Overview

A radio timeout occurs when the FieldPrinter loses communication with the laser tracker radio. This prevents stationing, verification, or printing from continuing. In most cases, the issue is related to cabling, power, or radio signal quality and can be resolved quickly in the field.

Symptoms / What You’ll See

• The Dusty app displays a radio timeout or connection error.
• Stationing or verification will not complete.
• Printing pauses or cannot be started.
• The radio status indicator does not turn green.

Why This Happens

• Loose or damaged Ethernet or power cables between the tracker and radio.
• The radio or tracker has lost power or did not boot correctly.
• Interference, distance, or obstructions are degrading the radio signal.

How to Fix or Prevent

1. Check and reseat all radio connections
   • Unplug and firmly reconnect the Ethernet cable between the tracker controller and the radio.
   • Ensure the Ethernet connector is inserted right side up and fully seated before locking it in place.
   • Verify the radio power cable is fully seated.
   • If available, swap the Ethernet cable to rule out a bad cable.
2. Power-cycle the radio and tracker
   • Turn off the radio and the tracker controller.
   • Wait at least 10 seconds.
   • Power the tracker back on first and allow it to fully boot.
   • Power the radio back on and reconnect from the Dusty app.
3. Improve radio placement and signal conditions
   • Move the tracker tripod to a location with clearer line of sight to the print area.
   • Keep the radio mounted securely and flush to the tripod leg.
   • Avoid placing the tracker near large metal objects, active machinery, or heavy vibration zones.

Best Practices

• Secure cables before powering on to prevent intermittent disconnects.
• Keep spare Ethernet cables onsite for quick isolation of cable-related issues.
• Station within a reasonable range of the print area; extreme distance will not be resolved by retries.
• Do not continue printing without a stable radio connection. Re-stationing or restarting the app alone will not fix a physical connection issue.

Content Tags
Radio timeout, tracker connection, FieldPrinter troubleshooting, radio setup, Dusty app errors, jobsite connectivity

Labels
radio_timeout, tracker_radio_issue, connectivity_troubleshooting, fieldprinter_setup, hardware_connection

Internal Notes (Staff Only)

• This article should be linked from general Stationing and Connectivity troubleshooting flows.
• Most radio timeout cases are resolved by cable reseating or power-cycling; replacement hardware is rarely required.