MSGID: <10gs7qc$bvup$3@dont-email.me> ef7754f7
REPLY: <-Kx*lEgtA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk> 504b6b3a
PID: PyGate 1.5.1
TID: PyGate/Linux 1.5.1
CHRS: CP1252 2
TZUTC: 0000
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REPLYTO 3:633/10 UUCP
On 04/12/2025 14:43, Theo wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher  wrote:
>> On 04/12/2025 07:52, David Taylor wrote:
>>> On 03/12/2025 20:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>> Anyone have any anecdotal or other wise informatin on pi PICO W and
>>>> other pis with wifi being more, or less able to connect with temperature.
>>>> I took mine outside and it connected and reported its indoor
>>>> temperature, but hasn't reported since. Wifi is on the bleeding edge
>>>> (-94dBm)
>>>
>>> I've found that Wi-Fi on the Pico W to be dependent on its supply
>>> voltage.ÿ Two A cells isn't enough.
>>>
>> I have *three* AAs !  The ultrasonics need nearer 5V.
>>
>> It worked fine on my desk here but the signal strength was around -87dBn  ..
>>
>> Now it's outside on the far side of a garage I seem to have lost about 6dB.
> 
> Do the AAs suffer when the temperature drops?  I recall stories of arctic
> explorers having to keep camera/etc batteries close to their skin so they
> don't freeze and stop working.
> ]

Well yes, but not enough to matter in this case


> Maybe it's marginal but usable inside and the temperature drop is enough to
> tip it over the edge.  Does it work better on a warm day than a cold night?
> 
That was what I thought, but the reality is a bit different

see http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odds%20and%20Ends/POilSesnor.png

The unit measures battery voltage and temperature as well as the 
received Wifi signal strength. In addition to oil level

[ I deliberately anticipated issues with any one of these]

As you can see the one parameter that is shit, is the signal strength

I posted the query before this one sample got through last night.

And proved that the unit was in fact operating, just unable to get 
through 99% of the time

So it is on the ragged edge. And probably amenable to having an RF 
mirror stuck behind it.

Which I will experiment with, Currently the access pint has a stainless 
steel tray wedged behind it, but it doesn't seem to have improved much.

Its cold and wet and I am not bothering to go outside and play with the 
external installation today.
:-(



-- 
?But what a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of an 
hypothesis!?

Mary Wollstonecraft


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