Connection Issues

Having trouble connecting to your Ryzer or accessing the web interface? This guide covers solutions to common connectivity issues.

Quick Diagnostic Checklist#

Before diving into specific issues, check these basics:

• Ryzer is powered on (USB-C connected)
• LED strip shows some color (white, blue, or black)
• Your device (phone/computer) has working internet
• You’re on the same WiFi network as Ryzer
• You tried http://ryzer.local in your browser

If all checked and still having issues, continue below.

Issue: Can’t Find “Ryzer” WiFi Network#

Symptoms#

• “Ryzer” network doesn’t appear in WiFi list
• Trying to do initial setup but no access point

LED Status Check#

• White LEDs: Ryzer should be in AP mode - network should exist
• Blue/Black LEDs: Ryzer already configured - no AP needed
• No LEDs: Power or hardware issue

Solutions#

1. Wait for Network to Appear#

• Power on Ryzer
• Wait 30-60 seconds
• Refresh WiFi network list
• “Ryzer” network should appear

2. Power Cycle Ryzer#

1. Unplug USB-C cable
2. Wait 10 seconds
3. Plug back in
4. Wait 30 seconds
5. Check for “Ryzer” network

3. Move Closer#

• Ryzer’s WiFi range is limited (~30 feet / 10m)
• Move your device within 10 feet of Ryzer
• Try again

4. Check Your Device’s WiFi#

• Is WiFi turned on?
• Can you see OTHER networks?
• Try with different device (phone vs. computer)

5. Factory Reset WiFi#

If Ryzer LEDs are NOT white, it may already be configured. Reset WiFi:

Method A: Via Web Interface (if you can access it)

1. Go to http://ryzer.local (or IP address)
2. Navigate to Troubleshooting page
3. Click “Reset WiFi Settings”
4. Ryzer reboots into AP mode
5. Wait for “Ryzer” network

Method B: Via HTTP API (if you know IP address)

curl -X POST http://10.0.0.X/reset-wifi

Replace 10.0.0.X with your Ryzer’s IP address.

Method C: Serial Console (advanced)

1. Connect Ryzer via USB-C to computer
2. Open serial monitor (115200 baud)
3. Look for IP address in boot log
4. Use Method A or B

6. Hardware Check#

If “Ryzer” network never appears and LEDs stay white:

• Verify USB-C cable provides power
• Try different USB power source
• Check LED strip is connected (may prevent boot)
• See Hardware Troubleshooting

Issue: Connected to “Ryzer” Network But Can’t Access Portal#

Symptoms#

• Successfully connected to “Ryzer” WiFi
• No captive portal opens
• Can’t browse to 192.168.4.1

Solutions#

1. Manual Portal Access#

1. Open web browser
2. Type: http://192.168.4.1
3. Press Enter
4. Portal should load

2. Disable Mobile Data (Phones)#

On smartphones, automatic switching can prevent portal access:

iPhone:

1. Settings → Cellular
2. Turn OFF “Cellular Data”
3. Retry portal access

Android:

1. Settings → Network → Mobile Data
2. Turn OFF mobile data temporarily
3. Retry portal access

3. Disable Auto-Join Hotspot (iPhone)#

1. Settings → WiFi
2. Find “Ryzer” network
3. Tap info button (i)
4. Turn OFF “Auto-Join”
5. Reconnect to “Ryzer”

4. Try Different Browser#

• Chrome: Best compatibility
• Firefox: Good alternative
• Safari: Works but sometimes cached
• Edge: Usually works well

Clear browser cache first:

• Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac)
• Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+Delete
• Safari: Cmd+Option+E

5. Use Different Device#

• Try phone instead of computer
• Try computer instead of phone
• Try tablet
• Different devices handle captive portals differently

6. Check Firewall/VPN#

• Disable VPN temporarily
• Disable firewall temporarily
• Retry portal access
• Re-enable after configuration

Issue: Can’t Access http://ryzer.local#

Symptoms#

• Ryzer connected to network (LEDs black)
• Can’t browse to ryzer.local
• Error: “Server not found” or “Can’t connect”

Why This Happens#

mDNS (.local addresses) not supported by:

• Some routers
• Some network configurations
• Some operating systems
• Enterprise networks

Solutions#

1. Use IP Address Instead#

Find Ryzer’s IP address:

Method A: Check Router

1. Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
2. Find “Connected Devices” or “DHCP Clients”
3. Look for device named:
   • “ryzer”
   • “ESP32”
   • “Espressif”
4. Note the IP address
5. Browse to http://[that IP]

📸 Screenshot Needed: Router admin page showing connected devices with Ryzer

Method B: Network Scanner App

1. Download network scanner:
   • Fing (iOS/Android/Desktop) - Best option
   • Angry IP Scanner (Desktop)
   • Network Scanner (Android)
2. Scan your network
3. Look for “Espressif” or “ESP32” device
4. Note IP address

Method C: Serial Monitor

1. Connect Ryzer via USB-C to computer
2. Open serial monitor (115200 baud)
3. Power cycle Ryzer
4. Watch boot messages
5. Find line: “IP address: 10.0.0.X”

2. Flush DNS Cache#

Windows:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Mac:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Linux:

sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches
# or
sudo service network-manager restart

Then try http://ryzer.local again.

3. Enable mDNS/Bonjour#

Windows 10/11:

• Usually works by default
• If not, install Bonjour Print Services

Mac/Linux:

• mDNS works by default (Avahi/Bonjour)

Router/Network:

• Some routers block mDNS
• Check router settings for “Multicast” or “mDNS”
• Enable if disabled

4. Try Different Browser#

• mDNS support varies by browser
• Try Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
• One may work where others don’t

5. Ping Test#

Test if mDNS resolves:

Windows:

ping ryzer.local

Mac/Linux:

ping ryzer.local

If ping fails:

• mDNS doesn’t work on your network
• Use IP address instead
• Consider static IP (see below)

Issue: Ryzer Won’t Connect to My WiFi#

Symptoms#

• Enter WiFi credentials in portal
• Click Save
• LEDs turn blue then back to white
• “Ryzer” network reappears
• Connection failed

LED Pattern#

• White → Blue (connecting) → White (failed) → Repeat

Common Causes & Solutions#

1. Wrong Password (Most Common!)#

Check these:

• Is password case-sensitive correct?
• Any special characters correct?
• Caps Lock on/off?
• Spaces at beginning/end?

Solution:

• Try portal again
• Carefully re-enter password
• Use “show password” option to verify
• Try simpler password temporarily to test

2. Network is 5GHz (Not Supported)#

ESP32-C3 only supports 2.4GHz WiFi.

How to check:

• 5GHz networks often have “5G” or “5GHz” in name
• Check router settings
• Many routers broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz with same name

Solution:

• Connect to 2.4GHz network specifically
• Some routers: separate SSIDs for 2.4/5GHz (e.g., “MyWiFi-2.4” and “MyWiFi-5”)
• Router settings: Disable band steering temporarily
• Use older WiFi standard (802.11n, not 802.11ac/ax which are 5GHz only)

3. Wrong Security Type#

Ryzer supports WPA2 only.

Not supported:

• ❌ WPA3 (too new)
• ❌ WEP (too old, insecure)
• ❌ WPA (original, outdated)
• ❌ Enterprise WPA2-EAP (requires login)

Solution:

• Check router WiFi security setting
• Change to WPA2-PSK (WPA2-Personal)
• Or use separate guest network with WPA2

4. Hidden Network (SSID Not Broadcast)#

Ryzer can’t connect to hidden networks.

Solution:

• Unhide your network (broadcast SSID)
• Or use separate visible network for IoT devices

5. MAC Address Filtering#

Router blocking Ryzer’s MAC address.

Solution:

• Check router’s MAC filter settings
• Add Ryzer’s MAC to allow list
• Or disable MAC filtering temporarily

Find Ryzer’s MAC address:

• Serial monitor during boot
• Or router’s device list after initial connection

6. Network Out of Range#

Weak WiFi signal causes connection failures.

Check signal strength:

• Move Ryzer closer to router
• Check WiFi signal on your phone at Ryzer’s location
• Aim for 3+ bars signal strength

Solutions:

• Move router closer
• Move Ryzer closer
• Add WiFi extender/mesh node
• Use external antenna (advanced)

7. Router Blocking New Devices#

Some routers limit connected devices or require approval.

Solutions:

• Check router for “Device Limit” setting
• Look for “New Device Notifications” or approval required
• Temporarily disable device restrictions
• Check router logs for blocked connections

8. Special Characters in Password#

Some special characters can cause issues.

Problematic characters:

• Quotes: " '
• Backslash: \
• Some unicode characters

Solution:

• Temporarily change WiFi password to simpler one
• Test with alphanumeric only
• Once working, try more complex password

Issue: Connection Drops Frequently#

Symptoms#

• Ryzer connects successfully
• Works for a while
• Then loses connection
• Must reconnect

Solutions#

1. Check WiFi Signal Strength#

Weak signal = unstable connection

Test:

• Use WiFi analyzer app on phone
• Check signal at Ryzer’s location
• Aim for -70 dBm or better (stronger)

Solutions:

• Move router closer to Ryzer
• Add WiFi extender
• Reduce interference (see below)

2. Reduce WiFi Interference#

Common sources:

• Microwave ovens
• Bluetooth devices
• Cordless phones
• Baby monitors
• Other 2.4GHz devices
• Neighboring WiFi networks

Solutions:

• Change router WiFi channel (use 1, 6, or 11)
• Move Ryzer away from interference sources
• Use 2.4GHz WiFi analyzer to find clearest channel

3. Router Power Saving#

Some routers disconnect idle devices.

Solutions:

• Check router power-saving settings
• Disable “Green” or “Eco” mode
• Set minimum inactivity timeout
• Enable “Keep-Alive” if available

4. DHCP Lease Expiration#

Router reassigns IP addresses.

Solutions:

• Increase DHCP lease time (router settings)
• Assign static IP to Ryzer (see below)
• Reserve IP address for Ryzer’s MAC

5. Power Supply Issues#

Unstable power = unstable WiFi.

Check:

• Use quality USB power adapter (1A minimum)
• Not computer USB (can be low power)
• Adequate supply for LED count
• No brown-outs or voltage drops

Setting Static IP Address#

Assigning Ryzer a permanent IP address helps with:

• Consistent access (always same IP)
• Prevents connection drops from DHCP
• Easier bookmarking

Method 1: DHCP Reservation (Recommended)#

On your router:

1. Find Ryzer in connected devices
2. Note its MAC address
3. Create DHCP reservation:
   • MAC: [Ryzer’s MAC]
   • IP: (choose available IP, e.g., 192.168.1.100)
4. Save settings
5. Reconnect Ryzer (or wait for DHCP renewal)

Advantages:

• Set once, works forever
• No changes to Ryzer
• Easy to manage

Method 2: Static IP on Device (Advanced)#

Currently Ryzer uses DHCP only. Static IP configuration requires custom firmware build.

Future feature: Web interface for static IP configuration.

Testing Connectivity#

Test Network Access#

Ping Test:

# Use Ryzer's IP address
ping 10.0.0.100

# Or try mDNS
ping ryzer.local

Expected result:

• Reply from Ryzer
• Times under 100ms
• 0% packet loss

If ping fails:

• Ryzer not on network
• Firewall blocking ICMP
• Wrong IP address

Test Web Server#

HTTP Test:

# Check if web server responds
curl http://ryzer.local
# Or with IP:
curl http://10.0.0.100

Expected result:

• HTML response
• Status 200
• Web page content

If fails:

• Web server not running
• Wrong port (should be 80)
• Ryzer crashed (check LEDs)

Check Serial Output#

Most reliable diagnostic method:

1. Connect Ryzer via USB-C to computer
2. Open serial monitor (115200 baud)
3. Watch logs during boot/operation
4. Look for error messages

What to check:

• WiFi connection status
• IP address assigned
• MQTT connection state
• Error/warning messages

Tools:

• PlatformIO Serial Monitor
• Arduino IDE Serial Monitor
• screen (Mac/Linux): screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
• PuTTY (Windows)

Advanced Troubleshooting#

Packet Capture#

For network experts:

1. Use Wireshark on same network
2. Filter for Ryzer’s IP or MAC
3. Watch for:
   • DHCP requests/responses
   • DNS queries
   • TCP handshakes
   • RST packets (connection resets)

Router Logs#

Check your router’s system logs for:

• DHCP assignment to Ryzer
• Connection/disconnection events
• Blocked connections
• Errors or warnings

Firmware Logs#

Via serial console, Ryzer logs:

• WiFi connection attempts
• Connection success/failure
• DHCP responses
• Error conditions

Format: [HH:MM:SS.mmm] [LEVEL] [MODULE] KEY: message

Reset Options#

Reset WiFi Settings Only#

Keeps: MQTT settings, LED settings Clears: WiFi SSID and password

Methods:

1. Web interface: Troubleshooting page → “Reset WiFi”
2. API: POST /reset-wifi
3. Power cycle will reboot after reset

After reset:

• “Ryzer” network appears
• Reconnect and reconfigure WiFi

Factory Reset (Future Feature)#

Future firmware may include full factory reset:

• Clears all settings
• Returns to default state
• Useful for selling/transferring device

When to Contact Support#

If you’ve tried everything above and still can’t connect:

1. Gather information:

   • LED colors observed
   • Error messages (if any)
   • Serial console output
   • Router model and settings
   • Network configuration

2. Check resources:

   • FAQ
   • Community Forum
   • Known Issues

3. Report issue:

   • GitHub Issues (for bugs)
   • Community Forum (for help)
   • Include all diagnostic info

Quick Reference#

WiFi Requirements#

LED Status Colors#

Common Port Numbers#

Useful Commands#

# Find Ryzer on network
ping ryzer.local

# Test web server
curl http://ryzer.local

# Reset WiFi via API
curl -X POST http://ryzer.local/reset-wifi

# Serial console (Mac/Linux)
screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200

# Scan network (if nmap installed)
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

Most Common Issue: Wrong WiFi password (50% of connection problems) Second Most Common: 5GHz network instead of 2.4GHz Quick Fix: Reset WiFi and try again with correct settings