To get things straight:
- I am using the zero 3 overlay already (but there seems to be no difference in WiFi behaviour between them).
- Yes, Ethernet was disabled in
dietpi-config
before removing the adapter (my previous post was chronological) - yes, WiFi does work after disabling in dietpi-config and then re-enabling it again. There are no issues with loading the kernel module again. It does not work after booting when the ethernet adapter in enabled with a cable connected. Just trying to reconnect fails, WiFi must be disabled and enabled again. I could send here the console output of reconnection attempts but it disappears in dietpi-config…
- I doubted that it’s a routing issue because the WiFi is DOWN when it does not work. If I understand correctly, if it was a routing issue, it would be UP and connected but no data could be sent or received. Unless it is turned DOWN automatically when no proper connection can be made due to routing. Your explanation makes sense.
- I don’t need two connections, I was just using Ethernet because WiFi wouldn’t connect (but there are indeed situations in which it’s useful to have two).
Now the question is: if it is indeed a routing issue, why does it not manifest when WiFi is disabled and re-enabled some time after booting, if ethernet is connected too? Because in this case I can happily use ethernet and WiFi simultaneously. You say that it removes the broken gateway, which makes sense. But would it still happen this way if Ethernet was enabled but there was no adapter? This seems to be the case for me. Plus it can cause the board not to boot at all because of the infinite timeout problem.