So Pi4->Pi5 is not as dramatic as Pi3 -> Pi5, but it's still a notable change.

There's a new OS as well, with a new desktop system. All very smooth. But the required amperage of the supply is duly increased (as is the watts a dissipated heat).

Which makes me think: one thing you might check by the way: does your power supply give enough amps for the Pi? For a Pi 4 you need about 3 amps capacity to be on the safe side (ie 15W, as it's a 5V supply)

Update, now I CAN connect via a wired Ethernet connection, though still not with a WiFi connection. Does the Pi have a WiFi chip that could have gone bad? The pattern in this ordeal is that with two different routers I can SOMETIMES connect with a wired Ethernet connection, but have not been able to connect with a WiFi connection.

I am now about to try with a newly flashed 1.8 microSD card.

>> I am now about to try with a newly flashed 1.8 microSD card.

And again, this, too, fails with the WiFi connection to the Pi, succeeds with the Ethernet connection to the Pi. (The new 1.8 screen is lovely).

There is nothing wrong with my router. My computer is connected to it via WiFi and the Pi is even closer to the router than the computer is.

Looking more and more like I need to try a new piece of Pi.

Go for it ! The Pi 5 is a nice machine and you can always find a use t=fir the pi 4 even if it only works with Ethernet (eg a WeeWX server, an INDI AllSky server, etc)

I think I will! There's just too much flakiness here. No matter what I do, the WiFi connection never works and the Ethernet connection sometimes works.

I also tried a different power supply in response to your last post. The earlier tests were done with the AC adapter. But my power supply didn't work any better nor did I expect it to.

Hey Steve,

When you say it doesn't respond when on wifi, are you attached to the access point it makes? Or do you have the pi connected to your router WiFi network?

In the first scenario, are you using the astroarch.local address? If so it won't work likely

You can still try to use the raw IP to have a double check.
maybe when on WiFi bonjour doesn't broadcast for some obscure reasons, but if it is ok the network and port 8080 and 5900 are open on that IP it should be working

Steve,
You may consider, instead of Pi, to go with a mini PC path.
I ditched my both Pi4 in favor of Mele Quieter 3Q.
The power consumption is about the same if not better.
But Mele is so much more potent! Not expensive either.

You would have to buy Stellarmate X OS for it though.
(Replaces Mele's Windows).
Well worth it.
Or install some flavor of Linux and astroarch on it.

I have two of them - one at home location, one for travel.

hey Max, just FYI - AstroArch packages work very well on PC/mini PC and people use it wit no issues, additionally, you may pick few distros.

there is no hard need to switch OS

Mattia,
Yes. Thanks. I am aware of this.
I currently am sticking with Stellarmate as it works very well for me.
AstroArch I am eventually going to try.

Yes, wasn't a suggestion for you to switch, was just referring to the combo minipc + stellarmate you suggested.

There is plenty of alternatives to run astro software on mini pc (including astroarch) and wanted to state that very clearly

Dear Steve,

I am not sure if I understand your setup correctly, but if your PC is connected to your router WiFi then it will not be able to connect it to the Pi unless you configure your Pi to connect to your router. By default it creates it own access point and will not automatically connect to your router. It might be better to switch off your router and try to connect directly to the Pi WiFi. Then you can change the network settings on the Pi to connect to your router. Hope this helps.

Cheers

Okay, this is not a newbie learning curve mistake. I’ve been through all that. This setup was working until it stopped working. Perhaps indicating a hardware failure.

At first, as I learned, you have to go through the hotspot because the system doesn’t know about your LAN. Once you get in you set up on the pi to use your LAN. After that it’s a simple WiFi connection which just works - until- for some reason, it doesn’t.

That is my situation. Now,however, the only way I can connect to the Pi (running AstroArch) is by running Ethernet cable from Router to Pi. This is not, obviously, my preferred setup. Connecting by Wi-Fi fails both through the hotspot or through the router network.

And so, I’ve bought a new Pi (5) with aluminum case. I think this will work.