Prusa MK4 and its network features going forward
Hi,
I really looked forward to upgrade my MKS3 to the MK4. One major reason were the newer 32 bit board and the integrated network features of the MK4. But since it turned out that the network speeds are super slow I kinda got turned off for spending almost 900 Euro to replace a perfectly fine working MK3 (since the upgrade alone already costs 600) and instead decided to get a RPi and use Octopi for now to gain the same functionality.
My question is: Did Prusa announce anything how they will proceed with that. Will there be a board revision that fixes the slow network speeds?
RE: Prusa MK4 and its network features going forward
I am running an MK4 firmware 4.7.0. The network is not slow, it is 2.4G and does well with real time feedback over the Wifi. I am uploading G code. deleting old G code and starting the print from a browser with PrusaLink. The file upload is what is not fast currently, but works well. Most have labelled it slow Wifi, but it is not the Wifi directly. Something about the Buddy board and the USB connection. For most files it is less than 1 minute to store to the USB. By the time that I check the printer is clear and ready, the file is ready to go. Large G Code files is where it may take a few minutes. You can upload files while the printer is running another print. You don't have to wait for the printer to be idle to upload G code files.
The MK4 needs the router to assign it the same IP address each time to make web browser login consistant. You login from a web browser via the IP address. This is normal for many Wifi applications. I have had to set or lock the IP addresses in my router for my printer-scanner, washer, dryer and other Wifi appliances.
The other day my Wifi to the MK4 had trouble. It had been working perfectly. I did a scan and found my immediate neighbors 2.4 ghz routers were now all on the same channel as my router. I switched my router to an un-used channel for my area and the Wifi is working great again. Not a problem with the MK4.
I don't know the status of the G Code file transfer speed up, I think we all would like that.
RE: Prusa MK4 and its network features going forward
I mean, there's no way to whitewash it: transfer speeds to all Buddy board type printers are dismal. You can argue that a minute is okay in the grand scheme of things but if the same file takes a second to send to the Prusalink-Raspi controlling my Mk3S, it's night and day.
From the dozens of threads here discussing the issue it seems the main (but not only) issue is the transfer of data to the USB stick. Which makes sense as the Mk3S uses the internal memory of the Pi. So as long as that isn't fixed, speeds will be dismal.
To be clear: I am using Prusalink and PrusaCnnect on my XL and Prusalink on my Minis and I'm okay with it (using Ethernet) but I still feel those transfer speed are an embarrassment for Prusa. Why they thought this was acceptable to release is beyond me.
RE: Prusa MK4 and its network features going forward
Totally agree. The WiFi speed on my MK4 is so slow I will use a RPi 4 with OctoPrint instead. How any serious HW vendor could think the current speeds are acceptable is beyond me. So far I'm OK-ish with the print speed upgrade from Mk3S to Mk4, but the rest feels like alpha and early beta to me.
Since Prusa seems to think quiet is good around these issues I'm getting rather worried about the way forward.
My order for a multi-tool XL is put on hold until I believe Prusa will manage to fix the issues, and also deliver on their promise of a draft shield and other add-ons for the XL.