Your FarmBot needs to be connected to the internet and the Web App. When everything is connected and functioning, the connectivity popup should show a code 31 diagnosis code and the points on the graphic should show green. Follow this troubleshooting guide if you are having trouble getting full connectivity to your FarmBot.

Connectivity pop-up

Suggested steps Applies to
Step 1: Check the connectivity popup All FarmBots
Step 2: Try a Wi-Fi hotspot with a cellular network All FarmBots
Step 3: Check for blocked ports All FarmBots connecting to school or corporate networks
Step 4: Try a wired Ethernet connection All kits
Step 5: Improve Wi-Fi signal strength All FarmBots

Step 1: Check the connectivity popup

The connectivity popup is used to diagnose communications between the various FarmBot systems. To learn more about the connectivity popup and to get access to the full list of connectivity codes check out this page: Connectivity Diagnosis Codes.

Connectivity diagnosis code

Step 2: Try a Wi-Fi hotspot with a cellular network

Use your smartphone or a dedicated hotspot device from a provider like Verizon or AT&T to create a WiFi hotspot in very close proximity to your FarmBot (within 10 feet). Ensure the hotspot device has a working cellular connection by connecting to it with a laptop or other device and loading a few webpages, such as the FarmBot web app. Once you are certain the hotspot is up and functional, configure FarmBot to connect to the hotspot.

If you are able to complete configuration and get your FarmBot online using the hotspot, then you can either continue to use the hotspot with your FarmBot or further troubleshoot your normal WiFi network. Most likely the issue with your normal network is a blocked port or a weak WiFi signal.

If your FarmBot does not connect with the hotspot, there may be an issue with your hardware. However, this is an extremely rare circumstance (less than 1/1,000 FarmBots have hardware issues of this type). Almost certainly there is usually another issue at play.

Step 3: Check for blocked ports

This solution usually only applies to FarmBots being connected to school and/or corporate networks.

It is very common for the IT department of schools and corporate networks to block ports that are not commonly used. Just because the FarmBot is connected to the internet doesn’t mean the FarmBot will be able to connect to the Web App because of these blocked ports. We have specific instructions for your IT department to help you connect your FarmBot to the internet if you suspect any ports are blocked.

FarmBot requires the following ports to be open on your network:

  • Port 8883 - MQTT
  • Port 80 - HTTP(S)
  • Port 443 - HTTP(S)
  • Port 3002 - WebSockets

On FarmBot Genesis v1.4+ check the Blue LED communication light. You have blocked ports if the Blue LED is OFF and the Green LED is ON. On Express v1.0+, the blue and green LEDs are located in the top right of the electronics board itself. See the status LEDs page for more information.

FarmBot Lights

Step 4: Try a wired Ethernet connection

The most reliable way to connect FarmBot to the internet is with a wired Ethernet connection. This will elminiate any possibility of wireless signal interference, or weak signals causing the connection to be intermittent.

Genesis

For Genesis kits, simply connect an Ethernet cable between the Raspberry Pi and your router.

pi with ethernet port labeled

Express

For Express kits, you will need to purchase and install a USB Ethernet hub from a third party vendor. We recommend USB Ethernet hubs based on the AX88179 chipset such as this one from Adafruit. Note that depending on the hub you purchase, you may also need a USB to microUSB adapter to be able to plug the camera into the hub, as there is only one available microUSB port on the Raspberry Pi Zero which will be occupied by the Ethernet hub.

Please keep the following points in mind if you decide to use Ethernet on an Express device:

  • FarmBot Inc can only provide support for official, first-party hardware and we cannot guarantee that your USB Ethernet hub will operate correctly.
  • We have not tested other chipsets and do not officially support USB Ethernet installations.

Step 5: Improve Wi-Fi signal strength

The most common enemies of the Raspberry Pi Wi-Fi are other Wi-Fi networks and other electronic devices. If you are in an area with lots of other heavy duty electrical equipment such as power lines, transformers, microwaves, fridges, other appliances, radio equipment like baby monitors, or mobile phone towers, it may disrupt the Raspberry Pi Wi-Fi radio.

Here is a link with more information on how you can improve the Wi-Fi signal.

Try a Wi-Fi range extender

There are multiple ways users can use a Wi-Fi range extender and these are a few ideas that we have:

1) Use the Wi-Fi extender to extend the Wi-Fi network coverage so that the FarmBot can connect over Wi-Fi with a stronger signal. Sometimes the Wi-Fi signal needs some help and the Wi-Fi range extender will lend a hand to boost your Wi-Fi.

2) Use both the range extender and an Ethernet cord to plug into the Raspberry Pi on the FarmBot. This will work in case it is infeasible to run an Ethernet cord from the primary router all the way to the FarmBot.

There are many range extender’s and repeaters on the market and this one is just an example:

Dell Range Extender

Netgear Universal Wi-Fi Range Extender (WN3000RP)

There are other resources, documentation and diagnostic Wi-Fi Apps available online to help with poor Wi-Fi signal. Check out this page by Netgear on Wi-Fi range extenders.