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Forum Discussion
Laptop not switching to closer WAX610 access point automatically
I have 2 WAX610 Access Points, one on my 1st floor, one on my 2nd floor. I opened my laptop on the first floor, then went upstairs to the 2nd floor to the same room (about 6ft away) from the 2nd ...
kortina wrote:
I have my access points connected in a mesh and I thought that clients were supposed to "hop" to the nearest access point with the best signal, but this is not happening.
No, this does not make any kind of a Mesh.
kortina wrote:
Do I need to fine tune the auto switching behavior somehow to get this to work as desired? I want the client to always auto switch to the best signal possible.
Are both WAX610 configured to dedicated wireless channel sets and not overlapping?
All: I misspoke in the title -- the devices are both WAX630 (not WAX610), tho I expect this should not affect the answers.
re Mesh: makes sense, I had a feeling you only need that if a device is not hard wired.
rededicated wireless channel sets and not overlapping:
Both devices have the following Radio and Channels 2.4GHz settings:
2.4GHz
Enable Radio: Yes
Radio Mode: 11ax
Channel: Auto (1)
Channel Width: Dynamic 20/40MHz
Output Power: Auto (Full)
3rd Floor has:
5Ghz Low
2.4GHz
Enable Radio: Yes
Radio Mode: 11ax
Channel: Auto (44)
Channel Width: Dynamic 20/40/80MHz
Output Power: Auto (Full)
5Ghz High
2.4GHz
Enable Radio: Yes
Radio Mode: 11ax
Channel: Auto (161)
Channel Width: Dynamic 20/40/80MHz
Output Power: Auto (Full)
2nd floor has:
5Ghz Low
2.4GHz
Enable Radio: Yes
Radio Mode: 11ax
Channel: Auto (48)
Channel Width: Dynamic 20/40/80MHz
Output Power: Auto (Full)
5Ghz High
2.4GHz
Enable Radio: Yes
Radio Mode: 11ax
Channel: Auto (153)
Channel Width: Dynamic 20/40/80MHz
Output Power: Auto (Full)
1)As long as the SSID (name string, password and security types) match between the two APs.
The clients will be able roaming between the APs.
2)In general, in SMB/Enterprise " Mesh" term is used when wireless backhaul. (see Insight Instant mesh).
3)As per IEEE 802.11 (or Wifi standard ) the decision on when to roam is decided by the wireless client.
Each of the clients has a slightly different behaviors. in laptops that run windows, you can configure the behaviour on wifi properties.
4) If you use NETGEAR Insight to setup and manage these APs. NETGEAR support something called 802.11R and OKC based roaming. These will help the clients to roam better as the network feeds neighbor information to the wi-fi client to make better decisions on when to roam.
Router====Switch====== AP1 (WAX6xx)
AP2 (WAX6xx)
WAX630 comes with 1 year Insight manager license. you can use Insight to configure and manage both AP from Insight.
the network will work even when insight license expires, but customer will not be able manage the network from insight.
users can always move back to standalone mode (reset needed).
5)Here are things you can do with or without Insight, that helps better roaming behaviour among wifi clients.
1)Make the cell size smaller by changing the TX power of the AP.
Best way to do it is to Install a popular wi-fi scanners on client and take measurements of what it hears at a given location.
(There are free and paid tools, almost has have free trail versions)
make sure at give location the difference in good-better-best wifi signal is -8dbm or more.
2) Enable 802.11KV on both the APs. (R can be enabled only with Insight management)
3) increase the basic data-rates.
This will help clients roam to radio that provide higher data-rates.
Here are some good articles on client side roam decisions.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203068
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202628
you can find similar articles for windows.
Wifi tools that help you tweak the Wi-Fi cell size per AP : (you can use any of these).
https://www.accessagility.com/wifi-scanner
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=abdelrahman.wifianalyzerpro
https://www.accessagility.com/optifi-agent-windows-download
https://www.netspotapp.com/features.html
https://www.intuitibits.com/products/wifiexplorer/
hnagaraju1 thanks for the links / advice.
I actually use 802.11r and the Insights app says not to turn on Band Steering (802.11k RRM and 802.11v) if you are using 802.11r
Maybe I will try adjusting the power of one of the APs to reduce collisions.
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