Redux: Android Speaker Client frequently disconnects

[JimSpy]

Revisiting an issue from long ago that I've never resolved: The speaker client on my LG G5 (Android) keeps getting disconnected...and sometimes, it will reconnect on its own a few minutes later.

Log snippets:

Dec-07 6:13:32 PM HSTouch Server Client Android:Jim's LG G5 (192.168.x.x/4086) has raised LineDisconnected or was forced closed. Dec-07 6:13:32 PM HSTouch Server Client Android named Jim's LG G5 has DISCONNECTED. Dec-07 6:21:17 PM HSTouch Server Client Android (192.168.x.x/4257) named Jim's LG G5 has CONNECTED. Dec-07 6:21:17 PM Speaker Speaker host added, Name: CIC Instance: Jim's LG G5 IP address: 192.168.x.x

1. Is this a known issue? If there is something I can do to stop this from happening, I'm all ears.
2. Is there a way of programatticaly (sp) forcing a connection to my Android Speaker Client? I was thinking of using Jon00's excellent HSLogMonitor to fire an event whenever it sees LineDisconnected or whatever, but I wouldn't know what to put in the event. There doesn't even seem to be a script function that forces (pushes) a connection to a specific client.

I await your solution(s).


Current Date/Time: 12/8/2020 12:25:34 AM
HomeSeer Version: HS3 Standard Edition 3.0.0.548
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home - Work Station
System Uptime: 7 Days 4 Hours 41 Minutes 34 Seconds
IP Address: 192.168.9.121
Number of Devices: 288
Number of Events: 113
Available Threads: 600
HSTouch Enabled: True
Event Threads: 0
Event Trigger Eval Queue: 0
Event Trigger Priority Eval Queue: 0
Device Exec Queue: 0
HSTouch Event Queue: 0
Email Send Queue: 0
Anti Virus Installed: Windows Defender
In Virtual Machine: No MFG: gigabyte technology co., ltd.
Enabled Plug-Ins
3.0.0.71: EasyTrigger
3.0.7.1: Insteon Thermostat
3.0.7.19: Insteon
1.0.0.354: MagicHome

[Eman]

I didn't write this : https://www.techjunkie.com/lg-g5-not...ected-to-wifi/ but may be worth investigating

Eman.

[JimSpy]

I didn't write this : https://www.techjunkie.com/lg-g5-not...ected-to-wifi/ but may be worth investigating

Eman.

Well, I understood most of that, in spite of the typos and Koringlish. I will give it a try.

[JimSpy]

I didn't write this : https://www.techjunkie.com/lg-g5-not...ected-to-wifi/ but may be worth investigating

Eman.

So you're thinking my problem is the constant switching back and forth between the router and the 4G? Hmmmm....

[Eman]

So you're thinking my problem is the constant switching back and forth between the router and the 4G? Hmmmm....

Especially with Android beyond version 6. They introduced a lot of features security and battery saving to compete with iOS battery life.

If tablets, best choice is the Chinese types some of which include RJ45 (Ethernet) communication and some are even PoE.

Tip : If you doubt the HSTouch client, is best to make sure you have your designs in a safe place before you can wipe it out the phone then re-install it.


Eman.

[AllHailJ]

I had the same problem on and off with samsung and other tablets. I increased the number of AP and I only get a disconnect when HSTouch hangs or the android tablet reboots. I also turned off alot of the crap on the tablets that are just not needed when you run as dedicated HSTouch. All of my speaker clients are android tablets. I use this in the following script to set the name of the client. You could modify to see what items had logged off.

REM HSTouchClientID.vb - JLG
REM Replacement Script to identify each client uniquely and without user intervention
REM Started 6-1-2020, First Testing 6-4-2020.
REM Logic Breakdown
REM Set Client Text, Client Number, Screen Used For setup.
REM Get Current Speaker List
REM Retrieve Saved Speaker List
REM If Current List is nothing or unchanged - Exit Routine
REM Split the List into clients
REM Compare list to clients specified
REM When Client found set client name
REM Save most current speaker list to global var

IMPORTS System.Core
IMPORTS System.IO

Sub Main(ByVal parms As Object)

'--------------------------------------
'Variable Declaration
'--------------------------------------
Dim parm As String
Dim myList As String
Dim gList As String
Dim gVar As String
Dim i As Integer
Dim j As Integer
Dim ListElement As Integer
Dim ClientName As String
Dim myClients() As String
Dim HostClient() As String
Dim ListClient() As String
Dim Found As Boolean
Dim err
Dim err1

'--------------------------------------
'User Setup for HSTOUCH Clients
' The user should change the three lines below to
' The Number of HStouch Clients - 1 --->MaxClients
' The HSTouch Screen name where the corresponding elements were created ---> Screen
' The names of the Clients ---> Clients " _" must have no characters following or won't compile
'--------------------------------------

Dim MaxClients As Integer = 9 ' Arrays start at element 0 so Count - 1
Dim Screen As String = "Setup:" ' The hstouch screen used for setup must have :
Dim Clients(9) As String

If parms.GetType().ToString = "System.String" Then 'Called from an Event
parm = parms.ToString()
Else ' Called from HSTouch
parm = parms(0).ToString()
End If 'Now use parm as your input variable...

' hs.WriteLog("Names", parm)

gvar = "instances"
Clients(0) = "Android:MainFloor"
Clients(1) = "Android:Bar"
Clients(2) = "Android:Media"
Clients(3) = "Android:Upstairs"
Clients(4) = "Android:TV-Netflix"
Clients(5) = "Android:Dad"
Clients(6) = "Android:JPhone"
Clients(7) = "Android:GPhone"
Clients(8) = "AcerLaptop:AcerLaptop"
Clients(9) = "Virtual-Win7:Virtual-Win7"

'--------------------------------------
'Determine the Client List
' Please note that the speaker list is serving as a proxy for the client list.
' The two are not necessarily the same and there has to be modifications to deal with different sources.
' The list is stored in a Global variable named "instances". This is used to check against current list
' and if there are no changes to exit the routine. This is an efficiency measure to allow more frequent
' calls.
'--------------------------------------

hs.CounterIncrement("ClientID")

If hs.CounterValue("ClientID") > 10 Then 'Force a run after 5 minutes during day and 150 minutes at night
hs.CounterReset("ClientID")
hs.SaveVar(gvar, "Junk")
End If

myList = hs.GetInstanceList
gList = hs.GetVar(gvar)
' hs.WriteLog("Names", myList)

If myList = gList Then
Exit Sub
End If

If myList Is Nothing Then
Exit Sub
End If

'--------------------------------------
'Find the appropriate Client to Send release element command
'--------------------------------------

myClients = Split(myList, ",", -1, 1) 'Split InstanceList into individual clients.
' hs.WriteLog("Names", myList)

For i = 0 To myClients.Length-1

HostClient = Split(myClients(i), ":", -1, 1) 'Element 1 of HostClient is the hstouch client

' hs.WriteLog("Names", HostClient(1))

Found = False

For j = 0 to MaxClients

ListClient = Split(Clients(j), ":", -1, 1)

If HostClient(1) = UCase(ListClient(1)) Then
ListElement = j
Found = True
Exit For
End If

Next

'--------------------------------------
'Send release element to Tablet Found
'--------------------------------------

If Found Then
' hs.WriteLog("Names", ListClient(1))
Dim ArrString = New Object() {35, Clients(ListElement), Screen & ListClient(1), ""}
err1 = hs.PluginFunction("HSTouch Server", "", "ClientAction", ArrString) ' Set Client name
If err1 <> "" then
hs.WriteLog("Names", "Error from hs.PluginFunction = " & err)
End If
Else
hs.WriteLog("Names", "Client " & myClients(i) & "Not Found - No Action Taken. Client Remains Unnamed")
End If

Next

err = hs.SaveVar(gvar, myList) 'Save to the Global Variable so minimize runtime

If err <> "" then
hs.WriteLog("Names", "Error Saving List to Global Variable")
End If

End Sub

[JimSpy]

Especially with Android beyond version 6. They introduced a lot of features security and battery saving to compete with iOS battery life.

If tablets, best choice is the Chinese types some of which include RJ45 (Ethernet) communication and some are even PoE.

Tip : If you doubt the HSTouch client, is best to make sure you have your designs in a safe place before you can wipe it out the phone then re-install it.


Eman.

This ain't no tablet, just a smartphone.
I don't have designs, I just use the default screens. Haven't gotten into the designer yet.
Those instructions you linked me to aren't workable. They don't match the menu structure on my phone. Furthermore I can't find any "Smart Network Switch." They may have dropped it since that article was written 5 years ago; perhaps as you say to keep up with the Apples.

But thanks for the effort!

==JJS==

[JimSpy]

I had the same problem on and off with samsung and other tablets. I increased the number of AP and I only get a disconnect when HSTouch hangs or the android tablet reboots.

Please, what does it mean, ":increased the number of AP"? Is that Access Points? I got a Gryphon router and a mesh repeater, I'm pretty well covered here. And besides, I do leave my house once in a while (masked up, of course!), so that wouldn't help me on the road. This problem manifests randomly no matter where I am.

[AllHailJ]

Yes Access Points.

[Rupp]

If you are using your phone then the app has to stay visible to prevent disconnects. If the app is put in the background the phone software will sever the connection in most instances.

[JimSpy]

If you are using your phone then the app has to stay visible to prevent disconnects. If the app is put in the background the phone software will sever the connection in most instances.

Well, then, HSTouch just became a dunsel for me. Anyway, I have control through my Alexa app, I guess that will be good enough.
Just out of curiosity, does that apply to the new HS mobile product?

[kevins669]

From what I remember, Rich/Mark are Android users... One thing that I love to do is repurpose old phones or tablets as speaker clients. Unfortunately, Android has evolved to block apps with legacy-type coding from running all the time, to prevent battery consumption. I use Tasker to attempt to ensure HS3 Touch app is in foreground all the time, but it sometimes doesn't even work, so I added another task to literally kill everything, and restart the app, once per hour. Still, not always foolproof. And yes, I have disabled all battery and power optimizations.

While the new HS Mobile is lacking the speaker client, I really wish a new app can be published that is only a speaker client. There are many newer apps that take advantage of new APIs that do allow lots to go on while running in the background, and in my opinion, would be a huge benefit to using old devices as clients. It is so easy to put one in every room of the house, outside, etc... on Wifi Only, and block outgoing to internet via firewall (since these devices no longer get security updates).

But yes, I get tons of disconnects, and hopefully someone at the head office whips up a lightweight app that can be used as a standalone client

Kevin

[Eman]

kevins669
But yes, I get tons of disconnects, and hopefully someone at the head office whips up a lightweight app that can be used as a standalone client

Maybe help me beat the drum here : https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ul...id-speaker-app


Eman.

[kevins669]

Eman Will do. I am sure they will bring Speaker Client to the new HS Mobile eventually, but I see a ton more flexibility for older devices and easier management to just have something that can deployed on cheap or old android devices. I am afraid it will get lost in the Alexa/Node Red shuffle, though... I hate to ditch all these old phones!