Guide recovery for Windows Wireless Adapter dropouts

Co-authored-by: SAPHID <saphid@users.noreply.github.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+- Add recovery steps to the Windows Wireless Adapter doctor for streams that
+  drop as they start and dongles that will not reconnect. Compare exact PnP IDs
+  and test one connection condition at a time. In-app disable/re-enable remains
+  deferred until an active Steam adapter instance can be identified safely.
+  [Guide and limits](docs/windows-wireless-doctor.md).
+
+- Add an explicit host window-switch button to whole-display panels: Alt-Tab
+  on Windows and Command-Tab on macOS. Single-window panels keep their own
+  source, so the button is hidden there.
+
 - Enable the in-app OBS source Start/Stop control on Windows. A control pipe
   lets the Python relay close its SSH child on Stop, app quit or parent exit;
   add a short [Discord guide](docs/streaming-to-discord.md).

app/package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "frame-control",
-  "version": "0.4.23",
+  "version": "0.4.24",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "frame-control",
-      "version": "0.4.23",
+      "version": "0.4.24",
       "license": "MIT",
       "devDependencies": {
         "electron": "^44.4.5",

app/package.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "frame-control",
   "productName": "Frame Control",
-  "version": "0.4.23",
+  "version": "0.4.24",
   "description": "Desktop app for managing a Valve Steam Frame over SSH",
   "private": true,
   "main": "main.js",

docs/mac-in-headset.md

@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ the Mac's own keyboard. Find it under **Tools → Mac in the headset** (macOS
 only). On Windows there's an experimental port,
 [PC in the headset](pc-in-headset.md).
 
+On a **whole Mac display** panel, click **Switch Mac app (⌘Tab)** to send one
+Command-Tab chord to the Mac. The button is absent from single-window panels;
+those already keep their own source. It requires the same Mac Accessibility
+permission as other viewer keyboard input. The chord and button have automated
+checks, but a worn-headset click has not been verified.
+
 The confidence labels are the same as in [ssh.md](ssh.md).
 
 ## Why this design

docs/pc-in-headset.md

@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ whole screens. Place the panel with the dashboard's Float
 in World, Move and Size, point and click with the laser, scroll with the
 thumbstick, and type on the PC's keyboard.
 
+On a whole-screen panel, click **Switch PC window (Alt+Tab)** to switch the
+foreground Windows window. It sends one explicit Alt-Tab chord through the
+viewer's existing input channel. The button is absent from single-window panels
+when a WGC-enabled build supports them. A real Windows/Frame button click has
+not been verified; use the PC keyboard if focus does not move as expected.
+
 **It's experimental.** A Windows 11 VM has captured its real desktop with
 Desktop Duplication and encoded it with Media Foundation and JPEG. Physical PCs,
 hardware encoding and physical laser input remain unverified. See

docs/windows-wireless-doctor.md

@@ -48,6 +48,36 @@ this report. A future disable feature needs a verified Steam adapter/session
 mapping, fresh protection for primary/active instances, explicit confirmation
 for one exact instance, and a tested recovery path that re-enables that same ID.
 
+## When a stream drops immediately or the adapter will not reconnect
+
+Read PC adapters **before** starting a stream, then refresh immediately after a
+drop. Compare the *exact* PnP instance IDs, presence and problem codes. Note
+whether the PC's own Wi-Fi drops too. A new `#2` name is not proof that this
+instance caused the failure. Keep the time of the drop and the two snapshots
+for Steam Support; the doctor does not save or upload them.
+
+To narrow a drop at stream start, try one condition at a time: wired PC
+networking instead of PC Wi-Fi, wired headphones instead of 2.4 GHz audio, and
+spacing the USB radio dongles apart. Recheck the stream after each change. The
+PC Wi-Fi channel in this report is not the Steam dongle's channel, so a matching
+or different number does not establish interference.
+
+If the adapter will not reconnect, stop the failed stream and close Steam's
+streaming session before touching its USB connection. Refresh the inventory. If
+the dongle is absent, reconnect it once at the PC, understanding that this
+interrupts any connection using it, then refresh again. If the **same exact**
+PnP instance now reports problem code 22 (disabled), review that instance in
+Windows Device Manager and its normal enable action. Do not enable or disable a
+different numbered instance by guesswork. For a missing device or another
+problem code, record the before/after ID and code for Steam Support; do not
+guess a driver or change security settings.
+
+These are user-controlled checks, not an automatic repair. We have no physical
+Steam Wireless Adapter dropout to reproduce and no verified mapping from a
+Wi-Fi Direct virtual instance to Steam's active session. An in-app disable and
+re-enable control remains deferred until that mapping and a recovery path are
+tested on real hardware.
+
 ## Checking a 2.4 GHz audio conflict
 
 [Deko's report](https://x.com/DekoDrak/status/2113412044644897023)

tests/page/window_switch.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { dirname, join } from 'node:path';
+import vm from 'node:vm';
+
+const root = join(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), '..', '..');
+const page = readFileSync(join(root, 'ui', 'mac-view.html'), 'utf8');
+const match = page.match(/function windowSwitchEvents\(hostName\) \{[\s\S]*?\n\}/);
+assert.ok(match, 'viewer exposes a bounded host-specific switch sequence');
+const events = vm.runInNewContext(`(${match[0]})`);
+for (const [host, modifier, mod] of [
+  ['mac', 'MetaLeft', 'meta'], ['windows', 'AltLeft', 'alt'],
+]) {
+  const sequence = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(events(host)));
+  assert.deepEqual(sequence.map(x => [x.e, x.code]),
+    [['down', modifier], ['down', 'Tab'], ['up', 'Tab'], ['up', modifier]]);
+  assert.deepEqual(sequence[1].mods, [mod]);
+  assert.deepEqual(sequence[2].mods, [mod]);
+}
+assert.deepEqual(JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(events('linux'))), []);
+assert.match(page, /switchButton\.hidden = !src\.startsWith\("display:"\)/);
+console.log('window switch sequences passed');

tests/test_window_switch.py

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+"""The viewer sends one explicit native window-switch chord per click."""
+from pathlib import Path
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import unittest
+
+
+class WindowSwitch(unittest.TestCase):
+    @unittest.skipUnless(shutil.which('node'), 'Node is required for the viewer script check')
+    def test_host_chords_and_display_only_guard(self):
+        script = Path(__file__).parent / 'page' / 'window_switch.mjs'
+        result = subprocess.run(['node', str(script)], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=15)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stdout + result.stderr)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()

ui/frame_macview.py

@@ -411,7 +411,8 @@ class MacView:
         # A single-use ticket for this source, not Frame Control's key: the URL
         # is visible in the Frame's process list.
         ticket = self.call("/ticket", method="POST", src=src)["ticket"]
-        params = {"src": src, "t": ticket, "tag": tag, "codec": q["codec"], "max": q["max"], "fps": q["fps"],
+        params = {"src": src, "t": ticket, "tag": tag, "host": self.host,
+                  "codec": q["codec"], "max": q["max"], "fps": q["fps"],
                   "bpp": q["bpp"]}
         url = f"http://127.0.0.1:{self.remote_port}/view?{urlencode(params)}"
         w, h = fit(width or 1280, height or 720)

ui/index.html

@@ -1452,6 +1452,14 @@
     <p>A Razer or other 2.4 GHz audio dongle can share spectrum with Wi-Fi. This inventory cannot measure interference, detect the audio dongle's channel or prove what caused a dropout or PC shutdown.</p>
     <p>Try wired headphones briefly and compare. Space USB radio dongles apart with an extension lead; if your PC uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, compare Ethernet or an existing 5/6 GHz network. Change one thing at a time and keep notes. No network or security settings are changed here.</p>
   </div>
+  <div class="card" style="margin-top:16px"><h3>If streaming drops as it starts</h3>
+    <p>Read PC adapters before starting, then refresh immediately after a drop. Compare exact PnP instance IDs, presence and problem codes; a new numbered name alone does not identify a fault. Note whether the PC's own Wi-Fi also drops.</p>
+    <p>Retry once with wired PC networking or wired audio if available, then with the radio dongles spaced apart. Change one condition at a time. The PC Wi-Fi channel shown above is not the Steam dongle channel, and this check cannot prove RF interference.</p>
+  </div>
+  <div class="card" style="margin-top:16px"><h3>If the adapter will not reconnect</h3>
+    <p>Stop the failed stream, close Steam's streaming session, and check that the adapter still appears in the refreshed PC snapshot. If it is absent, reconnect the USB dongle once at the PC and read again; this will interrupt any connection using it.</p>
+    <p>If the same exact PnP instance shows problem code 22 (disabled), use Windows Device Manager to review that instance and its enable action. Do not enable or disable a different numbered instance by guesswork. If it stays missing or reports another problem code, keep the before/after IDs and error for Steam Support. Frame Control does not change the driver, radio or network settings.</p>
+  </div>
 </section>
 
 <section class="panel" id="powerReport">

ui/mac-view.html

@@ -18,10 +18,16 @@
   #note[hidden] { display: block; opacity: 0; }
   #hud { position: fixed; left: 8px; top: 8px; font: 12px/1.35 ui-monospace, monospace; color: #dfe;
          background: rgba(0,0,0,.72); padding: 6px 9px; border-radius: 6px; pointer-events: none; white-space: pre; }
+  #switchWindow { position: fixed; right: 12px; bottom: 12px; z-index: 2; min-height: 44px;
+          padding: 8px 14px; border: 1px solid #a8c8d9; border-radius: 7px;
+          background: rgba(19,35,48,.9); color: #fff; font: 15px system-ui, sans-serif; cursor: pointer; }
+  #switchWindow:focus-visible { outline: 3px solid #66c0f4; outline-offset: 3px; }
+  #switchWindow:disabled { opacity: .5; cursor: default; }
 </style>
 </head>
 <body>
 <canvas id="c" width="16" height="9"></canvas>
+<button id="switchWindow" type="button" hidden>Switch window</button>
 <div id="note">Connecting to your computer…</div>
 <div id="hud" hidden></div>
 <script>
@@ -29,10 +35,14 @@
 const q = new URLSearchParams(location.search);
 // t: a single-use ticket from Frame Control. After the first connection the
 // Mac sends a reconnect key, kept only in memory.
-const src = q.get("src") || "test", ticket = q.get("t") || "", tag = q.get("tag") || "";
+const src = q.get("src") || "test", ticket = q.get("t") || "", tag = q.get("tag") || "", host = q.get("host") || "";
+document.title = host === "windows" ? "PC" : "Mac";
 let reconnectKey = "";
 const c = document.getElementById("c"), ctx = c.getContext("2d", { alpha: false, desynchronized: true });
 const note = document.getElementById("note");
+const switchButton = document.getElementById("switchWindow");
+switchButton.hidden = !src.startsWith("display:") || !["mac", "windows"].includes(host);
+if (!switchButton.hidden) switchButton.textContent = host === "mac" ? "Switch Mac app (⌘Tab)" : "Switch PC window (Alt+Tab)";
 // Counters for Frame Control's tests (read over DevTools).
 const stats = window.stats = { frames: 0, keyFrames: 0, bytes: 0, dropped: 0, codec: "", errors: [], info: null };
 
@@ -127,6 +137,29 @@ function show(text, ms) {
 }
 
 function send(obj) { if (ws && ws.readyState === 1) ws.send(JSON.stringify(obj)); }
+function windowSwitchEvents(hostName) {
+  const code = hostName === "mac" ? "MetaLeft" : hostName === "windows" ? "AltLeft" : "";
+  if (!code) return [];
+  const key = hostName === "mac" ? "Meta" : "Alt", mod = hostName === "mac" ? "meta" : "alt";
+  return [
+    { t: "k", e: "down", code, key, mods: [] },
+    { t: "k", e: "down", code: "Tab", key: "Tab", mods: [mod] },
+    { t: "k", e: "up", code: "Tab", key: "Tab", mods: [mod] },
+    { t: "k", e: "up", code, key, mods: [] },
+  ];
+}
+switchButton.addEventListener("click", () => {
+  if (!ws || ws.readyState !== 1) return show("Connect to your computer before switching windows.", 4000);
+  const events = windowSwitchEvents(host);
+  if (!events.length) return;
+  switchButton.disabled = true;
+  send(stamp(events[0]));
+  setTimeout(() => {
+    send(stamp(events[1]));
+    send(events[2]);
+    setTimeout(() => { send(events[3]); switchButton.disabled = false; }, 60);
+  }, 40);
+});
 let lastKeyAsk = 0;
 function askKeyFrame() {
   const now = performance.now();
@@ -321,6 +354,7 @@ function flushMove() {
   pendingMove = null;
 }
 addEventListener("pointermove", e => {
+  if (e.target === switchButton) return;
   const p = toPicture(e);
   if (!p.inside && !e.buttons) return;
   pendingMove = { t: "m", e: "move", x: p.x, y: p.y };
@@ -331,6 +365,7 @@ addEventListener("pointermove", e => {
   setTimeout(flushMove, wait);
 });
 addEventListener("pointerdown", e => {
+  if (e.target === switchButton) return;
   const p = toPicture(e);
   if (!p.inside) return;
   if (e.pointerId !== undefined) try { c.setPointerCapture(e.pointerId); } catch (err) {}
@@ -339,6 +374,7 @@ addEventListener("pointerdown", e => {
   e.preventDefault();
 });
 addEventListener("pointerup", e => {
+  if (e.target === switchButton) return;
   const p = toPicture(e);
   send({ t: "m", e: "up", b: e.button < 0 ? 0 : e.button, x: p.x, y: p.y });
 });
@@ -346,6 +382,7 @@ addEventListener("pointerup", e => {
 addEventListener("pointercancel", () => send({ t: "release" }));
 addEventListener("contextmenu", e => e.preventDefault());
 addEventListener("wheel", e => {
+  if (e.target === switchButton) return;
   const p = toPicture(e), unit = e.deltaMode === 1 ? 16 : e.deltaMode === 2 ? innerHeight : 1;
   send(stamp({ t: "wheel", dx: e.deltaX * unit, dy: e.deltaY * unit, x: p.x, y: p.y }, e));
   e.preventDefault();
@@ -354,6 +391,7 @@ function mods(e) {
   return ["shift", "ctrl", "alt", "meta"].filter(m => e[m + "Key"]);
 }
 function onKey(e, down) {
+  if (e.target === switchButton) return;  // let Enter/Space activate the button
   // Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S shows the numbers; it isn't sent to the Mac.
   if (e.code === "KeyS" && e.ctrlKey && e.altKey && e.shiftKey) {
     if (down) showHud(hud.hidden);