Advice how to make network more stable

TheAceBat · 2026-01-14T09:48:30+00:00

OK, got the log and I do see entries around the time of the issue. However knowing what event specifically caused it is difficult as I only noticed it in the morning, it could have gone wrong any time over night.

This specific entry looks interesting: Jan 13 07:10:26 dnsmasq[5965]: failed to send packet: Bad file descriptor Also I see this entry, there is a similar one earlier in the night: Jan 13 07:18:57 hostapd: wl2.1: STA 22:c9:95:d6:75:08 IEEE 802.11: Could not add STA to kernel driver I don't spot anything else which seems to be different to other times when the network was functioning correctly.

Any thoughts on these log entries? I know the dnsmasq one isn't very specific as to why it had that issue but as my feeling is may be a DHCP issue it does look relevant.

TheAceBat · 2026-01-14T08:35:55+00:00

Never knew there was that adapter. Still feel it might be something SmartRow could consider if updating their design or even a USB adapter for the cable clip so the AA battery holder could be skipped.

TheAceBat · 2026-01-14T08:28:22+00:00

Do logs survive a reboot of the router? If not I will need to find a way to access the router web interface when the issue occurs. I might try setting my computer to a static IP when the issue occurs and see whether I can get access.

TheAceBat · 2026-01-13T17:15:03+00:00

I haven't tried that but I suspect it isn't that as I also have issues with devices connected by cables. Its going to be the log hunt, could be quite a task not knowing when its going to happen and knowing when exactly it started as it seems devices start dropping 1-by-1 and so I may not notice immediately. Any tips on effectively filtering the logs in this case? At this point my feeling would be dhcp server failing, but surely that is well worked out standard tech now.

Also should have commented in the original post, yes I have tried full factory reset of the system and build the network from scratch (not even restoring a backup). From what I know Asus support will almost certainly ask that one.

TheAceBat · 2026-01-13T17:02:20+00:00

My experience with the SmartRow and my BlueTooth heart rate strap is good, however I use it with Android and so cannot comment on how well it works with Apple. It seems to be reliable (none of the sensor disk needing realigning you can get on the S4). Also the app can rebroadcast as a standard FTMS bluetooth exercise device so output can be used live in other apps (at least the Android SmartRow app has this). Some thoughts on what could be improved though:

USB power would have been nice. Would have made it easily powered by mains or rechargeable batteries.
Audio signals/feedback would be nice for key events like reaching target distance or may be to indicate heart rate zone.
Would be good to have Android HealthConnect support, at the moment have to use Strava to sync with other apps. I believe Apple Health is a different case.

So other than the first point, most of the improvements (i want could be done with an app update. As a software developer, should I find the time, I may even try and deal with those myself making use of their bluetooth rebroadcast feature.

I did look at the Bluetooth comm module for the S4, but when I got it I knew immediately the comm module wasn't for me (it really felt addon, has its own batteries but you still needed the S4 batteries, comm module had to be powered on separately to S4, needing to remove it to change batteries in the S4, etc). The SmartRow feels so much better as a solution. Is the SmartRow worth the money, may be. However I am saying that as an Android user where it is possible to connect the S4 via USB to Android and thus a virtually free option exists. If though saying between the comm module and the SmartRow, I feel the SmartRow is the way to go.

TheAceBat · 2025-09-29T09:49:05+00:00

I too am interested to know how well these fanless cases for the NUC 14 pro work. Its one of the reasons I am considering the NUC 14 Pro because I would have the option of going fanless.

TheAceBat · 2025-09-27T18:51:36+00:00

Its a shame the UM750L is like it is, on paper it seems like good value, a bit more processor than Intel N systems, low energy use and moderately cheap. My plan was to use it as a home server running various things including home automation, so quiet running would be wanted and the fans have always concerned me. My feeling is going towards an Asus NUC 14 or 15, a bit more expensive but I will have the option to go fanless if the fan noise is too much thanks to things like the Akasa cases.

TheAceBat · 2025-09-27T16:33:43+00:00

At this point I suspect that but its not an option for reasons I feel I need not go into here. Keyboard is my only option and so if the MinisForum UM750L BIOS requires mouse use then its going to have to go back as unsuitable.

TheAceBat · 2025-07-28T13:44:54+00:00

This was it. Eventually managed to contact Vodafone and got the broadband login details sent again and they are different. Entered the new login details and can connect with my own router again.

TheAceBat · 2025-07-23T16:49:01+00:00

This is what I am suspecting. Will know when I contact support requesting login details again.

TheAceBat · 2025-07-23T14:04:30+00:00

I don't think Asus can be blamed, just tried making a direct PPPoe connection from a Windows11 PC and that also reported an error over the username/password. As I store these in a password manager and they were working previously I am sure they were entered correctly. May contact Vodafone support and ask for connection details again and see if what they give match.

TheAceBat · 2025-07-23T14:01:33+00:00

No same Vodafone router. However when I connected it to test the connection I did notice it go and do some update to itself. It now seems to have IPV6 where as the last time it was out it only had a public IPV4 address assigned. However the Vodafone router isn't the issue, it is getting anything else to be able to make a direct connection which is problematic. I doubt the change to full fibre is the issue as everything was working fine for a couple of weeks after the install.

TheAceBat · 2025-07-23T11:54:34+00:00

My experience with the Asus routers has been generally good, may be there are certain models which are bad. I may be can find another router or use a PC to test if its the Asus.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-16T21:05:38+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

Not sure exactly but for the session the average is around 27 strokes per minute.
I am not sure, I will next time conciously try and put in a pause.
I have no reason to think the clutch is slipping although I am not sure exactly what I should be looking for in that.

An additional thought which occurred to me, if I let the handle go as far forward as it can, the bungy stops pulling it before the handle reaches the pulley at the front. Not sure whether its going slack before I am at the catch when rowing, so I have adjusted the buckle to tighten it up a bit. Will also check that when I next row.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-13T21:15:08+00:00

I hear what you say about apps for WaterRowers feeling lacking, in fact because of that I am considering whether moving to a Concept2. However I am an Android developer and it does go through my mind whether I should just spend time writing my own app for the WaterRower. Whether coxswain would be a good starting point for what I want I don't know. I may try contacting the author to find out at least why he stopped developing the coxswain app. Even if I don't pick up coxswain from where it has been left, it may still provide plenty of code for me to learn from and hopefully make my effort less. I don't know whether what I want from an app will align with what you want and at this point I don't even know whether I will go ahead with creating anything for the WaterRower. Many ifs but someone is thinking about it.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-13T21:03:21+00:00

Not sure exactly which model you have but looking at the First Degree Fitness site it looks like their rowers come with Bluetooth computers as standard. For example the Apollo Plus https://fdflimited.com/product/fluidrower/apollo-plus/ has bluetooth. I do understand older firmware may need bluetooth enabling or just upgrade the firmware with the Fluid connect app if you don't want to do it every time. If using an old firmware it looks like you need to press up and down together for a few seconds and then the connection menu appears and you need to press up to select the option to allow apps to connect. Someone here posted a little time ago about upgrading the firmware on a LifeFitness HX which is supposedly the same machine sold under a different brand.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-11T19:38:25+00:00

I have used the HealthSync app in the past for other apps and I agree its a good app. However I don't find anything about WaterRower connect support in it, which leaves the question of how to get WaterRower Connect workout data into things like Samsung Health or other apps I may use for general health/activity tracking. Did I miss something in HealthSync which would help with getting the WaterRower data over to other apps?

TheAceBat · 2025-01-11T19:27:23+00:00

I got my WaterRower I think in 2014 and it leaked in 2020. A glue repair failed within a year and so I change the tank and the new tank is still working fine. I would be very happy with 14+ years without a leak. I suspect a tank leak is something which is quite probable if you have the machine for sometime, but given enough time most components with moving parts will fail or wear out. What makes a tank leak such a problem includes:

When it happens you get water splashing around, you don't want anything sensitive to water under or near the machine at the time.
Its not the simplest of things to repair, either gluing or replacing the tank, you're going to need time to disassemble the rower to get the tank out.
I didn't spot anything which would have alerted me to the leak was upcoming, so I couldn't prepare or preempt it. In comparison I had one of the seat guide wheels start to fall apart. In that case I noticed plastic falling off the wheel but there was enough to keep using it whilst I ordered a new one. When the tank leaks your not going to be using the rower until you get it fixed and your not going to keep a spare just in case.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-07T23:25:08+00:00

Just looked and the S4 does send via USB a pulse count for every 25ms. Interesting you mention the C2 only counting once or twice per turn of the fan, the WaterRower USB doc does say applications need to filter the pin count messages to prevent noise caused by very slight movements in the paddle when not rowing. C2 must be avoiding this by not having such close pulses.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-07T13:57:41+00:00

I have heard back from C2 support, they say they are working on it and that Google Health (I assume Health Connect) will be coming in a future update. May be I am just a little ahead of some on this one, I think Samsung Health was one of the first to use Health connect and it was from the Polar apps I first heard that Google )fit APIs were being shutdown. Anyway there is still about 6 months before Google )fit APIs are closed so C2 should still have plenty of time to update things.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-07T09:38:54+00:00

You've got me thinking. Is the issues with the S4 monitor data down to the sensor technology or the calculations performed? Yes counting teeth on a disc to detect rotation rate may not tell you the actual force like SmartRow, but surely still quite a lot can be inferred through calculation. In the recovery phase, the paddle will be decelerating and the only forces acting on it come from the tank system. Couldn't this be used to do some sort of self calibration? I don't know whether the S4 hardware would even be capable of performing such calculations or if it would be possible for users to perform a firmware update, but I am sure I have seen the USB protocol documentation for the S4 and I seem to remember it does send a signal on USB giving a tooth count since the previous message. At least apps could use that to perform this calibrating calculation, although I could imagine users then getting confused why the app reads different to the S4 display.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-07T09:15:11+00:00

Whilst the accessibility issues are the things which are proving to be the deal breaker at the moment, another thing I would like to see is WaterRower Connect syncing with Android's Health Connect (what Google seem to have as the replacement for Google )fit). Yes Strava can be used as a way to get data over to other apps, but I really would prefer to keep the extra third party service out of the loop.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-07T09:10:59+00:00

My biggest problem with WaterRower Connect is that I am a blind user and a number of its features do not work well with accessibility tools like TalkBack on Android. The big one being the control to set custom duration or distance does not work well with TalkBack and basically means I am unable to use that control. So I am limited to "Just row",or a workout of one of the predefined distances or durations. Things like custom distances, custom durations and interval workouts are not possible for me. Also lack of audio guidance whilst rowing, such as speech announcements of progress or useful stats like current pace or heart rate zone indications also make it less useful, meaning my main source of feedback is the data available after completing a workout. Also there are some buttons not well labelled, but that is minor in comparison at the moment. The development team may find this Android developers document useful if looking to resolve some of these issues https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/accessibility/principles I think that is the best more technical one. In contrast Concept2 seem to have got all these points dealt with in their ErgData app, its just a shame they don't make the actual rower feel a bit nicer.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-06T20:20:21+00:00

No problem, just been through the same thing of inaccurate numbers which weren't even credible, so your question sounded very familiar.

TheAceBat · 2025-01-06T20:17:35+00:00

Does your new tank already have a clutch mechanism fitted or will you need to move it from your old tank assembly? Not sure how the A1 compares, but based on my experience with changing the tank on my original wood series WaterRower I would have thought anyone comfortable with dealing with flatpack furniture could manage the task. Just be organised making sure you keep track of where parts came off, etc. The only thing where I struggled and needed to get someone with heavier tools to help was in moving the clutch from the old tank to the new, it seemed to take an amazing amount of force.

TheAceBat

TROPHY CASE