using for country in wpa_supplicant.conf some country settings limit channels ,US,Japan are two that spring to mind.

finally post your wpa_supplicant.conf

please use code tags
Add [code] at the top

code goes here

and [/code] at the bottom.

[drgary]

Here it is. I've kept my ssid in tact but changed the password for obvious reasons.

Code: Select all

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
ap_scan=1
fast_reauth=1
country=JP

network={
	ssid="shacknet-g"
	psk="secret password"
	id_str="0"
	priority=100
}

[pcmanbob]

Well your wpa_supplicant.conf does not look right to me.

So it looks like your router is using wpa-psk, I think your wpa_supplicant.conf should look like this

Code: Select all

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
country=GB

network={
	ssid="shacknet-g"
	psk="secret password"
	key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}

leave the GB in for now, using this wpa_supplicant.conf on my pi zero w it connects to my router no problem.

[jbudd]

If your router SSID is hidden, /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf needs the line scan_ssid=1

Code: Select all

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
country=GB

network={
	ssid="shacknet-g"
	scan_ssid=1
	psk="secret password"
	key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}

That's for WPA/WPA2 encryption. Other encryption protocols need different settings.

[drgary]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try them out when I get home tonight.

Gary