Smart plug amazon continuously disconnect from wifi

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Dear all,

I have a problem with a smart plug that continuously disconnect (regularly) from the router (hAC lite); the Router OS is updated to the 6.45.8 (Long-term) and in the following you can find an extract of the Log File

feb/16/2020 9:21:11 by RouterOS 6.45.8

software id = 5IF1-FLNE

03:40:27 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 attempts to associate
03:40:27 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 not in local ACL, by default accept
03:40:27 wireless,info 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54@wlan1: connected, signal strength -57
03:40:28 dhcp,info dhcp1 deassigned 192.168.100.235 from 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54
03:40:28 dhcp,info dhcp1 assigned 192.168.100.235 to 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54

04:02:11 wireless,info 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54@wlan1: disconnected, received disassoc: sending station leaving (8)
04:02:29 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 attempts to associate
04:02:29 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 not in local ACL, by default accept
04:02:29 wireless,info 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54@wlan1: connected, signal strength -56

04:24:18 wireless,info 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54@wlan1: disconnected, received disassoc: sending station leaving (8)
04:24:36 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 attempts to associate
04:24:36 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 not in local ACL, by default accept
04:24:36 wireless,info 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54@wlan1: connected, signal strength -59
04:24:37 dhcp,info dhcp1 deassigned 192.168.100.235 from 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54
04:24:37 dhcp,info dhcp1 assigned 192.168.100.235 to 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54

04:46:20 wireless,info 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54@wlan1: disconnected, received disassoc: sending station leaving (8)
04:46:38 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 attempts to associate
04:46:38 wireless,debug wlan1: 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54 not in local ACL, by default accept
04:46:38 wireless,info 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54@wlan1: connected, signal strength -56
04:46:38 dhcp,info dhcp1 deassigned 192.168.100.235 from 5C:41:5A:23:C4:54

While the Amazon Echo is correctly connected from one week, this plug is unusable. Note that before I was using another router and I never had problems with the plug.
In the meantime I tried the following think (unsuccessfully):

  1. change channel of the WiFi in the 2.4 band;
  2. change the timeout
  3. test another plug (to avoid a problem of the plug itself).

Attached you will find the complete log. Any input/suggestion would be really appreciated to try to solve this annoying issue.

Kind regards,

Giorgio
log_16022020.txt (67 KB)

2

Does it happen with the plug always in the same wall socket? Is there a powerstrip maybe? PLCs?

I’ve found the smart sockets Wireless are very susceptible to interference, try plugging straight to the wall socket (no powerstrip), or a different wall socket or powerstrip.

3

Dear pukkita,

thanks for your reply, right now the plug is directly connected to the wall socket and I’ve also try a differenct wall socket (never use power strip, since I know that they could be very susceptible).

Best,

Giorgio

4

This is not just a plug problem, it will be a mikrotik problem.
http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/received-disassoc-sending-station-leaving-8/77161/1

5

Dear llubik,

thank you for the suggestion; it seems to be a problem of sensitivity to the interference in the 2.4GHz; we are now investigating the same configuration in a separate environment (an isolated room) to confirm this.

Kind regards,

Giorgio

6

It is an interference problem.

I have about a dozen smart plugs… I’ve had the issue of one struggling to connect to wireless while another one, one meter next to it kept wireless fine.

If it were a mikrotik issue, I’d have issues with all of them, which is not the case.

I have identified one that struggles always; will open it to have a look, as this misbehaves no matter where is plugged. Wouldn’t be surpirsed if it has a solder bridge somewhere, or the antenna has a cold solder joint, etc (these are really cheaply produced devices).

I have identified that on some wall sockets, or powerstrips, a smart plug that otherwise worked nicely will start suddenly to have wireless issues once plugged there. Move it to a different wall socket, or using a newer, better powerstrip solved it.

Sometimes it could be even another device plugged to the same powerstrip… once I remove it, suddenly the smartplug connects fine.

Sometimes could be (if all devices struggle) a powerstrip itself, won’t be the first time that a defective powerstrip or socket hosed wireless in the room.

In summary, if other smart plugs don’t have issues, try different wall socket, powerstrip, or move from powerstrip to socket, it can make all the difference.

If you use PLC’s (PWR-Line) then things are even funnier, as the PLC may not work if smart plug is on same socket, or viceversa.

The issue is that being plugged and so close to mains, mains can be the carrier of interference from other devices.

7

I have two wireless plug apparatuses, one amazon and one a no name brand bought at costco. Both work flawlessly with my capAC at 2.4ghz through at least one if not two walls.