WiFi dropping on reboot, weird x00x00x00x00 networks...

[Dochartaigh]

Pi Model or other hardware: RP4 8gb
Power Supply used: CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply with Noise Filter
RetroPie Version Used: 4.7.1
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website (retropie-buster-4.7.1-rpi4_400.img), imaged via Mac ApplePiBaker program, on known-working Sandisk Ultra 128GB SD card
USB Devices connected: Wireless Rii 2.4g Keyboard (USB receiver dongle), Xbox360 wireless receiver w/ 1x Xbox 360 controller
Controller used: Wireless Rii Keyboard, Xbox360
Error messages received: "unable to connect to network"
Attachment of config files: If you need these please tell me how to get them.

Having an issue with my RP4 connecting to WiFi reliably, usually on reboot. I'm pretty sure it's a software issue as I tried another SD card in the SAME EXACT rp4 and it connected to the 5ghz WiFi network just fine (hopefully that wasn't a fluke). My RP3 B+, cell phone, tablet, etc. all connect to that 5ghz network fine too (and this RP4 has been fine in the same location for DAYS now). House has never had any WiFi issues, and router is ~15 feet away through 1x drywall wall.

This issue has been happening off and on, on a ~week old RP4, for the last full day. I can tell it's going to happen when a re-boot takes longer, and/or I can't immediately connect via SSH or FTP like normal after it's done booting up (those will either take a minute or so to connect, or won't connect at all because the RP4 isn't able to connect to my Wifi).

When the RP4 can't connect I commonly keep getting these funky "x00x00x00x00x00" WiFi networks showing up in the list, then it'll fail to connect. Also had it connect a couple times to a WiFi that doesn't exist - my entire network is 196.168.1.XXX. and it says it's connected to my same "Dochartaigh-5ghz" network on 169.254.58.119 or similar... It can also connect for an hour or so (on the normal wifi) and be fine, but then on another reboot a bit later and it'll loose connection.

Here's some pics of the funkiness below. Please let me know where/how to get a log if you need one (tried the same folder the runcommand verbose logs are in and there was nothing there). This is sporadic so if the log needs to be when it happens we might have to wait until the next drop-out (which with WiFi down I won't be able to FTP into it to get the log either...).

Oh, btw I tried the "sudo rfkill unblock all" @mitu mentioned in another post and it didn't help.

Here's those weird network pics: https://imgur.com/a/fboixwv

[Dochartaigh]

So now I don't know what the heck to think.... rebooted that other fresh (imaged tonight) SD card on this same RP4, and it CAN'T see the 5ghz network to connect (despite multiple other devices being connected to 5ghz, including a RP3 B+). Rebooted the router just in case, RP4 still couldn't see it (could connect/reconnect from my iPhone and it sees the 5ghz just fine).

Rebooted RP4 ~2 more times and it sees the 5ghz and connects. Reboot again, tried to test if the RP4 had internet connection by updating the retropie update script, and it said "unable to connect to the internet", hit OK on the error, then said "please see /home/Retro-Pie-Setup/logs/rps_2021-01-03-025355.log.gz for more in depth information regarding the errors".

That error log is here but doesn't show anything to my eyes: https://i.imgur.com/eVcKjmI.jpg

This is a fresh build, literally only set the localization options so it would allow me to connect to WiFi - NOTHING else (didn't even touch the config.txt to remove the overscan!).

My Verizon (that's my ISP and one of the largest in the USA for you Europeans) "FIOS" router shows the RP4 as being "Active", connected, and I did a packet test to it which also came back correct... so as far as I can tell the router isn't blocking anything and it's connected. I did reset the router to factory settings just in case though...

[Dochartaigh]

So last night I reset the WiFi router. (and sorry for so many posts... just trying to give as much information as I can to diagnose the issue).

This morning I turned on the RP4 (which of course didn't connect because the WiFi name had changed). Went into RetroPie screen > Wifi > Connect to WiFi network and not a SINGLE network showed up (the previous pics showed like 10+ surrounding me), pic: https://i.imgur.com/3s49B3I.jpg

Choose "Disconnect/remove WiFi config", rebooted. Tried it again and now WiFi networks show up (including my new 5ghz one I could connect to) but one of them STILL being that weird x00x00x00x00, pic: https://i.imgur.com/oi43Gzs.jpg.

Is that weird "x00x00x00x00x00x00x00x00x00x00x00x00x00" indicative of anything? Nothing shows up on Google but it keeps showing up...

Going to see how it goes today but I don't know what to think. Leaning towards the brand new (delivered Dec 24th) RP4 being faulty despite working fine these past ~10 days. Any experts have any idea?

[markyh444]

@dochartaigh if you search for nearby WiFi on say like your phone, does that random network show up as well? People near me name their wifi some right random things.

My mate used characters and symbols to draw a sword for hers previously.

[Dochartaigh]

@markyh444 said in WiFi dropping on reboot, weird x00x00x00x00 networks...:

@dochartaigh if you search for nearby WiFi on say like your phone, does that random network show up as well? People near me name their wifi some right random things.

My mate used characters and symbols to draw a sword for hers previously.

Nah, that weird x00x00x00x00 never shows up no matter the non-Raspberry device I search for networks on. The RP4 also showed there being like 2+ different x00x00x00x00x00 networks at the same time a couple times: https://i.imgur.com/YukMVcW.jpg

ALL other devices, unlike the RP4, also ALWAYS see my 5ghz network, from my phone, to tablet, to Kindle, to my friggin Nest thermostat and Amazon FireStick, etc.

The RP4 doesn't see that 5ghz network a lot, and commonly gives me errors when it tries to connect when it actually sees it. All other devices can connect to that 5ghz, which the RP4 can't a lot of the time even when it finds it). And this morning the RP4 didn't see a SINGLE wifi network of any type and they're tons around me being in suburbia. I have no clue what's going on lol.