Router Requirements

For the RainMachine to be able to connect to your network, there are several requirements that must be met. You can check these settings by logging into your router/repeater, looking on your router itself, or looking up the router specifications for your model.

• 802.11n
• WEP, WPA, WPA2 security only. Enterprise is not supported
• No splash page or login screen (ie Xfinity Hotspot or University login screen)
• 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band, RainMachine will not work on 5GHz. Dual band is ok if 2.4GHz is included
• WI-Fi channels: United States uses channels 1-11, Europe uses 1-13, and Japan uses 14.

Chances are your home network already meets these conditions, but if you are encountering issues with your connection it is advised to double check. 

Important:
If you're trying to connect our RainMachine Mini-8 to an Wi-Fi network outside United States please note that Mini-8 AP mode does not use the Wi-Fi channels 12 and 13 to connect to your router/repeater, but it will work from channel 1 to 11.

If you must use the Wi-Fi channels 12 and 13 there is a workaround for this (considering that you can temporarily connect on another channel):

1. Enable SSH from Settings -> System Settings
2. Connect with SSH (putty/ssh) to device IP with username root and password rainmachine.
    It's advised to change the default password by issuing passwd on command line.
3. Issue the commands below (will reboot the device):
  uci set wireless.radio0.country=DE
  uci commit wireless
  reboot
This should allow RainMachine Mini-8 to use Wi-Fi channels 12 and 13.

Physical Obstructions and Range

Physical Obstructions: Be sure the signal path from your router to the RainMachine does not have any significant physical objects that could deflect the signal (ie metal shelves, wire mesh, multiple thick walls, etc.  To the right is how a router broadcasts a signal. It is a common mistake that pointing the antenna directly at a device will help the signal. In reality, you want the antenna to be perpendicular to the receiving device.

Range and Signal Strength: The average range of an 802.11n router is 150 feet, but that is when the signal is at its limit. For the RainMachine, it is recommended that distance be no more than 100 feet, and the signal strength is at no more than -75dBm. You can find this reading on the RainMachine under Settings > System Settings > WiFi, or use a phone app. 

Inside a Wi-Fi router settings

As an example, this is what you will see when logging into a D-Link router. 

Source