robot keeps losing wifi connection to the app, have to reboot it constantly.

Diagnosis

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra utilizes a dedicated 2.4GHz wireless module for communication. Connection drops typically occur due to "Band Steering" or "Smart Connect" features on modern dual-band routers (WiFi 6/6E). These features attempt to force the robot onto the faster 5GHz band; however, because the S8 Pro Ultra hardware cannot physically communicate on 5GHz, the handshake fails, and the robot drops the connection entirely. This manifests as the robot appearing "Offline" in the app while the physical unit remains powered on and functioning. Another common root cause is IP address exhaustion or DHCP lease conflicts. When the robot enters a "deep sleep" mode to save battery, the router may reassign its internal IP address to another device. When the S8 Pro Ultra wakes up, it attempts to communicate using an outdated IP, resulting in a timeout. You can confirm this by checking your router's client list; if the robot's MAC address is listed but the status is "Inactive" or "Disconnected" while the robot is actively cleaning, you have a network assignment issue.

How to Fix It

To permanently stabilize the connection, you must isolate the 2.4GHz band and assign a static identity to the vacuum. Follow these exact steps:

1. Access your router's admin panel (typically 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) via a web browser.
2. Navigate to Wireless Settings and locate the "Smart Connect" or "Band Steering" toggle. Switch this to OFF.
3. Rename your SSIDs so they are distinct. For example, name your 5GHz network "Home_5G" and your 2.4GHz network "Home_2G". This prevents the robot from attempting to join the wrong band.
4. Set the 2.4GHz security mode specifically to WPA2-PSK (AES). Avoid "WPA3" or "WPA2/WPA3 Mixed Mode," as the S8 Pro Ultra's network card often struggles with the newer handshake protocols.
5. Find the DHCP Static IP or Address Reservation section in your router settings. Locate the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra in the device list and assign it a permanent IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.150) based on its MAC address.
6. Perform a hard reset on the robot: Press and hold the Power and Home buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds until you hear the voice prompt.
7. Open the Roborock app, delete the existing device, and perform a fresh setup using only the newly renamed "Home_2G" network.

If That Didn't Work

• Change the 2.4GHz Channel: Interference from neighboring networks or microwaves can knock the robot offline. Log into your router and change the 2.4GHz channel from "Auto" to a fixed channel—specifically 1, 6, or 11. These are the most stable non-overlapping channels for IoT devices.
• Adjust Firewall/DNS Settings: Some aggressive router firewalls block the specific ports Roborock uses to communicate with its cloud servers. Try changing your router's DNS settings to Google's Public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) to ensure the robot can consistently reach the authentication servers.
• Install a Powerline Adapter or Mesh Node: If the robot loses connection specifically when it reaches a certain room, you have a "dead zone." Because the S8 Pro Ultra's antenna is shielded by the chassis, it has lower penetration than a smartphone. Place a Wi-Fi extender or a Mesh node (like Eero or Orbi) halfway between the router and the robot's docking station.
• Disable "Fast Roaming" (802.11r): If you use a Mesh system, disable "Fast Roaming" or "802.11k/v/r" in the advanced wireless settings. These protocols are designed for mobile phones but often cause "disconnect-reconnect loops" with stationary IoT devices like vacuum cleaners.

Heads Up

• Avoid Special Characters: Ensure your Wi-Fi password and SSID contain only alphanumeric characters. Symbols like @, #, or ! can occasionally cause authentication failures during the handshake process on the S8 series.
• Dock Placement: Ensure the Ultra Dock is placed on a flat surface with at least 0.5 meters of clearance on both sides. Placing the dock inside a cabinet or behind a heavy metal appliance can significantly degrade the signal strength for the robot when it is charging.
• Firmware Sync: Always check for firmware updates immediately after a successful reconnection. Roborock frequently releases "Network Stability" patches that specifically address connectivity bugs with newer WiFi 6 routers.