Got a bit of a problem with a new RB912UAG. I had it set up as an access point using the built-in radio, working fine, but now after taking it on a flight across the Atlantic none of my devices can see it any more (or they see it with worse than -90 dBm signal strength). I’ve tried a reset, and the AP is active with normal transmit power. I’ve also checked the pigtails and scanning the neighboring environment shows both weak and strong signals, so I assume the RF hardware is functional.
Any suggestions for things I can test, ways of debugging this?
Only thing I can think of is that the power adapter, an EU model and I’m now it the US, is not giving the AP enough power despite the adapter being rated for 100-240V. Don’t have another I can test with yet, however.
I’ve done a bit of further experimenting, and there clearly seems to be something wrong with the TX hardware.
My smartphone detects the NOTUS ssid when held almost against the antennas. A wifi analyzer app then gives a signal strength around -90 dBm, just enough to connect to, get an IP and access my local network as normal. The WebFig interface then reports one connected device, with an extremely high signal strength of -22 dBm. Moving it just half a meter away causes the phone to lose its connection and lose sight of NOTUS.
Would it help debugging to play around with which chains are in use for TX? I assume disconnecting the antennas is inadvisable, based on the warning label stuck on the board when I received it.
My suspicion that it was the power adapter seems to have been correct. The EU adapter I had specifically says “INPUT: 100-240Vac 50/60 Hz”, but I did notice that the start-up beep was weak. Just received a new US adapter and now I’m getting full signal strength.
Bizarre. I’ll test the EU adapter when I next get a hold of a multimeter.
Please do, and report your findings to support@mikrotik.com
Most likely this is a single defective unit, as the specifications of the adapter are suited for use in the US
Yeah, I’m not entirely sure it was the supply, as I think it happened once more. I get the impression it has to do with movement, and haven’t had a problem after mounting it to a wall.