The Readers wirelessly communicate with VAC01 in order to send Usage and Status Records, and to receive Commands and Updates.

They do so via Zigbee Wireless Communication Technology .

Some key characteristics of Zigbee being;
​

- it operates in the 2.4GHz Frequency band
​

- it provides transmission distances of 10–100 meters (33–328 ft) Line-of-sight
​

- its devices can transmit data over long distances by passing data through a mesh network of intermediate devices to reach more distant ones
~ i.e. other Readers

If you're seeing Reader issues, such as those described in the Articles;

- Portal says "Timeout - check reader/machine"
​

- Reader says "Can't Join"
​

Or if you are finding Readers Logs and Statuses to be regularly missing and/or not arriving in Logical Order

And you have determined that it is not the hardware that is at fault,
​

then it is likely that Wireless Interference or Line-of-sight Obstruction may be the cause.
​

Wireless Network connectivity issues can be caused by wireless interference occurring on the same 2.4GHz Frequency band used by the Readers with Zigbee.

Typically this comes from strong Wifi Signals being broadcast in the local area.
​

This ZigBee and Wi-Fi Coexistence article goes over the concept.

First of all If possible, try to do the following;
​

- try to keep local Wifi signals broadcasting on just the 5GHz Frequency band, rather than on the 2.4GHz band

- avoid having VAC01 or Readers in close proximity to WiFi emitters

- if you must have WiFi on 2.4GH band, try to keep it broadcasting on just a single Channel

Otherwise, as described in the ZigBee and Wi-Fi Coexistence article
​

we can try to adjust the Wireless Network to avoid possible WiFi interference, where if we have an idea of what the strongest WiFi channels are,
​

Laundroworks can change the Wireless Network (Zigbee) channel accordingly to not overlap
​

In order to determine what the strongest local WiFi signals are, we can recommend two Apps that you could use

Apple/IOS: AirPort Utility