Failing to connect to wifi

Audio Gear Talk RoPieee
1

I have a Pi4 running Ropiee (2026.05) that was successfully connected to my wifi for the last year after installing an external TP-Link antenna (shows up as Realtek). Since I was occasionally getting marginal reception I wanted to try a USB extension cable to move the antennal to a better location. My understanding is the extension cable should not prevent the antennal from operating properly.

After attaching the antenna with the extension cable the system no longer connected to the wifi. After removing the cable and plugging the antenna directly into the Pi4 the unit did not connect after multiple reboots but then after a day or so it was connected.

Since it reconnected I wanted to try the usb cable extension again and this time it will not reconnect to wifi even after many restarts. Removing the Pi4 to hook up to my computer is inconvenient so I was looking for any input on why this is happening and possible solution before I have to go through that trouble.

thank you, jay

2

One clarification - the Pi4 will not connect to wifi with the usb extension cable removed and the antenna tried in both usb ports

3

But have you reconfigured it?

4

No,changes were made between the time it was working and now, that is why I am baffled. The last change was the update to 2026.05 and it had been working fine

5

But is the wifi adapter still found in the web interface?

6

No, the problem is the interface now only shows the one other device I have. I searched my network with Fing and the device shows offline.

Note I have verified that the Pi4 shows a slow blinking green light indicative of it properly running.

7

Can you send me feedback?

8

Not sure what feedback you are asking for

9

On the ‘advanced’ tab there’s a button labelled ‘Send Feedback’. Follow instructions…

10

I have generated the feedback file 2d178544f3625986

Thank you for the support you provide

11

I guess there’s something wrong with the cable: you’re external wifi dongle is totally invisible on the RoPieee unit. There’s literally nothing that suggests that an external wifi dongle is connected…

12

Note it does not work when I plug the antenna directly into the Pi4, which was working before I tried it with the antennal attached to the extension cable. So it is not recognizing the antenna and I tried both USB ports on the Pi4. Possible the antennal failed during the swaps.