DHCP won't assign IP when using RetroPie on Pi4

Tmp2k

I just can't get my Picade working with RetroPie. I use RasPi's all day every day, I have 3 or 4 sat on my desk and I've got several images configured for various things. I just can't seem to get this to work though.

I have 2 Ras Pi 4s, both work perfectly with different images, but if I put the default RetroPie 4 image on it won't get assigned an IP wia wlan0. If I swap the SD card for a default install of Rasbian - works fine. Same with both Pi's.

If I try and manually assign an IP, it still doesn't work, ifconfig returns no IPs for wlan0. I even tried a cat5 cable, but the LEDs don't come on, I plug the cable into any other device - works fine.

I've rebooted the router and the switch and all the APs. I've tried assigning a fixed IP via DCHP on the router.

I just can't get this thing to have an IP, but it works perfectly with a different image on it.

Tmp2k

So after many hours, I've given up, swapped for a RasPi 3 and flashed RetroPie for RasPi 3 and it's working perfectly.

Given that I've tried 2 different RPi4s and they both work with other images on them, I'm guessing it's something to do with the RetroPie image + RPi4 combo.

mitu

If a Raspbian Lite installation works - then you can do a manual installation. The RetroPie image is just a Rasbian Lite image underneath.

Tmp2k

I'm just doing that now, does it introduce much overhead/bloat doing it that way? Is the end result any different from just flashing the ready-made image?

mitu

@Tmp2k said in DHCP won't assign IP when using RetroPie on Pi4:

Is the end result any different from just flashing the ready-made image?

Not by much, it would be virtually identical. The image has a couple of extra packages added (usbromservice and I think the xpad driver).

Tmp2k

So this appears to be something to do with the Picade case and the RasPi 4. It could possibly be to do with the screen mode, I know the RasPi4 has issues with some screen modes affecting WiFi.

If I put the Pi in the picade where it's supposed to be mounted it just won't pass WiFi traffic well. I get packet loss and pings over a few 1000 ms.

If I take it out then it works fine. I've made a post on the Picade forum.

Is anyone else running Retropie on a RasPi4 in a Picade? Does it work?

Tricko

@Tmp2k I've got the older, bigger size cabinet than the current one, version of the Picade, now running a RPi4, where it's mounted on the back door of the cabinet and that's been fine for me. That's using a 10" HDMI screen, powered from the Pi over USB style.
I'm using a 5ghz WiFi network mind you.

Tmp2k

So the plot thickens...

Today, after weeks of working from home, I seem to be having massive WiFi issues with my laptop. It’s been perfect literally up until this morning.

So I ran a WiFi scanning app and it turns out one of the neighbours have cloned our WiFi. So my laptop was connecting to the dodgy WiFi instead. Now this isn’t the exact same issue, but it all seems connected. I’ll investigate further. Maybe the RasPi 3 somehow has a preference for my WiFi and the Pi4 for theirs? both are just configured using SSIDs so it’s not like I’m entering the details any differently.

I'm going to change the WiFi details and see if it fixes the issue, or if it's just a massive coincidence.