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WiFi & Networking

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WiFi requirements

  • 2.4 GHz — ArchAI does not support 5 GHz-only networks. If your router is dual-band, ArchAI will prefer 2.4 GHz automatically.
  • WPA/WPA2/WPA3 personal — standard home network security. Enterprise networks (802.1X) are not supported.
  • No captive portal — hotel and guest WiFi that shows a login page in a browser won't work. ArchAI has no browser to accept terms.
  • Outbound HTTPS — ArchAI talks to AWS. Networks that block arbitrary outbound HTTPS (some workplaces, schools) will break it.

Device won't connect

When pairing finishes but the device never gets online:

  • Verify the password by connecting your iPhone to the same SSID with the same password. Phones are much louder about wrong passwords than IoT devices.
  • Your router might be at range limit. Try moving the device within 15 feet of the router for the first boot, then put it where you want it.
  • Check the router's admin page for a MAC address allowlist. If one is on, add the ArchAI device's MAC (shown on the provisioning screen as part of the device ID).
  • Reboot the router. Sometimes DHCP just needs a kick.

Switching to a new WiFi network

The device stores credentials in non-volatile memory, so it remembers one network at a time. To switch:

  1. Power off the device.
  2. Press and hold the press-to-talk button while powering back on.
  3. Release when the QR code appears — this clears saved WiFi.
  4. Re-pair from the ArchAI app using the new network's SSID and password.

Offline behavior

ArchAI needs internet to talk to the AI. When offline:

  • Press-to-talk will fail and the device will return to idle. No queued responses.
  • The device reconnects automatically when WiFi is restored.
  • Firmware updates pushed while offline are delivered on the next successful connection — no need to re-push.

Captive portals (hotels, cafes)

ArchAI can't accept terms-of-service pages. Workarounds:

  • Use your phone's personal hotspot instead — ArchAI connects like a regular WiFi device.
  • Some hotels let you register a device's MAC address at the front desk, bypassing the portal.

Still stuck?

Email support@archaidevice.com with your router's model and what you see on the device screen.