Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed? - General discussion, announcements and releases

RE: Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed?

MrNerdHair — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:01:05 +0000

It's not that the MK4's processor is too weak; it's actually quite respectable. The problem is that the WiFi port is connected to a single serial UART line which is a bottleneck even when it's working at full speed (4.6 Mbps). Originally the link speed was turned down to 1 Mbps due to some issues in the ESP8266 firmware causing corrupted data at higher rates, but this was later turned back up to full speed.

RE: Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed?

Woody — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:55:53 +0000

I'm transferring my files via Wifi straight from Prusaslicer 2.8.0, it is noticeably faster than before the upgrade

RE: Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed?

Scraz — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:05:09 +0000

Can you clarify how you're transferring files? From the slicer, Prusa Link, or Prusa Connect?

RE: Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed?

oftherocks — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:53:00 +0000

Jeesh, hope they improve the speed of wireless from Connect to the printer. At least upload speed to Connect is fast.

RE: Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed?

bkerler — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:52:11 +0000

Sorry meant sw bug related to hw registers :)

RE:

bkerler — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:39:11 +0000

There is a hw bug in the firmware which leads to half-duplex mode instead of duplex mode on the ethernet interface. I wrote a PR to fix it and it is being tested currently by Prusa. I assume this will improve especially large gcode transfers.

RE:

Woody — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:11:02 +0000

Now that I upgraded my MK4 to MK4S i can confirm that the tranfer speeds are much faster. It may not be perfect, but its faster than it was, and it will basically never bother you. When I am in the office I upload my gcode to the machine and by the time I go check it out in the garage, everything is allready moving.

RE: Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed?

Steve — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:59:08 +0000

I have no problem with the transfer speeds for my MK4. However, I use Octoprint and won't touch the Prusa stuff. I intend to use Octoprint with the MK4->MK4S upgrade. Same Octoprint I used with the MK3/S.

I put a 9" touchscreen on my Octoprint box so I can control the printer via Octoprint. Works great.

RE:

Rainer — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 10:49:30 +0000

It is not due to the WiFi module.
In contrast to Klipper or a Raspberry running Linux, the MK4 has a processor that is too weak.
Since everything runs directly in the processor, it does not need this power and would only require more power on a permanent basis.

If you use Prusa connect, the Gcodec is first streamed to the cloud and then to your printer. Even if there are interruptions, the stream continues afterwards.
If the interruptions in your WiFi are so long that printing cannot continue, your network is more likely the problem.

The connection for the hacker board and the accerolomter is available on the new module. That is why it is being replaced.

RE: Does MK4S improve LAN/WiFi xfer speed?

Scraz — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 02:23:58 +0000

I was hoping to see an answer from someone who's used the MK4S.

As far as I'm aware there was nothing that could be done about the transfer speeds on the MK4... nothing they could address in software/firmware anyway. While BGCODE helps, it doesn't resolve the root problem. I'd like to just be able to transfer files over wifi, but the time matters for me. Interference is unpredictable where I'm at, and starting the print before the whole file has been transferred isn't helpful. So I've had to transfer files the old way... USB stick since running an ethernet cable isn't possible with my setup.

They aren't listing faster WiFi transfers in the marketing... and if it was faster, you'd think they'd advertise *every* improvement. So I went looking for information. In the assembly instructions for the MK4S there's a photo of the new module and it's a bit too fuzzy for me to be 100% sure, but it looks like it's ESP-WROOM-02D. So I looked up the specs and compared them to the wifi module for the MK4 and it looks like the new one is mostly identical... with a slightly lower power output than the one that came with the MK4. With no power consumption differences (meaning it's not more efficient), the one rating for PA output power at 72.2 Mbps was 13 compared to the same metric for the ESP-01S on the MK4 which is rated at 15.5. Roughly 19% less powerful. This is my first time looking at this kind of datasheet though so take my interpretation with a grain of salt. It makes me wonder why they would include it in the upgrade kit if it's essentially the same, but less powerful.