Homepod Mini can't setup

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hi,

I have a HAPax3 and a CAP AX running in CAPsMAN for my WiFI network. I had a Homepod Mini connected to it but after a while, and not sure why, this connection broke. I have hardware reset the Homepod Mini and tried to rejoin it to my home network. Upon trying this, the Homepod Mini says that it can’t find the network. The network details are sent from my iPhone (fine connection to the network)

I happen to have a spare FritzBox and if I try and configure the Homepod Mini using that network it works fine. I can even create a network on the Mikrotik solution with the same name and the Homepod joins it perfectly.

All Mikrotik’s are running 7.14.2

Any hints as to where to start looking for a solution ?

Thanks !

2

Hi there.

I’d start by checking what wifi settings are negotiated between the pod and the fritzbox, and see whether that’s available or configured on the cap/ax3.

3

The homepod mini only supports 802.11n (https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/specs/), so if you have configured your 2.4GHz radio to something else, e.g. followed the temptation to set it to 802.11ax, it will not work. I have seen a similar issue with other IOT devices.

4

This is not true. I have several HomePod mini’s and they have no problem connecting to my hAP AX3 on the 5ghz AX channel(5500/ax/Ceee). I’m using AX on both 2.4 and 5 ghz bands. In fact, it is very stable on RouterOS 7.14.2 and my music streams rarely have an issue but I do have a 120mbit FTTH connection.

I would suggest you check the authentication types and make sure you have WPA2 PSK enabled with default ciphers. Also try resetting the configuration on your HomePod mini as per https://support.apple.com/en-us/108389#:~:text=Unplug%20HomePod%20or%20unplug%20the,HomePod%20is%20about%20to%20reset.

5

You are absolutely right! I messed up the WIFI standards. Checking it, I see that even my own HomePod Mini is connected on 5GHz.

6

Well, this was it, but now I can’t figure out how to have a single SSID, supporting both 2 and 5 GHz while setting a configuration for 2G N - any pointers on doing this in CAPsMAN ?

7

Did the reset and all that - the second I forced 2 Ghz to “N” it worked - I think it might be a setup thing - normal operations will go 5 GHz etc

8

Sorry - I made a mistake - turns out the FritzBox network was still active and my phone was on it. I can see the HomePod join the network and then it just doesn’t want to carry on with the setup…I suspect it’s not a WiFi setting but rather something else…

9

Turns out it was the FritzBox network - back to the start :frowning:

10

I have a setup where components like ax3 and homepod are present. Im pretty sure, there is something wrong with your config. Can you share it ?

11 
/interface wifi channel
add band=2ghz-n comment="2G N" disabled=no name="2G N" skip-dfs-channels=disabled width=20mhz
add band=5ghz-ax comment="5G AX" disabled=no name="5G AX" width=20/40/80mhz
add band=2ghz-ax comment="2G AX" disabled=no name="2G AX" skip-dfs-channels=disabled width=20mhz
/interface wifi datapath
add bridge=Desktop comment=Desktop disabled=no name=Desktop
add bridge=Desktop comment=Desktop disabled=no name=dp_vlan_4 vlan-id=4
add bridge=Desktop comment="R-Network" disabled=no name=dp_vlan_5 vlan-id=5
add bridge=Desktop comment="Guest Network" disabled=no name=dp_vlan_6 vlan-id=6
/interface wifi security
add authentication-types=wpa2-psk,wpa3-psk connect-group=0 connect-priority=0/1 disabled=no ft=yes ft-over-ds=yes management-encryption=cmac management-protection=allowed name="hidden Security Profile"
add connect-group=0 connect-priority=0/1 disabled=no ft=yes ft-over-ds=yes name="hidden-guest Security Profile"
/interface wifi steering
add disabled=no name="hidden Steering" neighbor-group=dynamic-hidden-d5e0f661 rrm=yes wnm=yes
add disabled=no name="hidden-guest Streering" neighbor-group=dynamic-hidden-d5e0f661
/interface wifi configuration
add country="New Zealand" datapath=Desktop disabled=no mode=ap name=hidden-guest security="hidden-guest Security Profile" ssid=hidden-guest steering="hidden-guest Streering"
add country="New Zealand" datapath=Desktop disabled=no mode=ap name=hidden_2G security="hidden Security Profile" ssid=hidden steering="hidden Steering"
add country="New Zealand" datapath=Desktop disabled=no mode=ap name=hidden_5G security="hidden Security Profile" ssid=hidden steering="hidden Steering"
/interface wifi cap
set caps-man-addresses=127.0.0.1 discovery-interfaces=Desktop enabled=yes slaves-datapath=Desktop
/interface wifi capsman
set enabled=yes interfaces=Desktop package-path="" require-peer-certificate=no upgrade-policy=suggest-same-version
/interface wifi provisioning
add action=create-dynamic-enabled comment=5GHz disabled=no master-configuration=hidden_5G slave-configurations=hidden-guest supported-bands=5ghz-ax
add action=create-dynamic-enabled comment=2GHz disabled=no master-configuration=hidden_2G slave-configurations=hidden-guest supported-bands=2ghz-n
12

If I read this correctly, you are not setting the band 2ghz-n to your configuration. Try

/interface/wifi/configuration
set [where name=hidden_2G] channel="2G N"

//JF

13

Sorry - that was set to “2G N” - I can see the homepod come up on wifi, get an IP, it’s something after that

14

OK. Are the Homepod and the iPhone on the same L2 network?

15

They sure are :slight_smile:

16

Good! The reason I asked is Mikrotik is notable for not repeating mDNS across subnets.

So, both the homepod and iPhone are connected to Wifi and both get an IP in the same subnet, correct?

17

Yip :slight_smile:

18

Any chance you can capture some traffic?

19

hhhhmmm, sure can - I didn’t think of check that…

20

I see a bunch of mDNS traffic…nothing that stands out :frowning: