Hey everyone! I manage the access control system at a school, and we've been struggling with connection issues for our equipment for the past eight months. I'm trying to figure out what might be causing these inconsistencies. I have access to an onsite PC that's online 24/7, so I'm hoping to monitor the network more closely.
Here's what I'm working with:
- Comcast 500 Mbps/35 Mbps (previously 300 Mbps/25 Mbps)
- Netgear PR60X router
- Netgear GS728TPv2 POE Switch
- Axis A8105-LE Doorbell phone
- My2N Indoor Compact answering unit
- Axis A1601 Door controller
**Symptoms:** When someone rings the doorbell, sometimes the My2N unit responds by ringing and lighting up, allowing us to unlock the door. Other times, the display remains dark and unresponsive.
**What I've tried:**
- Replaced the doorbell
- Replaced the answering unit
- Rewired with Cat 6 cabling
**Current thoughts:**
- Consider replacing the switch
- Consider replacing the door controller
- Consider bypassing 2N cloud/internet connectivity with a direct SIP connection.
I've talked to our security team, and they suspect the issue might be network-related. How can I confirm or rule out this theory? Any advice on monitoring or troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
You might want to try PRTG for monitoring the device and your internet connection. The free version has up to 100 sensors and should help you monitor everything under the same roof more effectively. Make sure this setup is done behind the firewall, not remotely. It could pinpoint issues like failing devices or IP conflicts. If you have a smart switch, consider sending SNMP results to check logs during an outage.
Double-check that your station connects through My2N and not through a local setup. Look at your firewall or DNS filter logs to see if My2N communications are blocked. If you suspect a connection issue, try hooking up a new PoE switch and connect the intercom and station to it for troubleshooting.
Why not reach out to your access control vendor? They can provide specifics on network requirements for each device. Guessing what to replace can lead to wasting cash. Review logs and do some packet captures to find the root of the issue. Also, just to clarify - is the device trying to reach the internet at all? It’s better to know if it’s local traffic you’re dealing with.
I suggest setting up Wireshark to monitor network traffic. Running a few tests can help you see if anything is being blocked or if there's unusual traffic behavior. This will give you better insights into what’s happening when you face those connection dropouts.
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