TABLE OF CONTENTS



If you are having trouble connecting to a WiFi network with DAKboard hardware or a DIY DAKboard OS project, here are a few steps to resolve the issue. 


NOTE: The DAKboard Hotspot and the URL http://10.0.0.5 will only be available when the DAKboard is not connected to the internet or your account. If the DAKboard is connected to your account, access the settings page from the Displays & Devices page. See our article Reset your Device to Factory Settings under the Accessing Settings Page from your Account section to see how to do this.



DAKboard Hotspot:


Both screens displayed indicate that the device is disconnected


When you first set up your DAKboard OS device, or when it cannot join the network it will create a local Hotspot to join to make changes.  You will see this network available on your phone/tablet/computer:


Name/SSID: DAKboard (or DAKboard-Your Serial #)
Password: dakb5142


Connect to it using the Name/SSID and Password as above with any WiFi-enabled device (Like a Smartphone, Tablet, or Laptop) and once connected in a browser, on the connected device, type http://10.0.0.5 into the URL bar to access the settings page to update the wireless network configuration.

Note:  Your Computer/Tablet/Phone may indicate that this connection has no internet, this is normal, and make sure to stay on the DAKboard wifi until the configuration is completed.



Basic Troubleshooting:


Typically, issues with WiFi connectivity indicate a local networking issue between the DAKboard OS device and your WiFi router. Please see the most common steps to resolve this:


  • Network/SSID: Ensure that your network is not hidden.  Avoid using EXT-Networks or Guest-Networks as they can cause trouble when accessing your device later in the setup. 


NOTE: Post version 3.21 (RPi) and 103.24 (OPi) You can now use Hidden Network/SSID as well. On these versions if you Copy & Paste or use Autofill to add your Network Name/SSID, check for hidden spaces at the end of the Network Name/SSID.


  • WiFi Password: Double-check that your WiFi password is correctly configured on the DAKboard OS device. If you Copy & Paste or use Autofill to add your password, check for hidden spaces at the end of the Password.
  • Reboots: 
    1. Reboot your WiFi router.
    2. Reboot your device AFTER the WiFi router has FULLY rebooted (the internet activity light is blinking if present).
  • Move the Device: Temporarily move the DAKboard OS device as close to the WiFi router as possible and reboot. Allow for several hours to test if the issue persists but typically you should see the device immediately connect.
  • Unable to join the network: If your connecting device (phone/tablet/computer) displays "Unable to join the network" like below, please reboot your device and the DAKboard OS device and this should resolve automatically.
  • What's Next? Proceed on to Advanced Troubleshooting if you are still unable to connect.



Advanced Troubleshooting:


If you are still continuing to have difficulty joining your network or staying connected, some of the advanced steps below may help:


  • 2.4GHz WiFi Network: We only recommend using a 2.4GHz WiFi network. 2.4GHz networks have a longer range than 5GHz signals and DAKboard OS does not need much in terms of bandwidth.
  • Guest Network: We do not recommend connecting to "Guest" networks, or to WiFi extended networks ("Ext") as this can cause problems during the initial setup and remote access later. If you have to use these networks, to get around the issues with remote access later, connect your WiFi-Enabled device you wish to use to connect to the Settings page to that same network.
  • Disable Band Steering: Some newer routers use a technology called Band Steering, which will often put DAKboard hardware on the 5GHz band, and result in connection loss.  For this reason, we recommend disabling Band Steering when possible.  Some routers do not have the ability to disable band steering, such as Netgear Orbi routers, and need the 5GHz network shut down, or the device plugged in via ethernet in some cases to connect. This does not mean that these routers do not work with DAKboard, it just means that additional steps may be needed when using them. 
  • Disable Mesh Roaming: Certain Mesh routing solutions will have roaming settings called 'Mesh Roaming' or similar, which will move devices from one access point to another, resulting in a loss of connection. This may result in the DAKboard OS device losing network connection over time. Since DAKboard typically remains stationary this should be disabled. Version 3.21 (RPi) and 103.24 (OPi) of our OS and above now have improved handling and will work with most Mesh networks. 
  • Firewall Settings:
    1. Ping 8.8.8.8 - DAKboard hardware and DAKboard OS need to be allowed to use the Ping protocol to 8.8.8.8 to verify it has a connection to the internet.
    2. Port 443 - Ensure the device is allowed to reach the dakboard.com domain via 443.
    3. MAC Address Filtering - If this is configured on your WiFi router, we recommend verifying that the DAKboard hardware or DAKboard OS is not being blocked.
  • No Networks in the Dropdown list?: Older versions of DAKboard OS (v2.25 and older) may not always display available networks in the dropdown list.  You will need to refresh the page to correct this issue.  To identify which release your device has please see here.
  • What's Next? Contact the DAKboard Support team by creating a DAKboard Support Ticket.