Learning Center

The connection keeps dropping

The app connects, works for a few minutes, then a red message says the connection was lost. On a Samsung tablet the cause is almost always the network-switching settings in Intelligent Wi-Fi. Here is that fix and the rest, most likely first.

  • Full Automation Kit
  • Guidance Only Kit
  • DIG™ Kit
  • Ditch Assist Lite

In the app Android Settings › Connections › Wi-Fi › Intelligent Wi-Fi

Ditch Assist® networks (control module, DIG™ module, Emlid Reach hotspot) have no internet. Android treats that as a bad network and quietly hops back to one that has internet: your shop Wi-Fi, house Wi-Fi or phone hotspot. The module looks flaky, but the tablet left it. Fix the tablet first.

Before you start

  • Have the tablet in your hand. You'll open the tablet's own Settings app (the grey gear icon on the tablet's home screen), not the Settings inside Ditch Assist. Tablet basics shows where it is.
  • Note roughly how often it drops, and the red message, if one appeared.

Time: 3 minutes for the Samsung network-switching fix, which solves most drops. Allow 10 minutes for the other causes.

Quick checks first

  • Samsung tablet: network switching is off in Intelligent Wi-Fi: Switch to mobile data off on a tablet with a SIM card, and Switch to better Wi-Fi networks off if your tablet has it (steps below, or Set up the tablet).
  • When you joined the module's network, you tapped Always connect on Android's no-internet warning, and the tablet doesn't join other saved networks in the cab by itself.
  • The tablet stays in the cab near the module, power saving is off, and the tablet is on the cab charger.
Why the Wi-Fi connection drops The tablet is joined to the control module’s Wi-Fi, which has no internet. When a known network with internet is in range, such as the shop Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot, Android can leave the module’s network and jump to it, and the connection to the module drops. The fix: turn off network switching (on a Samsung tablet, Settings, Connections, Wi-Fi, Intelligent Wi-Fi: Switch to mobile data, and Switch to better Wi-Fi networks if the tablet has it); when Android says the internet may not be available on the module, DIG or Reach Wi-Fi, tap Always connect; on a tablet with a SIM, turn mobile data off while you work or tap Always connect; and forget the shop Wi-Fi and phone hotspot for the length of the job. Why the connection dropsModule Wi-Fino internetTabletShop Wi-FiPhone hotspotThe tablet jumps to a networkthat has internet.The fixNetwork switching: OffSamsung: Settings › Connections › Wi-Fi ›Intelligent Wi-FiInternet may not be available?Tap Always connect when you jointhe module, DIG or Reach Wi-Fi.Mobile data: OffTablet with a SIM: turn it off whileyou work, or tap Always connect.Forget shop Wi-Fi and phone hotspotFor the length of the job.
Why it drops: the tablet leaves a network with no internet for one that has internet. Turning network switching off in Samsung's Intelligent Wi-Fi stops most of it; the other settings in the picture close the remaining gaps.

Find your symptom

Tap the line that matches what you see. It opens with the causes, most likely first. Check tells you how to spot the cause. Fix tells you what to do, one step at a time.

It drops every few minutes, then works again after reconnecting

All kits. In testing, a Samsung tablet with network switching on left the module's hotspot about every 2½ minutes.

Samsung network switching is on Most likely

Check: Ditch Assist shows Your tablet may drop this Wi-Fi once, the first time it finds Switch to better Wi-Fi networks on. Newer tablets may not have that switch, so no notice doesn't prove you're safe. If you closed that notice, or you aren't sure, do the fix below. It takes a minute and does no harm.

Fix:

  1. Open the tablet's Settings app: the grey gear icon on the tablet's home screen or in its app list (where it is).
  2. Tap Connections, near the top of the left-hand column, with Wi-Fi · Bluetooth · Flight mode under it.
  3. Tap the word Wi-Fi, the top row on the right. Tap the word, not the blue switch. The Wi-Fi list opens.
    The tablet's Settings app on the Connections page: the left column lists Connections, Connected devices, Modes and Routines and Sound; on the right the top row reads Wi-Fi with the current network under it and a blue switch.
    1. Connections. In the left-hand column of the Settings app.
    2. Wi-Fi. Tap the word to open the Wi-Fi list.
  4. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner of the Wi-Fi screen. A short menu opens.
    The tablet's Wi-Fi screen: the title Wi-Fi at the top left, a QR code icon and three dots at the top right, Wi-Fi On, and the current network marked Connected without internet.
    1. Three dots. Top right corner. The menu inside has Intelligent Wi-Fi.
  5. Tap Intelligent Wi-Fi in that menu. A page of switches opens. A switch is on when it's blue.
  6. Tablet with a SIM card: tap the Switch to mobile data switch so it turns grey (off). Tablets without a SIM card don't have it.
  7. If your tablet has a Switch to better Wi-Fi networks switch, tap it so it turns grey (off). Many newer tablets don't have it; that's fine.
  8. Press the tablet's Home button (where it is).
  9. Tap the Ditch Assist icon. The app opens where you left it.
  10. Reconnect: tap Home at the top of the sidebar.
  11. Tap your workflow card (for example Ditching). The Connect window opens.
  12. Tap the green Connect button.

When you next join the module's network and Android shows Internet may not be available, tap Always connect. The same steps, as part of the full tablet setup: Set up the tablet. Pictures of the Wi-Fi screens: Tablet basics: Wi-Fi.

Android hops back to a saved network with internet

Check:

  1. Right after a drop, open the tablet's Wi-Fi list (how).
  2. Read the network marked Connected. If it's your shop, house or phone hotspot, Android switched.

Fix:

  1. In the Wi-Fi list, tap the module's network to rejoin it.
  2. If Android warns there's no internet, tap Always connect.
  3. On a tablet that lives in the cab: tap one of the other saved networks (or the gear next to it).
  4. Tap Forget, or switch off its Auto reconnect. Do the same for each saved network you don't use in the cab.
  5. Turn your phone's hotspot off while you work.
  6. Go back to Ditch Assist and reconnect from your workflow card.

Weak Wi-Fi signal

Check:

  1. On the Ditch Assist Home screen, tap Pre-Flight Checks, the orange button at the bottom of the right-hand column.
  2. Read the last two rows, Wi-Fi Signal and Link Speed.
Pre-Flight Checks window, ONLINE. The last two rows read Wi-Fi Signal: -61 dBm · Good, and Link Speed: 52 Mbps · 2.4 GHz, both with green ticks. Change and Disconnect buttons along the bottom.
  1. Wi-Fi Signal and Link Speed. The last two rows. They only show on a Wi-Fi connection.
  2. The readings. Green tick: fine. Here -61 dBm is Good.
Wi-Fi Signal readsWhat it means
Strong or Good (green)Fine. −80 dBm or better.
Fair (amber)Marginal: −81 to −88 dBm.
Weak (red)Below −88 dBm. Expect drops.
Link Speed in redUnder 1 Mbps. The link is about to go.

While you work, the same two rows are in the GPS Info window: tap the GPS badge at the top of the map.

Fix:

  1. Keep the tablet in the cab.
  2. Check the module's Wi-Fi antenna is fitted and not boxed in by steel.
  3. On a pull-type scraper, a module on the tongue often can't see the cab. Move it to an upright part of the frame. See Mount the control module.

Power saving turns Wi-Fi off

Check: Open the tablet's pull-down panel (how) and look for Power saving. A blue (lit) button means it's on.

Fix:

  1. Tap Power saving so it goes grey (off).
  2. Plug the tablet into the cab charger and leave it on charge all day.

A second device grabs the module

Check: Has a phone or another tablet ever joined the module's network? Only one device can hold the control module connection.

Fix:

  1. On that device, open its Wi-Fi list.
  2. Tap the DitchAssist network (or the gear icon next to it).
  3. Tap Forget.

Unsteady power to the module

Check:

  1. Follow the power harness from the module. Does it go to a trailer plug, an auxiliary block or a cab power strip instead of the battery?
  2. Are the fuses pushed fully into their holders?

Fix: Put the ring terminals straight on the tractor battery terminals and push the fuses home. See Connect the power harness.

A budget tablet with a weak Wi-Fi radio

Check: Is it an unbranded tablet, or a phone?

Fix: Use the recommended Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+.

A notice pops up when you connect“Your tablet may drop this Wi-Fi”

The app found Samsung's Switch to better Wi-Fi networks turned on. The notice says: This tablet is set to leave Wi-Fi networks that have no internet. The controller hotspot has no internet, so the tablet can disconnect from it every few minutes. (or DIG module / Emlid Reach). It shows once per install.

Turn the switch off now

Fix:

  1. Tap Open Wi-Fi settings in the notice. On a Samsung tablet this opens the Intelligent Wi-Fi screen. (If the plain Wi-Fi list opens instead, tap the three dots at the top right, then Intelligent Wi-Fi.)
  2. Tap the switch next to Switch to better Wi-Fi networks so it turns off (grey).
  3. Tablet with a SIM card: also turn Switch to mobile data off on the same page.
  4. Press the tablet's Home button (where it is).
  5. Tap the Ditch Assist icon. The app opens where you left it.

Not now closes the notice and lets you carry on, but expect drops every few minutes.

Red message, the Wi-Fi icon goes grey and Start greys out“No data from controller for 10s — connection lost.”

Nothing arrived from the module for 10 seconds, so the app closed the connection. The number in the message is how long it was silent. The app then retries every 2 seconds by itself, as long as the tablet is still on the same Wi-Fi network. If the tablet moved to another network, the control module retries stop (you'll see Wi-Fi changed during reconnect) and you reconnect by hand. The DIG module and Emlid Reach keep retrying.

The tablet left the module Wi-Fi Most likely

Check: Open the tablet's Wi-Fi list (how) and read the network marked Connected.

Fix:

  1. Tap the module's network to rejoin it (password 12345678).
  2. Go back to Ditch Assist. With a DIG module or an Emlid Reach, wait a few seconds: the app reconnects by itself and the Wi-Fi icon at the top turns green.
  3. Control module, or the icon stays grey: tap Home at the top of the sidebar.
  4. Tap your workflow card. The Connect window opens.
  5. Tap the green Connect button.
  6. Stop it happening again: turn off Samsung network switching.

The module lost power or restarted

Check: Are the module's lights off, or did it just restart? Was the key turned off?

Fix:

  1. Check the power harness runs to the battery, every connector is tight and the fuses are pushed in.
  2. Wait 30 seconds after power comes back.
  3. Check the tablet rejoined the module's Wi-Fi, then reconnect from your workflow card.

The module is up but the GPS stopped

Check: Look at the Status 2 light on the control module. It blinks while data arrives from the receiver. Not blinking means the receiver stopped sending.

Fix: Check the receiver has power and its cable is seated, then reconnect. See No GPS in the app and Status 2 light.

Reconnect keeps failing and the app says to power-cycle“Cannot reach the controller. It may be holding a stale connection from a previous session — power-cycle the controller (toggle its power switch for ~5 seconds) and try again from Home.”

Full Automation and Guidance Only Kits. After a drop on the same Wi-Fi the app retries every 2 seconds. After 5 failed tries it shows this message, and keeps trying.

The module is holding an old connection

Fix:

  1. Switch the module off with the switch on the power harness.
  2. Wait about 5 seconds, then switch it back on.
  3. Wait 30 seconds for its Wi-Fi to start.
  4. Open the tablet's Wi-Fi list and check the module's network is marked Connected.
  5. In Ditch Assist, tap Home at the top of the sidebar.
  6. Tap your workflow card. The Connect window opens.
  7. Tap the green Connect button.
The app stopped trying to reconnect“Wi-Fi changed during reconnect — controller link lost. Reconnect from Home.”

You may also see Network unavailable — connection to controller lost. when Wi-Fi is off or there's no network at all.

The tablet joined another network while the app was retrying

Check:

  1. Open the tablet's pull-down panel. Is Wi-Fi on (blue)? Airplane mode and power saving can turn it off.
  2. Open the Wi-Fi list and read the network marked Connected.

Fix:

  1. Turn Wi-Fi on, if it was off.
  2. Tap the module's network in the Wi-Fi list to rejoin it.
  3. In Ditch Assist, tap Home at the top of the sidebar.
  4. Tap your workflow card. The Connect window opens.
  5. Tap the green Connect button.
  6. So it doesn't happen again, turn off Samsung network switching.
Red message with no clear reason“Connection lost unexpectedly.”

The connection dropped and the app didn't record why. A second line, when there is one, is the technical reason.

Same causes as above

Fix:

  1. Check the module has power and the tablet is on its Wi-Fi.
  2. Reconnect from your workflow card.
  3. If it keeps happening, write down the second line of the message and send your logs. The logs record the Wi-Fi signal and network changes every minute, so support can see whether the tablet left the network or the module went quiet.
DIG or the Emlid Reach drops

Same Wi-Fi causes, plus a few of their own

Fix: Everything above applies. For the DIG module, also see DIG drops mid-dig. For Ditch Assist Lite, see The Reach drops every few minutes.

What reconnects by itself

What happenedControl moduleDIG module, Emlid Reach
Short drop, tablet still on the same Wi-FiRetries every 2 s. After 5 failures: power-cycle message (it keeps trying).Retries every 2 s until it's back.
No data for 10 s, tablet still on the same Wi-FiConnection closed, then retries every 2 s as above.Connection closed, then retries every 2 s.
Tablet changed Wi-Fi networkStops: Wi-Fi changed during reconnect… Rejoin, then reconnect from Home.Keeps retrying; rejoin the network.

While the connection is down, automatic grading holds and the GPS badge dims. See HOLD — GPS Stale.

Still not fixed?

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