3 Joey2s refuse to connect to Internet thru Hopper3 !!!

[sktrus]

Good evening to you all. I am having a hard time connecting my Joeys to Internet. I know the basics and how it works. Few months ago, I had no trouble doing it when I replaced my dish remote with a new voice activated remote. Google would respond to my voice commands on tv connected to Joey. Couple weeks ago I changed my wifi password and successfully did the same with Hopper 3 settings. ( changing pw and watching YouTube to be sure.)
Today I opened the YouTube app with Hopper and was able to watch few short videos.
the first and last pictures attached show the hopper internet settings. Later I checked the internet settings with one of the Joeys and realized Joey was not showing internet connection. I did the usual with resetting connection. Whatever the reason is it will not connect. The other pictures show what I am talking about. I tried all 3 Joeys with no success.
At this point I have no idea what to do. Nothing changed since I used a Joey with internet connection. Hopper shows ‘ bridging’ is on. That feature is greyed out with Joeys, meaning it is not possible to change it from ‘off’ to ‘on’.

I will appreciate any suggestion you experts will send my way. Thanks a bunch.

my apology for the bright spot on some pictures. They were taken this afternoon.
the order of pictures somehow messed up.

 

[HipKat]

How is your Hopper connected?? Is that a HotSpot? Are you using Extenders?? if so, don't connect the Hopper to the Extenders. That's the number one issue I see where it comes to similar issues like you're having and I've seen a lot of issues with Hot Spots/MiFi's.

 

[brownover]

I have exactly the same problem. Happened after power was interrupted about 3 weeks ago. After about 1 hour on phone with dish, tech was dispatched. Replaced Joey, no change. Problem still exists, tech could not resolve. There is an existing post about this. When i get home today, I will check my hopper to see if it is connected to extender.

 

[sktrus]

Thank you for your responses. Yes, Hopper is connected to a range extender.
Here's my set up:

A T-Mobile modem/router on second floor (next to a window for better connection to a cell tower), A range extender on first floor, Hopper in the basement, 3 Joeys in basement excercise room, first floor and a bedroom on second floor.
I am under the assumption that the wifi signal won't deteoriate too much if I use an extender in the middle which is the first floor. I should also mention that I use Roku on another tv (with Joey) in the basement. During that setup, I chose the gateway (no ext, either 2.4 or 5 GHz). The signal two floors down was good. No issues with streaming with Roku. I will go ahead and change the internet setting on Hopper from extender to the can (T-Mobile gateaway). Perhaps, I used that connection when it worked in the past, and I forgot about it.
I will, report it here.

 

[joegr]

...
I am under the assumption that the wifi signal won't deteoriate too much if I use an extender in the middle which is the first floor. ...

I think that the extenders add small delays as they relay the signal. Maybe the round trip time is exceeding a timeout somewhere?

 

[ethanlerma]

I think that the extenders add small delays as they relay the signal. Maybe the round trip time is exceeding a timeout somewhere?

Usually it’s not the signal quality/latency from the gateway that causes the issue, but rather the internal network bridge on the Hopper’s having problems when connected to extenders. If I were to guess it’s because the Hopper is trying to relay traffic using the Joeys IP address, and to the router this looks like one MAC (the Hopper’s) is broadcasting under multiple IP addresses (its own then it’s connected Joeys). To a normal router this is not a problem, but some repeaters (unless they are mesh, and even then some don’t work that well either) will get confused and not relay secondary IP’s to the primary router. This is just a theory since I don’t have an extender anymore to test (lucky me) but it’s something I ran into sometimes with other devices when I had them.

 

[joegr]

... This is just a theory since I don’t have an extender anymore to test (lucky me) but it’s something I ran into sometimes with other devices when I had them.

I had not thought of that. I think that your theory is better than mine here...

 

[sktrus]

Ah!!! Big relief. HIPKAT, you the man!! It worked. I changed the network setting on Hopper from extender to modem/router combo. As I expected the wifi signal dropped from 60s to 30s. It now fluctuates between 30 and 45. I tested the streaming quality with Youtube. It was fine. Then, I checked the settings with joey. It connected right away. Check the picture.
So, the summary:

Don't use range extenders when you set up Hopper Internet settings. Direct connection to the router.

 

[HipKat]

Ah!!! Big relief. HIPKAT, you the man!! It worked. I changed the network setting on Hopper from extender to modem/router combo. As I expected the wifi signal dropped from 60s to 30s. It now fluctuates between 30 and 45. I tested the streaming quality with Youtube. It was fine. Then, I checked the settings with joey. It connected right away. Check the picture.
So, the summary:

Don't use range extenders when you set up Hopper Internet settings. Direct connection to the router.

Sounds like a good time to look into a Mesh system. I couldn't live with my Linksys Velop WHW03's anymore

 

[brownover]

My problem was also the extender. Connected directly to the router and "bingo". I have had the hopper on the extender since January. Why did it not give me a problem until 3 weeks ago after the power went off for a few minutes? Hope the dish techs who watch this site take note, if it happened to us it can happen all over the country. As I said in earlier post, tech spent hours at my home trying to resolve.

 

[sktrus]

Brownover, I am glad you also figured it out. Our own Hipkat knew right away. He must have dealth with it in the past.

Hipkat, I am looking into mesh systems. May I ask why you decided to use Linksys Velop WHW03 ? Since you are an installer you know more about these than most of us.

 

[HipKat]

Brownover, I am glad you also figured it out. Our own Hipkat knew right away. He must have dealth with it in the past.

Hipkat, I am looking into mesh systems. May I ask why you decided to use Linksys Velop WHW03 ? Since you are an installer you know more about these than most of us.

Those were the first ones that we sold/installed. Now we install Google Mesh routers. I have 3 of the Velop Tri-bands with about 4 things connected at the most and have no issues with buffering, etc. WHen I moved into my new house, I ran CAT 5 from a switch to each Velop wit ha 4 port switch at each router so almost everything I have is hard wired. Great speeds, too. I pay for 1 GB/s Fiber Optic and d/l at about 950 Mb/s all the time

Plus the Velop Smart-WiFi webpage is a great portal with a lot of options for setting up security, port forwarding, etc. The Google doesn't have that. Now, I've had customers say the Orbits are very nice, too

 

[TheKrell]

I've had customers say the Orbits are very nice, too

I like the wired backhauls on your Linksys Velop mesh. Do you mean the Netgear Orbi? I use a wired backhaul on my pair. I and several other SG contributors swear by them. I bought a refurbished pair like this:

Amazon product ASIN B01K4CZOBSView: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Orbi-Ultra-Performance-Whole-System/dp/B01K4CZOBS/ref=asc_df_B01K4CZOBS/

...but from Woot for much less. These come with a built-in 4-port switch so I don't need any auxiliary switches.

 

[charlesrshell]

I like the wired backhauls on your Linksys Velop mesh. Do you mean the Netgear Orbi? I use a wired backhaul on my pair. I and several other SG contributors swear by them. I bought a refurbished pair like this:

Amazon product ASIN B01K4CZOBSView: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Orbi-Ultra-Performance-Whole-System/dp/B01K4CZOBS/ref=asc_df_B01K4CZOBS/

...but from Woot for much less. These come with a built-in 4-port switch so I don't need any auxiliary switches.

I use the Orbi mesh too like yours. I added a Netgear 16 port switch at the main router.

 

[TheKrell]

I use the Orbi mesh too like yours. I added a 16 port switch at the main router.

Yup. The built in 4-port switches don't cover everything. So I added 3X 8-port GigE switches connected into the Orbi router in order to feed the rest of my house. So, the router has one port occupied by my cable modem, and the other 3 ports go to these switches.

 

[charlesrshell]

Yup. The built in 4-port switches don't cover everything. So I added 3X 8-port GigE switches connected into the Orbi router in order to feed the rest of my house. So, the router has one port occupied by my cable modem, and the other 3 ports go to these switches.

Nice setup. The Orbi mesh is awesome. I had used Linksys prior to the Orbi. I like it bunches better.

 

[TheKrell]

Nice setup. The Orbi mesh is awesome. I had used Linksys prior to the Orbi. I like it bunches better.

Thanks!

Amusing story: my daughter was having speed problems on her gaming computer upstairs, so I figured I would just cycle the power on the Orbi satellite and restore fast service. I unplugged it and plugged it back in. But before I found the jack for the power, I managed to hit an actual, physical power switch and turn it off! Argh. Forgot about that switch. Of course I was going crazy trying to get it back online and shopping for a new satellite. Fortunately, before I wasted my money, my daughter actually looked at what I had done and fixed it herself.

Smart daughter. Forgetful dad.

 

[HipKat]

I like the wired backhauls on your Linksys Velop mesh. Do you mean the Netgear Orbi? I use a wired backhaul on my pair. I and several other SG contributors swear by them. I bought a refurbished pair like this:

Amazon product ASIN B01K4CZOBSView: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Orbi-Ultra-Performance-Whole-System/dp/B01K4CZOBS/ref=asc_df_B01K4CZOBS/

...but from Woot for much less. These come with a built-in 4-port switch so I don't need any auxiliary switches.

Yeah, typo on my part. That's the one downside on the Velops - only one Ethernet output, but I bought 4 port Netgear Switches that are stylish at Walmart.

Robot or human?

 

[sktrus]

Reading all the responses is making my head spin! I appreciate it though.
Two dummy questions:

If you use a 2 piece mesh system, do you keep the modem/router in the middle? For instance, modem/router on the first floor, one mesh is on the second floor and the second is in the basement.
Since I use a cell tower connection (living in the sticks) my T-Mobile gateway has to be on the second floor for best connection. So, what makes the most sense? Keep the gateway on second, place one mesh on the first floor and the second in the basement? Keep one mesh (attached to gateway with ethernet cable) on second floor and the second mesh on the first floor (or in the basement)?
How about this alternative? 3 pack system? one connected to gateway with ethernet, the second on the first floor and the last (third) in the basement?
I live in a 3 story house (900 square feet on each floor, 2700 all together.) with finished basement, and I mostly spend my time in the basement.
Second question: Unlike range extenders the speed does not degrade with mesh systems. Is this correct?

OK. One more! Do mesh systems offer both 2.4 and 5 GHz like range extenders? Some of my wifi devices work only with 2.4 GHz.

 

[HipKat]

Reading all the responses is making my head spin! I appreciate it though.
Two dummy questions:

If you use a 2 piece mesh system, do you keep the modem/router in the middle? For instance, modem/router on the first floor, one mesh is on the second floor and the second is in the basement.
Since I use a cell tower connection (living in the sticks) my T-Mobile gateway has to be on the second floor for best connection. So, what makes the most sense? Keep the gateway on second, place one mesh on the first floor and the second in the basement? Keep one mesh (attached to gateway with ethernet cable) on second floor and the second mesh on the first floor (or in the basement)?
How about this alternative? 3 pack system? one connected to gateway with ethernet, the second on the first floor and the last (third) in the basement?
I live in a 3 story house (900 square feet on each floor, 2700 all together.) with finished basement, and I mostly spend my time in the basement.
Second question: Unlike range extenders the speed does not degrade with mesh systems. Is this correct?

OK. One more! Do mesh systems offer both 2.4 and 5 GHz like range extenders? Some of my wifi devices work only with 2.4 GHz.

Many Mesh system offer 2 5 Ghz networks and 1 2.4 Ghz. No quality router system is going to be locked into only 2.4 Ghz anymore.

As for placement, imagine the Mesh routers as the old 2 cans and a string. The string is the "tether" that keeps the WiFi signal as close to 100% as possible and each router is a separate WiFi "field" so placement is not important, as to where the "master" router is as much as equally spacing them, but the point you seem to miss is that one router, a Mastrer if you will has to connect to your internet at the Modem/Router/Gateway and it uses your incoming signal to create the Mesh Network, so if I setup a Mesh system wit ha Comaxst router, for example, the Comcast WiFi is still going to show, with the new Mesh Network on top of it