In place update from 9.0.6.

[suzywong]

A quickie before I do a clean install.

One of my Pi 3B/3B+ streamers shows “check for update failed” when attempting an in-place update. 

All the othere are updated to 9.1.3, via the intermediate versions. 

I suppose the question is, “Should I be able to do an in-place update from 9.0.6 to 9.1.3?”

Interestingly this particular unit is the only one connected by WiFi, and its location - the kitchen - may not be ideal; there are two interior brick/block walls in the path from the router - but it mostly works, and I can certainly control it from my iThings.

Thought or suggestions anyone?

Edit: the unit in question is a 3B and the sig strength is -77 dBm

[TheOldPresbyope]

A quickie before I do a clean install.

One of my Pi 3B/3B+ streamers shows “check for update failed” when attempting an in-place update. 

All the othere are updated to 9.1.3, via the intermediate versions. 

I suppose the question is, “Should I be able to do an in-place update from 9.0.6 to 9.1.3?”

Interestingly this particular unit is the only one connected by WiFi, and its location - the kitchen - may not be ideal; there are two interior brick/block walls in the path from the router - but it mostly works, and I can certainly control it from my iThings.

Thought or suggestions anyone?

Edit: the unit in question is a 3B and the sig strength is -77 dBm

I’m surprised you can get reliable WiFi service with such a low signal. The 3B has a relatively poor onboard antenna. You might have better performance with an external USB/WiFi adapter; I did on one of my players.

I’ll let Tim give a definitive answer on the update from 9.0.6 to 9.1.3.

Regards,
Kent

[Tim Curtis]

The words "but it mostly works" would suggest just doing a fresh image would be the way to go.

[suzywong]

That was my thinking as well, although I might move it onto t’Ethernet and try from there.

As an aside, is the WiFi antenna on the 3B+ deemed to be better than the 3B? If so, I might try swapping the Kitchen wified 3B for one of the Ethernetted 3B+.

Something to play with, next week.

[TheOldPresbyope]

That was my thinking as well, although I might move it onto t’Ethernet and try from there.

As an aside, is the WiFi antenna on the 3B+ deemed to be better than the 3B? If so, I might try swapping the Kitchen wified 3B for one of the Ethernetted 3B+.

Something to play with, next week.

It would be interesting to hear what you get if you do try the swap. I'm remiss for never having done comprehensive side-by-side comparisons.

The networking subsystem of the Pi 3B+ is improved in several ways, but how much of a difference that would make in your circumstance is difficult to predict.

Candidly, you may not find much of a difference in performance. Your reported -77 dBm signal level is extremely weak (1000 times weaker than the -47 dBm reported by an Pi 3A+ which is my player most distant from our access point). I don't see that being overcome just by changing boards. An external WiFi adapter with external antenna likely would be more helpful. 

My rule of thumb: received WiFi signal levels -50 dBm or better give adequate moOde performance.

BTW, are you using a wired amp and speaker in the kitchen or a Bluetooth speaker? Using (2.4 GHz) Bluetooth at the same time as the (2.4 GHz-only) WiFi on the original Pi 3B is problematic for many; less so with the improvements of the 3B+. Even on my Pi 3A+ (essentially a cut-down 3B+), I get sputtering from a Bluetooth speaker when I'm streaming over 2.4 GHz WiFi but not when I'm streaming over 5 GHz WiFi., perhaps in part because of the low received WiFi signal level. As always, YMMV.

Regards,
Kent

PS - dBm is a measure based on the logarithm of the ratio of a signal to a reference level. A reported 0 dBm means the signal is equal to the reference level while -10 dBm is a factor of ten less, -20 dBm is a factor of 100 less, etc. So, -77 dBm differs from -47 dBm by 30 dBm which is a factor of 1000.

PPS - An interesting Linux command that reports detected access points in terms of a more familiar if arbitrary 0 - 100 scale along with a familiar 1 - 4 signal bars representation is sudo nmcli dev wifi

[DRONE7]

An interesting Linux command that reports detected access points in terms of a more familiar if arbitrary 0 - 100 scale along with a familiar 1 - 4 signal bars representation is sudo nmcli dev wifi

Wow ! I had not heard of it and having explored from your command I am well pleased !!

Many thanks for that gem Kent !

[the_bertrum]

An interesting Linux command that reports detected access points in terms of a more familiar if arbitrary 0 - 100 scale along with a familiar 1 - 4 signal bars representation is sudo nmcli dev wifi

Wow ! I had not heard of it and having explored from your command I am well pleased !!

Many thanks for that gem Kent !

Secnded.  That's a lovely tool Kent, thanks muchly.

[TheOldPresbyope]

Bookworm forced NetworkManager on us, which was both a nuisance and an opportunity. The nmcli command is an amazing Swiss Army knife of a tool.

Regards,
Kent

[suzywong]

Moved the Kitchen 3B into the study and plonked in next to one of the WAPs. A more healthy -44dBm ensued. However it still failed the check for in-place update.

Plugged Ethernet in and rebooted for good measure. And a successful in-place update ensued.

Moved it back to the kitchen - now at -81 dBm - and playing very happily.

RF is a wonderful thing - it gets everywhere!