Unifi WIFI client - forcing to 2.4GHz

[Donald]

I have one person at church camp who has a Pixel 7, a Windows laptop and some kind of Roku for streaming. At present I am using all of the four SSIDs and none are a dedicated 2.4GHz.

I believe there is a setting in Windows to use only 2.4GHz but unsure of Pixel 7 or Roku.

I tried setting RSSI for only the 5GHz radio in the nearest AP but the laptop then seems to try and connect to farther away APs on 5 GHz rather than the nearest one on 2.4GHz.

 

[Donald]

So I do have a SSID for 5GHz only and one for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. (And two other SSIDs used for other purposes.

I do believe in most cases it's best to have both on same SSID and let client software decide.

Maybe I should swap and have one for both and one SSID for 2.4GHz only. Maybe then turn on band steering for the SSID with both.

Next summer I will install WIFI 7 access points with support for 6GHz. I think it's best for client software to figure out which frequency works best vs a bunch of SSIDs with each dedicated to a single frequency band.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I have my WiFi broadcasting both 2&5G networks under the same ssid. For select devices that are picky or 2G dependent I made a guest network that only broadcasts in 2.4. This has solved many issues on my network

 

[hemioiler]

I'm far from a unifi expert but in the past I've also split the SSID's into two, so something like "NETWORK_24" and "NETWORK_5" allowing everybody to pick their preferred SSID.

Now since I don't have any older devices connecting I just put both radios under the same SSID.

 

[Donald]

I'm far from a unifi expert but in the past I've also split the SSID's into two, so something like "NETWORK_24" and "NETWORK_5" allowing everybody to pick their preferred SSID.

Now since I don't have any older devices connecting I just put both radios under the same SSID.

I have used all the four SSIDs Unifi has available with MESH turned on. So no spare SSID. But one option is to convert my SSID for 5GHz only to one for 2.4GJz only.

 

[Pew]

Windows and Android doesn't let users switch between bands. Some specific NICs might per the drivers but I have not come across one yet. You will have to set the separate bands in the unifi UI.

 

[OVERKILL]

So, why are you trying to force it to 2.4? It should automatically switch from 5.0Ghz to 2.4Ghz once the signal gets weak enough.

 

[Donald]

So, why are you trying to force it to 2.4? It should automatically switch from 5.0Ghz to 2.4Ghz once the signal gets weak enough.

I see a crappy signal strength on 5 GHz but it does not seem to always move to 2.4 GHz. I also see the client (Roku) connect to farther away access points vs one about 15 or 20 feet away.

This is a situation where there are many outdoor access points on telephone poles and people with their Roku or laptop and phone are inside summer cottages.

I do have the ability from the Unifi management software to lock a client onto a specific access point.

It seems all the devices in this one summer cottage are getting crappy signal strength yet all the other devices connected to the closest access point are getting good signal strength.

These are simple wood frame summer cottages. No block walls or metal HVAC ducts. A HW heater, stove, maybe an A/C would be the only things in the cottage made of metal. Foil based insulation maybe but doubtful.

 

[mk378]

I see a crappy signal strength on 5 GHz

This means that more APs are needed. The AP coverage is inadequate for that user.

I seldom set up 2.4 at all because it is slow and subject to interference.

 

[Donald]

This means that more APs are needed. The AP coverage is inadequate for that user.

I seldom set up 2.4 at all because it is slow and subject to interference.

This cottage has an access point on a telephone pole 15 feet from their back door Thats as close as I can put one.

This is a bit of an odd situation in that we have mostly outdoor APs to provide coverage while people are walking around or inside their cottages. The cost to setup Comcast at each cottage for a month or two over the summer is too much.

I have suggested people get a Unifi Beacon or similar if they have WIFI problems inside their cottages. It almost always solves the problem. Not everyone listens to me

 

[OVERKILL]

I see a crappy signal strength on 5 GHz but it does not seem to always move to 2.4 GHz. I also see the client (Roku) connect to farther away access points vs one about 15 or 20 feet away.

This is a situation where there are many outdoor access points on telephone poles and people with their Roku or laptop and phone are inside summer cottages.

I do have the ability from the Unifi management software to lock a client onto a specific access point.

It seems all the devices in this one summer cottage are getting crappy signal strength yet all the other devices connected to the closest access point are getting good signal strength.

These are simple wood frame summer cottages. No block walls or metal HVAC ducts. A HW heater, stove, maybe an A/C would be the only things in the cottage made of metal. Foil based insulation maybe but doubtful.

Do you have band steering enabled?

 

[hemioiler]

This means that more APs are needed. The AP coverage is inadequate for that user.

I seldom set up 2.4 at all because it is slow and subject to interference.

2.4 is usually quite acceptable for the vast majority of people, most people browsing the internet or whatever are not going to be limited by the speed of the AP at 2.4ghz. It's also far better when outdoors or travelling through thick walls. It can get crowded fast though.

 

[TumblrDucks]

Maybe reduce the 5g AP broadcast strength furthur so PC would pick 2.4G?
Do you have separate SSID for 5G and 2.5G? What if we forget the 5G network so PC can't auto connect?

 

[Donald]

Do you have band steering enabled?

No. Not on the AP or WIFI SSID.

 

[Donald]

Maybe reduce the 5g AP broadcast strength furthur so PC would pick 2.4G?
Do you have separate SSID for 5G and 2.5G? What if we forget the 5G network so PC can't auto connect?

This is just one cottage and a couple of devices. Lots of other people not have problems.

I have a total of 17 devices now. In August during meeting week it was more like 120.

 

[OVERKILL]

No. Not on the AP or WIFI SSID.

OK, I'd try that first.

 

[Donald]

OK, I'd try that first.

Band steering has two options on Unifi 1) balanced between 2.4 and 5 GHz 2) push to 5 GHz.

I want the client to do a better job of picking between 2.4 GHz and 5GHz and pick the one with better signal strength. But it's up to the client and Roku could do it differently than Windows than iPhone.

Band steering would seem the opposite of what I want. There is no band steering to push devices to 2.4 GHz.

 

[OVERKILL]

Band steering has two options on Unifi 1) balanced between 2.4 and 5 GHz 2) push to 5 GHz.

I want the client to do a better job of picking between 2.4 GHz and 5GHz and pick the one with better signal strength. But it's up to the client and Roku could do it differently than Windows than iPhone.

Band steering would seem the opposite of what I want. There is no band steering to push devices to 2.4 GHz.

Choosing balanced should push clients with weak signal on 5Ghz to 2.4Ghz in theory. Clearly, the client isn't doing a good job choosing on its own.

 

[Donald]

Choosing balanced should push clients with weak signal on 5Ghz to 2.4Ghz in theory. Clearly, the client isn't doing a good job choosing on its own.

Guessing how band steering might work. The client sends out a "probe" and the AP can respond on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz or both in an attempt to direct the client. So normal 5 GHz band steering probably only responds on the 5 GHz band.

 

[OVERKILL]

Guessing how band steering might work. The client sends out a "probe" and the AP can respond on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz or both in an attempt to direct the client. So normal 5 GHz band steering probably only responds on the 5 GHz band.

It's supposed to balance the devices between the two bands, "steering" them to balance the load on the radios by using BSS management frames. I had some problems with some WiTech pods at a dealership that kept trying to associate with 5Ghz on the Cisco AP's I had deployed, where they would stop working properly. Enabling band steering solved the issue.

Not sure if the Unifi implementation of band steering is the same as Cisco's, but it may be worth a shot.