Wft-e1 adhoc to Shuttersnitch on iPad2

[Damo]

Did I mention I LOATHE networking :P

Ok, spent a couple more hours going around in circles, following the step by step guides that everyone has been kind enough to put on here.

It falls down at the very first hurdle evry time !

Some of the step by steps say to do the first bit which basically turns the WFT in to a wireless network in Adhoc mode, then fill in the static ip stuff when the new network shows up in the wifi section of the ipad, then connect.

For me, this is as far as I go, it sees the new ssid I set, but. When I click on it to join, I get back every single time, whether I have a password or not, Unable To Join Network. I swear if I see those words again, i'm throwing the whole lot off a very tall building ! :). Ok maybe not, but why is it so difficult just to do the first bit.

There is no point in putting the rest of the settings in, although I have on more occasions than I care to remember in the vain hope it will just connect at the end, until it can connect to the ipad.

Solve this bit, and Im sure the rest will fall into place.

Im wondering now, if the ipad has anything set up on it that would stop it from connecting, although it connects to my home network just fine.

So, to summarise - WFT----------->iPad

Thats all I need it to do for now. Arghhhhhhh ! It should be simple right ? All the step by steps make it look simple.

Does anybody know any reasons that could possibly make it fall down at this, the most crucial, point ?.

The firmware on the WFT-E1 is 2.0.2, as far as I know,thats the latest.
The firmware on my 5D mk1 is 1.1.1.
My iPad is an iPad2 and is running iOS 5.1, which it says is up to date. Its also a 3g model, if that makes any difference.

Ok Im going to bed now, tomorrow, I will give it one more try, so any help anyone can give, would be brill, thanks :).

[TheBrew]

Some of the step by steps say to do the first bit which basically turns the WFT in to a wireless network in Adhoc mode, then fill in the static ip stuff when the new network shows up in the wifi section of the ipad, then connect.

Whenever I set up a new connection, I always join and then set static address / auto join.
You're not even getting to this point, so when testing, just work on getting it to join. Don't waste time on "the blue button" until it's joined successfully.

On the iPad, you can try going into the Settings app -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.

This will also reset the knowledge about your home network, so I hope you remember the access code for your regular home wi-fi :)

Now try joining the WFT ad-hoc network again.


If that doesn't help, the issue is in the WFT settings.


Try setting up the network to be as basic as possible. No access codes, no encryption. If you still can't connect, post a message here with the specific setup options you have (I only have a WFT-E4II), then perhaps we can pinpoint a good setup.

[Damo]

Hi TheBrew,

Thank you for that, didnt make any difference, but thank you lol.

Tonight I enlisted the help of someone that works on networks for a living, he set it up with some completely different settings, and whilst he had his laptop on seeing the WFT-E1, the WFT connected to my ipad ! Even transferred one image to Shuttersnitch, then he disconnected with his laptop and so did my connection, we can think of no good reason for this, only maybe that with his laptop pinging my WFT it was somehow keeping the connection alive.

We then put an ethernet cable into the wft straight in to his router, which then spoke wirelessly to my ipad without any trouble at all, could take pictures at will and have them show up in shuttersnitch.

But without the laptop on, or doing it wired through the router, nothing, so I'm thinking this transmitter just isnt compatible with this kind of work :(. I havent tried it with my MacBook and Lightroom yet, but the guy I bought it from had it working ok on his MacBook and Aperature, not the way I wanted to go, but I think I may have to forget about the iPad, get a new battery for my MacBook and use that.

So frustrated, why would Canon make something thats so unreliable and not even fix it via the firmware etc. These transmitters are still being sold new for over £1000 on Amazon !

Thank you for your help TheBrew, unless you can think of something else, I think I've gone about as far as I can with this, wasted so much time and money over it, a simple USB cable solution would be fine ! :P. A shame even that isnt posible with an ipad :(.

[TheBrew]

Sounds really really strange..

Now that you have actually had it up and running, I'm kind of out of ideas - except perhaps if you have a friend who also has an iPad on which you can try to connect to the WFT. If that connects without issues, perhaps there's something wrong with the wireless part of your iPad? :/

Or maybe the problem is with the ad-hoc handling on the WFT.

A solution could be to buy a portable wireless router (or use the Personal Hotspot feature, if you have an iPhone 4/4S) and have the WFT and iPad connect to that in infrastructure mode instead of ad-hoc.

[TheBrew]

Got my hands on a manual for the WFT-E1 - Here's what I'd do:

Turn on your camera and navigate to the tools-tab and pick "Image transfer (LAN) settings".

Set "RAW+JPEG transfer" to JPEG only (for speed).
Set "LAN type" to Wireless.
Set "Power Saving" to a high number (...wonder if this could be the issue?)

Go into "LAN setting" and change the selected Set to:

TCP/IP ->
DHCP server = No
IP address = 192.168.1.1
Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
Gateway = 192.168.1.1

DNS server = No

FTP server ->
Target server = 192.168.1.10
Port No. = 26000
Login name = snitch
Login password = your super user password in ShutterSnitch
Target folder = /
Passive mode = No
Proxy = No
Overwrite same file = Yes

Wireless LAN ->
SSID = wft-ad-hoc
Advanced settings ->
Connection method = Ad hoc

Authentication = Open System

If you can't pick the Open System, I'd try this:
Authentication = WPA-PSK
Encryption = TKIP
Key Format = Enter 8-63 ASCII characters
The password could be a phone number for example.

Edit: on my WFT I don't get the Open System option when I pick ad-hoc, so what I wrote above may be only for infrastructure networks. Here's my guess as to what the settings could be for the WFT-E1 ad-hoc setup:

Channel: Auto (if you can pick auto, if not, pick one. Depending on the wi-fi activity around you, changing this can mean less 'noise')
Encryption: None

If things work with these settings, you can go back to this point and try picking "WEP" encryption instead, pick Key index = 1, Key format = "10 hexadecimal chars", type in a 10 digit number and save the settings. Joining that network, would then ..if everything works as it should.. bring up a password dialog asking for the 10 digit number - and no username.


Save the settings and try joining the wft-ad-hoc network from your iPad.
When, or if, it joins the network, tap the blue button to the right of it and set up the static info to be:

IP address = 192.168.1.10
Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
Router = 192.168.1.1

And turn on Auto-join.

...I know you've probably been over this a thousand times, so I hope that perhaps the power saving setting is the culprit?

[Damo]

Hi TheBrew

First of all, can I just say thank you for all the help and advice you've given me the past few days, I really appreciate the time you've put in.

Your App, Shuttersnitch, is EXACTLY what photographers like myself want, a quick and easy way to check our exposure and sharpness, you keep the App simple, and it really shines because of that.

With my EyeFi card in my Digital Camcorder, it works a treat when taking still photos, I can wander all over the place and when I get back to my iPad all the photos are there waiting for me, top job !

My WFT.

I put your latest settings in with your advice about the sleep time, and exactly the same problem, it is unable to join the network, I was watching tv when doing it, so absentmindedly kept retrying, in my mind I had given up, so was really surprised when it suddenly connected ! I quickly went to the Static IP and put the other settings you suggested in, and switched Auto Login on. Went back and still connected, brill. Went to Shuttersnitch, which was running in the background, took a pic, nothing transferred, opened a new collection up and all new pics transferred faultlessly, but nothing that Id taken before. Thats fine, not too bothered. Lots of whoops and relieved sighs later, and after I'd taken around 15 shots of stuff around my living room, I decided that the real test would be when I switched it off. Switched it all off. Then put it all back on quickly, still connected, but again had to open a new collection to get pics to transfer. I can live with this.

Did another 15-20 shots, then decided to switch wifi off on the ilad so it 'forgot' the connection, and boy did it ! Was around 20 minutes of constantly asking to join the WFT network again before it would connect. Once connected was fine, even allowed the camera to go to sleep, woke it up and apart from having to start a new collection again, worked a dream once more.

Switched everything off again ! Wouldnt connect again, at all. Went through the settings and worked my way through the channels, trying 5 forced connections on each channel, until it finally connected on the third or fourth try on channel 11, and once again, apart from having to open a new collection, it worked perfectly.

This isnt quite there for me to try it at my shows/events, as I cant keep it all switched on for the whole day once connected, but doing some product photography for clients at home or in the studio, it will be worth the half hour or so of messing about to begin with.

Im not sure why its so difficult, it cant be the hardware or aerial, or the wifi signal, because when it connects, its a solid connection and works faultlessly, I really dont know, unless the software of the WFT is such old hat now, theyve been making these things since 2002, it just has difficulties with new products like the ipad. Like I said before, the guy I bought it from showed it me working with his macbook pro without any problems at all, it was all switched off when I got there, he just switched it all on and bang, it worked, which is why I went ahead and bought it.

How reliable is your WFT-E4 ? Would that fit my 5D mk1 ? If its more reliable and fits, then I will save my pennies and get one of those further down the line. I see my iPad and Shuttersnitch as a long term part of my workflow, maybe I will end up with a 5D mkIII one day that takes SD cards and go back to EyeFi, I just like the idea of the genuine Canon Transmitters as you would assume they would give rock solid reliabililty, apart from in this case :P.

Wish I knew what the actual problem was, maybe I could do something about it.

Anyway, here is a very rubbish video from my iphone of it working, when it did, and me sounding slightly pleased :P.

If anyone wants to know how my iPad is mounted on a light stand, I'm using a very cool iPad holder made by iKlip, excellent build quality, very sturdy plastic, not cheap, you can find them on eBay where I bought mine from, it was around £28.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkIiMwf98vA

Thanks again you have been a great help, and for anyone else having the same issues with a WFT-E1, the settings above are spot on, it may just take a while and a LOT of patience, to connect !

[TheBrew]

Some WFTs have issues - in ad-hoc mode - with the iPad 2 and iPad 1 (my guess is that it's the Broadcom chipset / driver they use for Wi-Fi).

However this issue is different from the one you're having - being unable to join the network.

The issue is that, after being connected and shooting some photos / having them transfer, the WFT suddenly can't connect to the iPad. Turning off the Wi-fi services on the iPad and turning them back on will let the WFT reconnect.
This is only a problem for some, and only on the iPad/iPad 2. No issues on iPods, iPhones, and The New iPad (which all have a different Broadcom Wi-fi chip, that's why I think the problem lies there).

There is, however, no issues when not using ad-hoc, but instead connecting to a regular infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

And just to exclude ShutterSnitch: this also fails even without SS installed on the device.

WHEN things are running, my experience is, that the WFT is the most rock solid solution. And I've had no issues with my WFT-E4II and iPad 3rd gen. ..but from what I read on Canon's site the E4II only works on the 5D Mark II.

Exiting the current collection and creating a new one should not be needed... The only difference I see is, that you're giving the WFT a little more time to connect and send the photo.
In the bottom of the ShutterSnitch settings, do you have "Allow background transfers" enabled? (if not, do that)

If speed is not your no. 1 priority, then yes, Eye-Fi transfers will give you less ad-hoc head-aches.
For me, the solution was to stick with my WFT and switch to the new iPad.

[Damo]

Yes, I have an iphone 4, and trying to connect with that is exactly the same as with the ipad.

When its working, with your new setup instructions, it works faultlessly and doesnt drop the connection, until I switch it all off, then again, it takes a while to connect, have even tried Airport Mode which basically switches off the 3g in case that is affecting things.

With the starting a new collection, it wont transfer until I do that, no matter how long I wait, if I look at the listening info, it sees the network and is listening, just not transferring, start a new collection, and transfers start straight away.

Just so you know, Im not saying its a problem with Shuttersnitch, all this appears to be down to my WFT.

My next camera upgrade will be the mkII, mkIII is still way to expensive and I dont particularly need its new features, although theyd be nice to have, so when I do get one I will get the WFT-E4 to go with it.

As regards the iPad 3, well I've upgraded for two years running lol, Apple can wait another year or so before I do it again ;).

At the moment, I'm just happy I can almost rely on getting it to connect everytime, even if it takes a while, couple days ago I wasnt in that position, so thanks again for your hard work :).

[TheBrew]

My pleasure ;)

Just an experiment: Instead of creating a new collection, try exiting the current collection and re-entering it. Does that help?

[Damo]

No, wouldnt transfer again until I started a new collection :S.

Its very odd, but that follows my life generally, nothing ever happens or works as it should !

I thought I would try it out at a field we rent, see if the lack of any wifi etc would allow it to connect any quicker, and it doesnt, so I now know its not an interference issue. Once connected though, and aerial fitted ! (something I ommitted to do first time round then wondered why my ipad was dropping the signal, which its never done once connected), it worked like a dream, leaving the ipad in my van and wandering around the field taking pics, the last couple were transferring over just as I got back to it, so Im well impressed with that.