Sol-Ark dongle not broadcasting SSID

[Oldphile]

The dongle is communicating, but I can't connect to change Wi-Fi.

The dongle only broadcasts it's SSID, if I reset the gateway via MySolArk and then it only stays visible for a few minutes. While the SSID was visible, I was able to view the dongle web page. The SSID continued to broadcast until I closed the web page. I also tried connecting to the dongle as a hidden network. It would not connect unless I reset the gateway.

I tried Sol-Ark tech support and got a response with a number of suggestions, none of which worked. I responded to tech support stating nothing worked. He then replied that he could see the dongle is communicating and if I had issues in the future we will deal with it. I responded to say I need this resolved. Then I get an email error message MAIL BOX FULL.

I'm planning to sell my house. After I disconnect my Wi-Fi equipment the new owner will have no way to connect to the Sol-Ark.

Once again frustrated with Sol-Ark tech support.

 

[robby]

The dongle is communicating, but I can't connect to change Wi-Fi.

This part is confusing. Are you saying you can still use MySolArk and change settings.
I was told that some older Dongles had the PvPro IP baked into them and had to be replaced with ones that could have their memory rewritten. Were you able to Migrate over to MySolArk with zero issues?

The dongle only broadcasts it's SSID, if I reset the gateway via MySolArk and then it only stays visible for a few minutes. While the SSID was visible, I was able to view the dongle web page.

The dreaded Dongle Internal Webpage! Luckily you only need it once, but yes it is bare bones and not all that intuitive.

The SSID continued to broadcast until I closed the web page. I also tried connecting to the dongle as a hidden network. It would not connect unless I reset the gateway.

I tried Sol-Ark tech support and got a response with a number of suggestions, none of which worked. I responded to tech support stating nothing worked

He then replied that he could see the dongle is communicating and if I had issues in the future we will deal with it.

I am confused by this statement. You say it's not connecting, so how is he seeing it!

I responded to say I need this resolved. Then I get an email error message MAIL BOX FULL.

Screw the email route, it takes to long. Call them back.

I'm planning to sell my house. After I disconnect my Wi-Fi equipment the new owner will have no way to connect to the Sol-Ark.

Once again frustrated with Sol-Ark tech support.

I highly suggest that when that time comes you should go the full route of getting the Inverter removed from your account and the Dongle reset to be used for a new owner.

 

[Oldphile]

This part is confusing. Are you saying you can still use MySolArk and change settings.
I was told that some older Dongles had the PvPro IP baked into them and had to be replaced with ones that could have their memory rewritten. Were you able to Migrate over to MySolArk with zero issues?

The dreaded Dongle Internal Webpage! Luckily you only need it once, but yes it is bare bones and not all that intuitive.



I am confused by this statement. You say it's not connecting, so how is he seeing it!

Screw the email route, it takes to long. Call them back.

I highly suggest that when that time comes you should go the full route of getting the Inverter removed from your account and the Dongle reset to be used for a new owner.

This part is confusing. Are you saying you can still use MySolArk and change settings.
I was told that some older Dongles had the PvPro IP baked into them and had to be replaced with ones that could have their memory rewritten. Were you able to Migrate over to MySolArk with zero issues?

Yes, I can use MySolArk and make changes. MySolArk migration was piece meal like everyone's, certainly not without issues. This was a new install in late 2023, so I doubt it's an old dongle.

In short, the dongle functions, but it's a PIA to change the Wi-Fi connection as it's difficult to view the dongle web page. When I leave this system to a new owner I will unbind the dongle, but the dongle will be useless; can't connect to it.

The MAIL BOX FULL message turned out to be a red herring; tech support responded with:

you can request professional technical support, and schedule a certified Sol-Ark technician to inspect the system.

Yeah, I'm going to pay someone $200 for a truck roll to tell me what I already know. So much push back by Sol-Ark for a dongle that probably costs them $20. (I paid $45 for a dongle for my PYTES batteries.) BTW, the last step in the suggested instructions from tech support was;

7. Replace the Dongle (Last Resort)

If the dongle still fails to broadcast its SSID consistently, it might be faulty.

I performed all the steps and provided feed back, so time for step 7, but nope.

It's been suggested by some that Sol-Ark is gearing up to go public. This wreaks of it; improve metrics like number of RMA.

 

[SolarRich]

Did you try connecting to the dongle with ethernet RJ45? Not wifi.

I don't recall the exact problem but I had a problem with the dongle where it would just not work any longer. Wifi was not working at all. But I could connect using RJ45. I thought the dongle was basically dead. Data stopped being sent.
Sol-Ark did respond to a support ticket and sent me the firmware. Since I could connect via RJ45 I did the firmware "upgrade" and it then started working normally.

 

[Oldphile]

Did you try connecting to the dongle with ethernet RJ45? Not wifi.

I don't recall the exact problem but I had a problem with the dongle where it would just not work any longer. Wifi was not working at all. But I could connect using RJ45. I thought the dongle was basically dead. Data stopped being sent.
Sol-Ark did respond to a support ticket and sent me the firmware. Since I could connect via RJ45 I did the firmware "upgrade" and it then started working normally.

Sol-Ark did respond to a support ticket and sent me the firmware.

Thanks, I'll call Sol-Ark and ask for this. Tech support suggested updating the firmware (if possible), as if firmware updates could be achieved over the internet. When I pointed out that it required a file, he offered nothing.

 

[SolarRich]

I have no idea if this is the correct firmware for your dongle. My dongle is from 2022.
I had to change the file extension from .bin to .pdf for the forum to allow the upload. So download, rename and give it a try.

In the end I think the only thing the firmware refresh did was to reset it to new. I don't know if the firmware was any different than what was already on the dongle.

 

[Oldphile]

I have no idea if this is the correct firmware for your dongle. My dongle is from 2022.
I had to change the file extension from .bin to .pdf for the forum to allow the upload. So download, rename and give it a try.

In the end I think the only thing the firmware refresh did was to reset it to new. I don't know if the firmware was any different than what was already on the dongle.

Maybe I'm doing this wrong, but when I rename the file there's no pdf suffix to remove. If I add .bin it's still a pdf file. It's now .bin.pdf

 

[robby]

Maybe I'm doing this wrong, but when I rename the file there's no pdf suffix to remove. If I add .bin it's still a pdf file. It's now .bin.pdf

Is your windows settings allowing you to see and edit file extensions.
That is typically off by default.

 

[Oldphile]

Is your windows settings allowing you to see and edit file extensions.
That is typically off by default.

Thanks Robby, I didn't know about that.

 

[Oldphile]

I have no idea if this is the correct firmware for your dongle. My dongle is from 2022.
I had to change the file extension from .bin to .pdf for the forum to allow the upload. So download, rename and give it a try.

In the end I think the only thing the firmware refresh did was to reset it to new. I don't know if the firmware was any different than what was already on the dongle.

Rich, I appreciate you trying to help, but I opened the file in notebook and there are other tabs in there that aren't related to the dongle file. Also, it looks like the file was overwritten with results of upgrading your dongle. I'll call Sol-Ark to get an update file.

 

[SolarRich]

This is a compiled binary executable file for the esp32 processor in the dongle. Yes there will be some text "strings" in the file.
Looking at binary files will make no sense to most people.

 

[Oldphile]

So, tech support tells me they are sending me a new dongle while at the same time telling me that

our dongles are designed to broadcast the EAP-xxxx network only for a short period after a reset

I've never heard of this. Sol-Ark needs to revise the manual.

 

[robby]

So, tech support tells me they are sending me a new dongle while at the same time telling me that

I've never heard of this. Sol-Ark needs to revise the manual.

I never read that but I did notice that it stopped after a couple of minutes.
I suspect it is a security feature.
The whole Dongle setup thing is not all that great, luckily most people only need to do it once!
I hear that due to installer complaints they are now writing their own firmware for it.
Release date is unknown, but I am told it is in the works.

 

[Oldphile]

I never read that but I did notice that it stopped after a couple of minutes.
I suspect it is a security feature.
The whole Dongle setup thing is not all that great, luckily most people only need to do it once!
I hear that due to installer complaints they are now writing their own firmware for it.
Release date is unknown, but I am told it is in the works.

Robby

It's changed and they don't tell us. I remember connecting to my first system 2022 and setting an option to hide the SSID. That option is not there on my 2023 system.

No problem with most changes, just tell us that it has changed and how it has changed.

 

[Oldphile]

New dongle isn't recognized.

I got the new dongle Friday and the same day, tech support closed the ticket. Stumbled round the App on my iPhone and finally found "replace dongle". When I select replace dongle, it opens my camera. I scanned the QR code. The SN and key number appear in the App. I select Confirm to replace and get SN or Key error. I've tried multiple times.

I first tried unbinding the original dongle, but got the same error message. I also entered the SN and Key manually and got the same error message.

Sol-Ark or any other, these dongles are a PIA.