Can't set static IP and other weirdnesses
Amazon delivered our new RainMachine today. I've installed it. Mostly good, but a couple of irritating problems, all dealing with the network settings. Note: the controller did connect to the network, and quite easily, too. I have it connected by wired Ethernet, and the controller picked up a DHCP address right away. (10.15.15.138) Good, right? Well, at first it was, but I already had a plan to set this up with a static IP. I've gone into the RainMachine app on my phone and configured a static IP like I done dozens of times with other equipment (in this case it is 10.15.15.98). Pressed the button and figured that would be that.
Not so fast.
The address didn't take. Still shows the old address in the app... and every time I open the page to change it to the desired static address, it shows a completely wrong IP: 192.168.1.128 (this is on the actual page where I would enter the desired address). That is completely impossible on our network as we don't use that subnet range here (all of ours are 10.15.15.x or 10.15.16.x). Our DHCP isn't handing out 192.168.x.y addresses. What's up with that? And what's up with it not saving?
Then I go to my PC and open a browser page and point it to the 10.15.15.138 address (the actual DHCP address it has been given but I don't want). I get direct access to the RainMachine's web UI. Looks good! However, when I go to the "About" page, I see a could of strange things:
1) It shows that neither Wi-Fi NOR Ethernet are connected. Wow... I'm getting data from its UI without any network connection! </sarcasm mode off>
2) The Wi-Fi section lists an IP address of 192.168.13.1, which is yet another new (and incorrect) IP address. And no other data about the network connections. AND no means of changing the network settings from the regular web UI.
What?! And yes, before you ask, I did already go an update the software of our RainMachine to the latest version, firmware version 4.0.1163 with web UI version 1.14. The update didn't fix anything but makes me feel semi-competent.
All kidding aside, this shouldn't be that hard. The network settings should show up in the web UI. And when I set the network to a static IP, it should actually do what it's told and use the given address. No, the address isn't in use... it USED to be the address of our previous controller by another company. And I did try another address just for fun, and the RainMachine didn't take that one either.
I really need to get this thing working, as we have plants to water (they can't wait for weeks for you guys to figure this out). Yes, I can configure the system now and start watering this minute, BUT I am concerned that one of your techs will tell me to do a factory reset on this unit, which means any effort I put in to configuring this controller would be wasted (and I hate wasting time). Anyhow, this is a brand-new fresh-out-of-the-box controller, with freshly updated firmware, and doing static IP address should be child's play.
For fun's sake, I've included a screenshot from the web UI as seen from my PC. It shows the "not connected" for both network interfaces, as well as the completely random and incorrect IP listed under the truly not-in-use Wi-Fi adapter. You can also note the IP of the page from the address bar of the browser.
It is the weekend, but I imagine a lot of your customers are installing these on weekends (so they can spend the rest of their week making money to pay for said controllers), so lets hope you have someone in support today.
Sorry for the length of this... I'm just trying to anticipate your next questions and get them answered here.
Thanks
Pat Furrie
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I will reply here with the same message I replied you on the support ticket.
If the info you are sharing are not private, then, let's keep the conversation here, if you agree.
Thank you!---------------------------------
Hi, Pat
Sorry for the experience you have with the RainMachine device.
And thank you for the detailed info.
What we would like you to try (re-try) is
1) Make sure that your STATIC Ethernet IP you are using goes through the same Gateway as the mobile and PC
2) Connect to your RainMachine device using the mobile app
3) Open RainMachine mobile app and go to Settings - System Settings - Ethernet - tap on it and change its settings to match your Ethernet network: IP, Netmask, Gateway, DNS
4) Once you save those information it will prompt you by saying you'll have to reboot the device in order to save the info.
5) Before you will reboot the RainMachine device, go to its screen and tap on the Wi-Fi logo icon that it is a button shortcut to the RainMachine Wi-Fi settings and then tap the its Settings wheel button and choose Settings then Reset. This will erase all settings saved for the Wi-Fi network on the RainMachine device. It is no problem since we are now connected with Ethernet cable.
6) Tap on BACK button until you reach the HOME screen, then tap on it to enter its main options, choose Settings - Advanced Settings - Reboot
7) Wait for the system to reboot and it will now be connected only through the Ethernet cable and the Wi-Fi will be disconnected.
These steps are necessary because Wi-Fi and Ethernet cannot work together on the same time using the same internet router settings. The path used for connectivity is the last one that will be configured after the system loads.
192.168.13.1 is the default IP broadcast address for the RainMachine. This can be changed to your IP class by using the RainMachine API page located at yourRainMachineIPAddress:8081/api/4/ (mind the last backslash).
In your case the address would be: 10.15.15.138:8081/api/4/
Enter your RainMachine password under the POST auth/login link and then click this link to login with admin privileges. Check that you are logged in: click on GET provision link and it should open all the RainMachine info in another page. Click BACK on your browser to return and then scroll all the way down to POST provision/ethernet/settings and start by typing the network settings into the input fields below ignoring the placeholders help info. Type ssid, encryption, key from your Wi-Fi settings (you can leave them empty), then enter networkType, netmask, gateway, dns for both wi-fi/ethernet.
After that, click on POST provision/ethernet/settings
Then scroll all the way down to POST reboot and click on it to reboot the RainMachine device.
You may empty your browser cache to get the new info under GET provision/ethernet
Go to the new Static IP address in your browser:
https://yourIP:8080/ui/
or
yourIP:8081/ui/ (not secured connection)
and check Settings - About screen.
If both Wi-Fi and Ethernet are showing up, maybe you are using two different routers for each one of them, but if you don't, go to the RainMachine screen and Reset Wi-Fi settings again and reboot the device (follow the upper 5 and 6 steps again).
Hope that would help, Pat
Let me know and again sorry for this experience you had with your brand new RainMachine device.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, Pat!
Julian
RainMachine Support-------------------------------
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