Problem
We used Siri with our 20 LIFX globes for 3 years without any trouble; however, we became annoyed that our original Technicolor TG-789 modem from iiNet was having Wi-Fi ‘brown-outs’. What is a Wi-Fi brown-out? The VDSL connection remains stable, Ethernet connected devices have Internet but Wi-Fi devices stop for 4secs-4mins, which results in YouTube and Netflix saying the connection is lost. It comes on automatically after it has sorted itself out.
So we bought a D-Link DSL-2888A modem in January this year and it never has Wi-Fi brown-outs so we fixed that problem. However, when Wi-Fi on the modem starts fresh, either because the modem has been restarted or the Wi-Fi is turned off and on in the settings page, then Siri can see and use the LIFX globes but only for 30-45 seconds. After then, the LIFX globes start to go offline for Siri, although the LIFX app can still see and use them. I tried countless times to reset globes and re-add them to the LIFX account, then reset them and add them to HomeKit first only to find they still disappear after 30-45 seconds.
After 6 months of using the new D-Link modem but not having Siri, we missed the Siri voice command functionality so I swapped the modem back to the TG-789 modem. Siri works perfectly again without fail day after day, although the modem still has Wi-Fi brown-outs. Again, Wi-Fi brown-outs do not occur with the new D-Link modem. So we either have brown-outs on the TG-789 or no Siri+LIFX on the D-Link modem. By the way, Siri works perfectly well on the D-Link modem on all our watches, phones and HomePods. Only the combination of Siri (all devices) + LIFX is the problem.
It turned out that the only difference between Siri+LIFX working and not working was the modem.
Investigation
To further investigate, I scoured through both modems’ settings pages and made a list of the settings. I was wondering whether anyone here might be able to see a setting that would cause the D-Link modem to prevent Siri and LIFX from working together after 30-45 seconds. The very odd thing is, as I’ve mentioned, within the first 30-45 seconds, Siri and LIFX get along perfectly well and can control everything by voice. What would make Siri think everything has gone offline afte 30-45 seconds? This only happens consistently with the D-Link modem. The Technicolor model does not have this problem and even after 6 months, its reconnection works with Siri and LIFX again without fail.
Question
Does anyone have any idea what would make the D-Link modem work for Siri+LIFX for 30-45 seconds and then for Siri to see LIFX globes go offline, even though the LIFX app can still control the LIFX globes? Is there a specific modem setting that anyone knows of? Appreciate any help!
Supporting files/visuals
Links to two files will help understand the setup: