Apex Fusion not connecting to internet

Sorry Ned, for some reason I thought you were familiar with Apex. I have an Apex Jr with the following components connected to it:
- Temperature Probe
- PM1 Module (for monitoring pH) with a pH probe
- LSM Module (for lunar simulation) with 2-string lunar LEDs
- (2) EB8 Energy Bars - I have my return pump, heaters, lights, etc all plugged into the EB8s

The Apex is connected to my router via a LAN cable. I usually use the Apex Fusion App (on my iPhone XR) to view temperature, pH, and to turn items (like pumps) on and off manually as needed for maintenance.

About once a month, when I open the Fusion app, I get the message, "Apex Disconnected - This Apex isn't presently connected to Fusion." Usually, when this happens, I unplug the Apex and both EB8s for a couple of minutes, plug them back in and the issue is resolved. However, yesterday, doing this and also rebooting my router didn't resolve the issue.

Another way I can access the Apex is via Apex Classic Dashboard. This is done by putting the IP address of the Apex into a web browser either on my phone or on the computer. Whenever I haven't been able to connect to the Apex via the Fusion app, I've always been able to connect using Apex Classis via a browser using the Apex's IP address. Yesterday and today, I'm unable to access the dashboard via Safari (phone) or the browser (computer).

I've gone to Apex's forums to search for help but, I don't really understand a lot of the technical advice people are giving there. I'm just not very computer/network savvy and most of the answers there look like gibberish to me.
 
I scanned the docs and it is complicated. So dont feel bad.
Do you have a display? Can you see the IP address in the Apex?
Fusion doesn't work means you Apex isnt talking to the net.
Classic doesnt work means it isnt talking on your local network either. So bad ethernet cable is easiest answer. Beyond that are unusual problems like IP address conflicts and things.
Can you log into your routher to see info in it?
 
I scanned the docs and it is complicated. So dont feel bad.
Do you have a display? Can you see the IP address in the Apex?
Fusion doesn't work means you Apex isnt talking to the net.
Classic doesnt work means it isnt talking on your local network either. So bad ethernet cable is easiest answer. Beyond that are unusual problems like IP address conflicts and things.
Can you log into your routher to see info in it?
Thanks Ned. I do have a display and can view the IP address of the Apex in the display. The ethernet cable is fairly new (less than a year old), could it still be an issue?

Re: logging into my router, I'm not sure exactly how to do that. Is that putting the router's IP address into a web browser? If so, I can check that when I get home tonight since I'm at work now.
 
LOL
You log into a router the same way you log into an Apex. IP address in a browser will produce a login window. User name and password. Some internet providers give you this and some dont.

From what I remember you have the apex plugged into a port on your router. I would change the cable first.
 
LOL
You log into a router the same way you log into an Apex. IP address in a browser will produce a login window. User name and password. Some internet providers give you this and some dont.

From what I remember you have the apex plugged into a port on your router. I would change the cable first.
Thanks, I told you I'm not very tech savvy.

That said, the router is in the second story of the house and the Apex is in the basement...it's a pretty long cable. I wonder, instead of replacing the cable, if I could take a laptop down there, plug the cable into it and see if the internet works. That should tell me if the cable is good.
 
absolutely fine to do that
if that works.
Do you have a nice normal short cable? Could you take the apex to where the router is and connect them up in one room together?
 
Okay, I think I determined it’s a bad ethernet cable. I took a laptop to the basement, turned off the laptop WiFi, unplugged the cable from the Apex, plugged it into the laptop and can’t get internet.

So, now I need to figure out how to get the Apex back to a WiFi connection without being able to access the classic dashboard or fusion. Everything I’m reading starts with hitting the reset button. However, that’s for newer model Apex units, mine doesn’t have a reset button.

Or, I need to buy another long cable, and snake it through the walls like I did with this one from the 2nd story down to the basement. That will involve time in the attic in what is very cold temps.

If anyone knows how to set the Apex back to WiFi, I’d greatly appreciate it.
 
Definitely a bad cable. I took a different cable and connected the Apex to the WiFi extender and can now access the Classic Dashboard via a web browser.

Still unable to connect on the Fusion app. Either later tonight or tomorrow I’ll try the unplug everything and plug back in to see if that works.
 
I need to buy a lottery ticket. I got Fusion app figured out. A combination of things finally got it working.

I had the router IP address as the DNS. Changed that to 8.8.8.8.

I didn’t not have a secondary DNS input. Changed that to 4.2.2.1

I also, somehow, had a wrong gateway put in the dashboard. Corrected that.

I’m not that I know what any of that really means, but….

Correcting that still didn’t get fixed. So, on a whim, I turned DHCP back on (again, have no idea what that means/does) but, that was the final item that got the Fusion app working again.
 
DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol. It assigns the correct values for an IP connection including those you fixed automatically to anything that wants to join a network. It also makes sure no devices get duplicate IP addresses.
DNS lets devices use names instead of IP addresses by translating names into addresses for them.

Glad you fixed it.
 
Sorry I have not been on in a while. I really am not a expert on the Apex. I still have a classic but I had issues so I mainly use the Hydros. Just easier.
I do some IT work though.

wvned described it well.

I will try to explain it too, sometimes one way may click or confuse you more.

With DHCP the router assigns the info to your device to get that device on your network.
Static IP means you assign the info.

The difference is every time you reboot your device it may be assigned a different ip address with DHCP.
With static it is the same every time which is useful in allot of situations.

A IP address is like the address on your house. It allow everything on the network to find something.

If you use static you need to have a range of addresses set up in your router for static ip's.
This does require some networking knowledge to do.
 
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