Wi-Fi issues

The most common issue users encounter are Wi-Fi connectivity issues

Please determine which issue you are encountering:

• The STC-1 controller cannot connect to the tablet
• MM-Link does not connect to the tablet

STC-1 connection issues

Please look at the controller, and check if the red (Wi-Fi) LED is giving a single flash or a double flash

• Single flash indicates that the controller is not connected to a network
• Double flash indicates that the controller is connected to Wi-Fi but not communicating with the tablet
• Rapid flashing indicates that the controller is working normally

Controller is single-flashing:

Wi-Fi issues

• The most common problem is that the selected SSID is configured for 5 GHz network. The STC-1 supports 2.4 GHz ONLY
• If you use a dual-band router, the 5 GHz band may use a different SSID than the 2.4 GHz band. Please double-check that you are using the 2.4 GHz SSID
• Please verify that you are using the correct password by 'forgetting' the network on the tablet and connect to it again.
• Please make sure that there are no additional security measures on the Wi-Fi such as MAC address control, or corporate security (this is uncommon)
• When in doubt, use a configuration that is known to work, e.g.
• enable the hotspot mode on your phone
• enable the 'maximize compatibility' or 'extend compatibility' option
• connect the tablet to the hotspot and try to copy the credentials to the controller

Tablet issues

• Please make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on the tablet
• Please make sure that you give the Time Drops app location permission when prompted
• Some tablets do not have the necessary support for Bluetooth 4.2. Please look for any error message on the 'Connect Controller' screen
• If the progress bar is stuck on 'Searching' after tapping 'Copy to Controller', and never switches to 'Transmitting', the problem is related to Bluetooth support on your tablet. Please contact support@time-drops.com
• Sometimes the app cannot correctly identify the network it is connected to. Please verify that the "Tablet Wifi" field on the 'Connect Controller' screen shows the correct SSID. Re-starting the app may help. In some cases it will help to turn Wi-Fi off and back on on the tablet or to restart it altogether to refresh this

Controller issues

• In rare cases, the controller may get 'stuck' trying to connect to a Wi-Fi. You can power cycle the controller by pressing the power button until both the red and the blue LED flash rapidly, then release the button. Turn it back on, then repeat the 'Copy to Controller' sequence

Controller is double-flashing:

A double-flashing red LED on the controller indicates that the controller has sucessfully connected to a W-Fi access point. The problem is that it cannot communicate with the tablet for some reason

• first, find out which SSID the controller is connected to. On the 'Connect Controller' page, click 'Query Controller Status', which should reveal the SSID the controller is connected to. Verify that this is the intended SSID
• Certain Wi-Fi network will not allow different devices on the network to communicate with each other, e.g.
• Guest networks
• Certain Mesh networks
• Corporate networks
• Range Extenders
• if you are using any of the listed networks, try using a different network, such as a mobile phone in hotspot mode with 'maximum compatibility' enabled
• In some cases, the tablet may switch networks unexpectedly. When in doubt, 'forget' all other networks on the tablet
• Sometimes, the Wi-Fi adapter on the tablet may get 'stuck'. Try turning the Wi-Fi off and back on, or restart the tablet altogether
• Never run multiple instances of the Time-Drops app on different devices simultaneously
• Never operate multiple controllers on the same Wi-Fi

MM-Link connection issues

MM-Link will connect automatically to the tablet as long as they are on the same network. In case of connection issues, try the following:

• On your PC, verify that you are connected to the same SSID as the tablet. Sometimes Windows will change the Wi-Fi AP unexpectedly
• Click the 'Restart' button on MM-Link
• Turn the Wi-fi on the PC off and back on
• Check your Wi-Fi network properties. On the Taskbar, click the network icon, then 'Properties' next to your current network. Make sure that the Network Profile is set to 'Private', not 'Public'
• If that does not work, check your firewall settings. Below 'Network profile', click 'Configure firewall and security settings', then follow these steps:
• You may see a pop-up 'Did you mean to switch apps'. Click Yes
• On the 'Firewall & network protection' screen, click 'Allow an app through firewall'
• Scroll down the list of apps until you find 'Time Drops MM-Link'. there will be several entries
• Click the 'Change Settings' button
• Check all 3 boxes for each MM-Link entry (to the left of the entry, and both in the 'Private' and 'Public column')
• Click 'OK'

If you are still encountering issues after follwing these steps, please email us at support@time-drops.com