Direct ethernet connection unreliable ?

John n0snx

229 Posts
54 Reply Likes

Hi Mike

I received my 6300 yesterday and have it direct to my pc with no problems.... You might uninstall the software and reinstall it and maybe it will work then... Murphy's law always can come into play when we least expect it.

John

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2014-06-06T01:37:01+00:00

Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager

9153 Posts
3493 Reply Likes

Uninstalling SmartSDR will not make any difference. The issue is in the TCP/IP stack on the PC and that is integrated into the operating system (Windows).

Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager

9153 Posts
3494 Reply Likes

Mike - if you have multiple network connections on your PC, sometimes Windows goes wonky (a technical IT term). I'd connect the radio to the switch and be done with it. That way you can use a wireless PC running SmartSDR or the K6TU iPad app to access the radio.

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Jay -- N0FB, Elmer

535 Posts
212 Reply Likes

Mike, a couple ideas. Some Ethernet cards can be configured to be manually set for speed and duplex (full or half) or it can be set for auto-negotiation. Chances are, it is set for auto-negotiation and is usually the best setting for most occasions. As a test, you might try setting the Ethernet (if possible) to 100 Megabit and Full Duplex on your PC. The radio will no longer need to try to negotiate the link speed and the link may then "just become reliable".

The reason that you are not having the problem when connected to the switch, each port on the switch is doing its own negotiation with each device. It works out any differences between the connected devices internally.

(Edited)

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2014-06-06T03:18:18+00:00

Ken - NM9P, Elmer

4067 Posts
1265 Reply Likes

Also check the power/performance setting to make sure that your computer isn't powering down the Ethernet hardware (and USB port, if you are using FlexControl Knob) as part of the power saving routine. Things can get wonky that way, too. This is important whether you are on a switch or not.

Lee, Elmer

677 Posts
285 Reply Likes

Try updating the Ethernet drivers to the latest hardware specific drivers (ie not windows stock drivers). I agree setting the speed to a fixed speed is also a good idea

Good to hear from you Zeke! Hope you are well. Welcome to Flexlife

73 W9OY

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2014-06-06T02:26:40+00:00

Mike W9OJ

90 Posts
29 Reply Likes

Hi Lee

I'll probably just leave things as they are (using the switch). I was thinking earlier that there might have been some negotiation problems. Shoulda called Shatner.
The only reason I wanted a direct connection was for a gigabit link which probably wouldn't make any difference and I get an internet connection with the switch.

I used to follow your blog about the 5000 and wondered what happened. I guess you got hit by lightning. The same thing happened to Gary's (W9BS) 5000. He gave up and moved to a condo in Ft. Myers. No radio no mo.

73 de Mike (Zeke)

2014-06-06T03:13:23+00:00

Lee, Elmer

677 Posts
285 Reply Likes

Hit by lightning..built a surgery center practice..2 kids in high school etc etc. Now slowing down a bit and having a blast with this 6300

2014-06-19T00:05:07+00:00

11 Posts
0 Reply Likes

Received my 6300 yesterday and no success connecting direct to my computer.
I have tried 2 other computers all with win7 but no luck.

2014-06-19T00:15:16+00:00

Mike Hoing

268 Posts
43 Reply Likes

Does the 6300 need a crossover cable for a direct connect. I go through a switch all is great

Mike

(Edited)

2014-06-19T00:32:54+00:00

John n0snx

229 Posts
54 Reply Likes

No crossover cable needed...I have my 6300 direct with no issues.... it may take a few minutes for it to show up..Did you run the CD that came with it to make sure all the drivers for the 6300 were installed. I too am running win7 Good luck

John

(Edited)

2014-06-19T06:57:22+00:00

11 Posts
0 Reply Likes

Using the cable supplied and the CD supplied but dont have a lan router system to plug into.

2014-06-19T10:27:11+00:00

11 Posts
0 Reply Likes

Mike W9OJ was your direct connection resolved if so could you help with a solution.

Sid

2014-06-19T15:21:31+00:00

Mike W9OJ

90 Posts
29 Reply Likes

I gave up on a direct connection and used a $15 wireless router which is "talking" to another wireless router in a different room.

Mike W9OJ

2014-06-20T10:58:33+00:00

11 Posts
0 Reply Likes

I travel a bit and one of the reasons I bought this unit was to be able to work portable so I do not want to carry a router with me. Has anyone who has had problems with direct connections ever resolved the problem. Thanks for your comments Mike.

W5XZ - dan

564 Posts
83 Reply Likes

if you drill down into the "Zendesk" part of this community, you will find http://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/202118518-Optimizing-Ethernet-Adapter-Settings-for-M...
another adapter setting, a good while back, was to turn off "green ethernet"...not sure why I don't see that any more
73, w5xz, dan

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Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager

9153 Posts
3494 Reply Likes

Sid - Please open a HelpDesk support ticket if you are still having issues with communicating to the radio.

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2014-06-20T10:44:03+00:00

11 Posts
0 Reply Likes

New to SDR so not sure how to open helpdesk support ticket

2014-06-20T12:32:26+00:00

Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager

9153 Posts
3494 Reply Likes

This link will tell you how to open a HelpDesk ticket

http://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/202118688-How-to-Submit-a-Request-for-Technical-Supp...

2014-06-20T13:47:07+00:00

11 Posts
0 Reply Likes

Thanks Tim will check it out.

11 Posts
0 Reply Likes

Hi Tim,

Had an email from Matt and he said Dudley was going to help. I have been through your settings and updated the drivers but still comes up with unidentified network.

Sid

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Bill W2PKY

467 Posts
82 Reply Likes

Another idea is to use an Ethernet->USB adapter that plugs into a USB port for the radio connection. Amazingly, the built in WIFI adapter on the host computer can still function as the internet gateway.

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Bob

2 Posts
0 Reply Likes

I too am having issues with direct connection, installing radio out of the box. No Ethernet to shack because it is remote to home. Direct to PC I got some weird IP adress that stops the SmartSDR program. Put in 150 foot CAT5 as temporary to update. Updating is taking now 5 hours so far. I wish it had some way to indicate progress.

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Lee, Elmer

677 Posts
285 Reply Likes

the ethernet port in the computer is probably on the wrong subnet. I solved an issue like this with a different radio by changing my ethernet address in the computer on that particular port to a static IP in the same subnet. I was running 2 ethernets and a wifi on a windows 8.1 box

73 W9OY

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159 Posts
15 Reply Likes

On a new 6500 I am experiencing a similar issue with a direct connected MacBook Pro. During RX SSDR 1.3 will freeze and when I restart SSDR the radio is not found. Reboot of radio seems to fix the problem temporarily. Using Flex supplied cable.

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KY6LA - Howard, Elmer

3642 Posts
1473 Reply Likes

The issue is caused by the fact that somehow your radio is losing IP address and picking up a new IP on a different subnet

Best possible solution. Do not use direct connection. But rather connect your radio thru a router so that it always gets a routable IP address. This should solve your problem.

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2014-09-03T07:51:39+00:00

159 Posts
15 Reply Likes

Is it possible to set a static ip in the radio or view it's network configuration?

2014-09-03T08:05:10+00:00

KY6LA - Howard, Elmer

3642 Posts
1473 Reply Likes

Not easy with a direct connection

Through a router u can use the MAC address to fix the IP.

2014-09-03T08:06:04+00:00

KY6LA - Howard, Elmer

3642 Posts
1473 Reply Likes

U can view the IP in SmartCAT

2014-09-03T16:24:16+00:00

159 Posts
15 Reply Likes

Windows will assign a class B IP address to the PC's NIC if there is no DHCP. How does the flex radio assign it's IP address when there is no DHCP?

2014-09-03T18:57:20+00:00

Jon - KF2E

651 Posts
198 Reply Likes

Larry,

You might want to read this thread.

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/direct_ethernet_connection_for_flex_6500

Jon...kf2e

NX6D Dave

308 Posts
94 Reply Likes

When I was yielding to my desire to purchase a 6300 at Dayton, I spent a few minutes talking to Tim about how the radio would be integrated into my household network. As it turns out, the gigabit portion of the network is located adjacent to my shack, so a wired connection to the radio was no problem. The computer already had a wired GB connection. I use a D-Link GB switch which acts as a hub for the GB network. The router is a venerable Linksys WRT54G, which is not a GB rated device, but neither is the "broadband" connection to the outside world. The router provides all DHCP services. Modern router/switches are all GB, so my configuration is unusual these days.

Tim enthusiastically agreed that I should simply "plug the radio into the switch". There would be no bandwidth problems. That's what I did and I've never noticed any. If any problems appeared, I would start by assuming a defective switch, noisy wires, etc. This is common off the shelf tech.

Yes, you can configure Windows or IOS or Linux to supply DHCP and run a two node network without a switch, but why press your luck? These systems all expect to be connected to a high speed router/switch network that provides these services. They are bound to be more stable in this client configuration rather than the DHCP server configuration.

Certainly, it makes sense to spend some time looking at the NIC configurations, but I would expect most out of the box configurations to be pretty good. Might not be quite so good in Linux systems, as they are intended to be closely configured by pro Admins.

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159 Posts
15 Reply Likes

It's an annoyance to add a router when you have only two devices

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159 Posts
15 Reply Likes

I'm going to try enabling internet connection sharing, I believe this will enable DHCP on the NIC directly connected to the radio.

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79 Posts
12 Reply Likes

I have a laptop and desktop both using internet access via WiFi to a router, quite common now. Both computers have Ethernet ports and when I plug them into a 6300 with the WiFi internet connection enabled it just works. Everything is plug and play...what else can I say.

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Lee, Elmer

677 Posts
285 Reply Likes

If you can force the nic into the same subnet as the radio it will fix itself without dchp servers and all that. The problem is if windows doesn't know what to do it forces a 169.xxx.xxx.xxx address and if your radio is not on that subnet communications won't be estsblished. You probably want the nic on 192.168.0.x 255.255.255.x or 192.168.1.x 255.255.255.x. You can just empirically assign your nic port to a IP address in one or the other of these subnets and its likely your radio will fire up. Its triviasl to return the nic to dchp if bit doesn't work

73 W9OY

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2014-09-05T14:05:11+00:00

79 Posts
12 Reply Likes

My 6300 connects directly at 169.254.9.212, the wireless happens to be at 192.168.5 as assigned by the router. What I don't understand is why his radio would not be on the correct subnet assigned during initial negotiation when powered up for a direct connection. The stack works fine both on Win7 and Win8.1.

2014-09-05T14:37:21+00:00

Lee, Elmer

677 Posts
285 Reply Likes

It has to do with the way windows handles multiple NIC ip addresses in the same machine. Windows networking has always been a pita since the days of 3.1

2014-09-05T14:55:47+00:00

Bill -VA3WTB

3178 Posts
706 Reply Likes

It has been well documented in many post that going through a router is the way to connect, but people still try and go direct no matter what....

KY6LA - Howard, Elmer

3642 Posts
1473 Reply Likes

A router is really so inexpensive so why screw around with unreliable direct connect.

Only $35 on Amazon

http://smile.amazon.com/Linksys-EA350...

(Edited)

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Bill -VA3WTB

3178 Posts
706 Reply Likes

Most anyone on a home network has one, It is just so simple. In the beginning Flex may have thought direct would be the thing to do but as many have found out a router is the best way to go.

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159 Posts
15 Reply Likes

The radio and laptop will be traveling and i'd like to find a solution that doesn't involve a router. I'm fine with the forums recommendation on adding a home network. If I discover a stable solution for direct connection I'll share it with you all. Cost is not an issue

(Edited)

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2014-09-05T18:43:57+00:00

79 Posts
12 Reply Likes

I wish that I had a solution for you Larry, all I can tell you is that I plug the radio directly into my laptop and it works, I plug it into my desktop and it works flawlessly. Nothing special on either computer, both have functioning wireless connections that connect automatically on power up. Win 7 and Win 8.1, sorry.

2014-09-05T19:58:53+00:00

79 Posts
12 Reply Likes

Just to rub salt in the wound, I tried no WiFi, Ethernet to the radio first, radio powered up before plugging in Ethernet, and during lightening storm...could not get it to not connect. Truly plug and play.

2014-09-05T22:44:56+00:00

159 Posts
15 Reply Likes

So far enabling windows 8.1 internet connection sharing (ICS) is allowing the direct connect to work. Have been on for three hours and no lock-up of SSDR and I can see that the radio is getting an IP address from the ICS DHCP that is on the same subnet as the computer's NIC. I was also able to upgraded the radio to SSDR v1.3 using this setup. I did notice that the radio sometimes configured itself with a link local address in the 169.254/16 range and when this happened, it was also in the same subnet as the PC's port which also uses the same method to assign a link local IP in 169.254/16 (note - ICS not enabled at this point). The radio operates for a while in this configuration and then SSDR display hangs and the radio no longer appears in the radio chooser. Anyway, ICS seems like a viable solution for direct connections, YMMV. Sending my WireShark captures that contain the moment of the freeze and you can see the traffic from the radio stop.

(Edited)