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Activation and Pairing Troubleshooting

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Semso Sehic
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Getting the blocks activated and paired is crucial to using the Kitsi Platform. Once activated and paired, the use of the blocks is quite straight forward. We also understand that not being able to activate or pair can be a stressful situation, especially if you have a classroom waiting for your every word. That's why we've created this troubleshooting guide for common mishaps or problems to help ease the process of activation and pairing.

Since the Bluetooth Block doesn't require activation, refer to the pairing troubleshooting guide only. 

Activation

Can't see WiFi Block in the activation assistant 

During activation, one of the most common problems is not being able to find the WiFi block in the activation assistant. This can be caused by a number of either local and/or environmental factors, please go through the following list to see if any of them help:

  • Double check that your WiFi block is blinking quickly and in activation mode. If it isn't, it might already be activated, and as such, you will not be able to find it for activation. 
    • If a block is already activated on a WiFi network, it will not be deactivated unless it is either factory reset from the Kitsunei Creator, or if it is unable to find the network it was previously activated on. 
    • If you are wanting to switch networks, use the properties panel of the WiFi block to first deactivate it, removing it from the current network. Next activate it on the new network. 
  • Try keep clicking 'Search Again' in the Activation Assistant.
  • Move your WiFi block closer to your computer.
  • In area with a large amount of WiFi signals or close to a WiFi router, sometimes your computer will not be able to find your WiFi block due to interference. Try moving to an area with low WiFi interference or away from the WiFi router, and repeat the activation process.

My network doesn't appear in the activation assistant list

When trying to join a network, sometimes you will not be able to find your WiFi signal from the dropdown if you are in a area with a large number of WiFi signal, please go through the following list to see if any of them help:

  • Click on the refresh icon next to the dropdown, and see if you WiFi signal appears. This might require a few attempts.
  • In area with large amounts of WiFi signals or close to a WiFi router, sometimes your computer will not be able to find your WiFi network due to interference. Try moving to an area with low WiFi interference or away from the WiFi router, and repeat the activation process.
  • If your WiFi network is a 5GHz network, you will not be able to find it, the WiFi block can only connect to 2.4GHz WiFi networks. Most routers have a 2.4 and 5GHz networks, so make you are connecting to the 2.4GHz network.
  • If you are connecting to a personal hotspot, make sure you are connecting to the correct hotspot. By default, all iPhone hotspots are named iPhone, so in a room full of iPhones, this can be confusing knowing which one is yours. In this instance, the easiest way is to name your iPhone a different name in the General > About > Name section in Settings. Now, your hotspot name should be whatever you named it.
  • If you are connected to an enterprise WiFi network spanning multiple routers, you will not be able to activate your WiFi block to these networks. Be aware that at the moment only WPA2-Personal network security is supported.

Pairing

After you have activated your WiFi block, the next step is pairing with the Creator. But here, you might also run into a few mishaps or problems. 

Typed in number but doesn't pair

  • Even if your WiFi block is activated, if your computer is connected to a different WiFi network, you won't be able to pair your WiFi block with your Creator.
    • Make sure your computer is connected to the same WiFi network that your WiFi block is connected to.
  • Check that your LED Matrix is upright. Depending on your orientation, you might mistake strobogrammatic numbers for one another. Upright orientation is when the power inlet power (where you plug your micro-usb cable into) is face towards you, and the coloured corners are in the top left.
  • The WiFi block works best when it is closest to your computer. Although you can pair your WiFi block if your computer is far away, the success rate of pairing reduces with length from computer. It is recommeded to always pair your blocks near your computer, and then if required, you can move your blocks away from your computer AFTER pairings.

As you get more habituated with using the blocks, you will naturally try to cut corners. As a minimum it is suggested you always have power, wifi and LED blocks connected for pairing. The LED Matrix is ultimately the best visual indicator that your block is in pairing mode. 

LED Matrix doesn't display pairing numbers

  • If after connecting power to your stack, if the LED Matrix is unresponsive, sometimes removing and re-attaching the LED Matrix will reveal your pairing number. The pins between blocks sometimes do not connect because of dirt or loss contact, thereby not connecting to the other blocks. Removing and reconnecting is often the easiest way to alleviate this.