ASIair and I-Pad no longer communicating

ZWO ASIAIR Plus Acquisition Deep Sky Troubleshooting Help Needed
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Vincent Goetz avatar
Vincent Goetz avatar
I have been using an ASIair plus since February 2022 with my I-Pad (I-Pad Pro 10.5, OS version 16.2) and every night I have been able to plan an evening with four to six targets.  I have never had a problem until two nights ago, when my I-Pad indicated I was connected to my air, but when I go to open ASIair, it indicates I am not connected and I am unable to open the program.

Yesterday was a long day, as I drove to Starizona in Tucson and hared my problem.  Neither my I-Pad nor there I-Pad would open.  My I-Phone worked there but not at home.  We were able to open ASIair with a MacBook Pro (M-1 chip) but unfortunately I have the Intel chip in mine.  

Has anyone else experienced this issue?  I really need some help.  I have done all the appropriate things, off and on, delete and restore, etc.  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated….


Thanking you in advance.
Jeff Horn avatar
Jeff Horn avatar
Have you tried resetting the network settings?  With certain apps that don't communicate sometimes that is an answer.  Its under "reset" under general tab I believe.
Vincent Goetz avatar
Vincent Goetz avatar
I do not use my Starlink network in this process.  I connect my I-Pad directly to the AIR.
I use Airplane Mode turned on, Cellular network turned off, eliminating the I-Pad want to connect to my Starlink or any other available network.
Jeff Horn avatar
Jeff Horn avatar
Just suggesting this I recently had an app that wouldn't connect to a device (wifi connection direct to device, not wifi network – just as in the asi air).  Once I reset network setting the app connected to the device again.
Andres Salaverria avatar
Andres Salaverria avatar
I've had sporadic connectivity issues with my ASIAIR Plus and iPad (also a Pro). Both using the direct wi-fi, and station mode connection. I've restarted the iPad, the ASIAIR, and then they may reconnect, and lose it again. I cannot find an explanation for this. I sent a message to ZWO (using the help function of ASIAIR), but didn't hear back. I surrender to the fact that I would have random disconnections. In station mode, I could attribute it to my home wi-fi, but it also happens in direct connect mode. One thing that seems to help is to put the iPad in Airplane mode (shutting off Cell - if it's a Cell iPad), and change the settings for any wi-fi connection on the iPad to not auto-connect. I think the problem is on the iPad/IOS side more than with the ASIAIR.
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Dan Kearl avatar
Dan Kearl avatar
I have no problem with my iPad Pro, I use the Asiair wi-fi, I leave the airplane mode off.
I operate 2 systems at times with my iPhone and my iPad and always have to have Airplane mode turned on, on my iPhone but not the iPad.
I sit them side by side, use the Asiair wi-fi from 2 different asiair plus and have zero problems, the asiair wi-fi networks do not even get mixed up.
The Asiair wifi will take over my home wifi even,  but works fine on the iphone and iPad.
I am not sure this helps you except I would use the iPad with airplane mode off.
Vincent Goetz avatar
Vincent Goetz avatar
I spent seven hours on the phone yesterday with Apple Support.  I eventually did a factory reset on the iPad and finished it this morning.  To no avail.  I still can not connect.
Apple is now aware that there is a problem, and I have been advised that the matter has been referred to their engineers.

I plan to write a letter to them documenting the issues but I am at a loss as to what to do next.  For almost eleven months it worked perfectly and then….l

i am willing to try anything, so please offer suggestions.  I did have the Wi-Fi signal measured yesterday, at 100% adjacent to the scope, and 57% inside my Airstream (a Farraday cage) with a minus 40 db, which I am told is very good.  So the ASIAIR is NOT the issue.

any ideas???
Vincent Goetz avatar
Vincent Goetz avatar
I have determined that the issue is with the ASIAIR Plus.  Evidently there must be an issue with the wi-Fi handshake.  I have a new one coming, we shall see….
Andres Salaverria avatar
Andres Salaverria avatar
Vincent Goetz:
I have determined that the issue is with the ASIAIR Plus.  Evidently there must be an issue with the wi-Fi handshake.  I have a new one coming, we shall see….

Curious - did you report the problem to ZWO?
Vincent Goetz avatar
Vincent Goetz avatar
Not yet.
Andres Salaverria avatar
Andres Salaverria avatar
In case anybody else is having problems or is interested. I reported my problem to ZWO, but I am not getting anywhere on identifying the problem or finding a resolution. One thing that appears to be a problem (at least for me) is if you are using a cellular iPad or iPhone. Let's say  you have both on: cellular on and wifi. The ASIAIR is connected to the iPhone directly via wifi (not station mode), if the cellular connection is on, the app doesn't connect to the ASIAIR. It needs to be on airplane mode: wifi on, cellular off.
Helpful
Francesco Ferretti avatar
Francesco Ferretti avatar
Andres Salaverria:
In case anybody else is having problems or is interested. I reported my problem to ZWO, but I am not getting anywhere on identifying the problem or finding a resolution. One thing that appears to be a problem (at least for me) is if you are using a cellular iPad or iPhone. Let's say  you have both on: cellular on and wifi. The ASIAIR is connected to the iPhone directly via wifi (not station mode), if the cellular connection is on, the app doesn't connect to the ASIAIR. It needs to be on airplane mode: wifi on, cellular off.

Thank you Andres!!! I never had a problem since this evening.. 
I read your message and turned off the cellular network of iPhone and i saw asi air in Wi-Fi!
jose ortega avatar
jose ortega avatar
Something else you may want to check is the voltage load on the Asiair plus.  Too many gadgets may sacrifice wifi availability.  Also make sure you are hooked up as 5g.  These two issues have helped resolve my issues in the past. &
Andres Salaverria avatar
Andres Salaverria avatar
Probably my last update on this topic. A few weeks ago I got my ASIAIR returned from ZWO. They opened a customer support ticket, I shipped it, they inspected it and found nothing wrong, and sent it back. Through the conversation with the ZWO technician, I figured out that the problem appeared to be interference from the cables going into the USB and power ports. Silly user error, I guess. It has been working fine since I changed my configuration to avoid any cables near the antenna. I still have to turn off cellular on the iPad, but that's not a bit problem for me.
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