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Forum Discussion
EX8000 802.11k when in AP mode
I know the EX8000 supports smart roaming using the 802.11k standard, however I need to know if this only works when using the unit in extender mode or if it also applies when you are using it in AP mo...
Hi,
based on this article: https://kb.netgear.com/000059680/What-is-Smart-Roaming-and-how-does-it-work-with-my-Nighthawk-Pro-Gaming-router
I think the EX8000 supports 802.11k which means the client (if it supports too) will re-connect to the closer AP. The only question is (I'll evaluate this evening) whether it works in AP mode too (just enable the one wifi name feature and it will work in AP mode as wll), or the EX8000 should be configured as extender to allow smart roaming. I dont believe such expensive toys does not support such a great feature (smart roaming). I'll update this post later on...
Hi,
as I promised I've made some testing with my EX8000s configured as access points. One Wifi Name is enabled. So even tough that EX8000 officially supports 802.11r fast roaming feature and my tested client (Galaxy S7) also supports the fast roaming (see this article: https://support.samsungknox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115013403768-Enhanced-Roaming-Algorithm), the client does not want to roam to the closer AP. This is the signal strenght diagram, you can see, that even tough the closer AP has significantly higher signal strenght, my client still linked to the fare end AP.
In some cases the client changed the AP correctly within 1-2 seconds, in other cases it sticked to the far AP for more than 15 mins. I'm still consider this AP as a great product, because the total througput is more than 550Mbit/s with single client. Even if my clients connects to the wrong (far) AP, I could get ~200Mbit/s from them, which is fine.
But still, Netgear, please correct this behavior in the coming fw updates, and enable 802.11r fast roaiming in AP mode as well!
schferenc wrote:
Hi,
as I promised I've made some testing with my EX8000s configured as access points. One Wifi Name is enabled. So even tough that EX8000 officially supports 802.11r fast roaming feature and my tested client (Galaxy S7) also supports the fast roaming (see this article: https://support.samsungknox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115013403768-Enhanced-Roaming-Algorithm), the client does not want to roam to the closer AP. This is the signal strenght diagram, you can see, that even tough the closer AP has significantly higher signal strenght, my client still linked to the fare end AP.
Of course that is up to the client, not the EX8000. 802.11k just gives the client information. 802.11r just provides a faster way to switch networks when the client chooses to switch.
Did you take a trace and see if 802.11k was in use?
schferenc wrote:
In some cases the client changed the AP correctly within 1-2 seconds, in other cases it sticked to the far AP for more than 15 mins. I'm still consider this AP as a great product, because the total througput is more than 550Mbit/s with single client. Even if my clients connects to the wrong (far) AP, I could get ~200Mbit/s from them, which is fine.
But still, Netgear, please correct this behavior in the coming fw updates, and enable 802.11r fast roaiming in AP mode as well!
I think it's about load distribution between AP's as well.. So you should prevent any other device to connect to the near one as well otherwise it starts to distribute the load... even is there is little to no trafic..
