5Ghz channels - 2 @ 44 and 2 @ 153

[oldserverguy]

I'm having performance issues between my headend AC1300 RT-ACRH13 and a RT-AC66U_b1. Workstations wired and wireless to the "66" see less ping packet lose to the "66" than the "13". Have spent hours with support providing documentation but so far no resolution. The "66" is configured to repeater mode.

For the problem network, with some packet lose, 5GHz headend is on channel 44 and the "66" is on channel 153 and both are narrow bandwidth and with the same SSID. Interestingly the same channels are also used by my other more private network with other equipment. The 2.4Ghz networks are on channels 1 and 6 which is the pre-66 install configuration with DD-WRT/WRT54G which is no longer in service but worked and performed well. I could get WiFi 100 feet away.

Should I be changing something?

 

[L&LD]

Everything?

Are they both on the latest firmware? Have you tried fully resetting the routers to factory defaults and then manually and minimally (M&M Config in the link below) configure them to secure the router and connect to your ISP?

Have you tried different Control Channels? Do you reboot after making changes (not just your network infrastructure, but also your client devices too)?

The link below may also be useful for your issues.

Troubleshooting 101 Asus/RMerlin Routers 2020

Top 10 Simple Asus/RMerlin firmware powered Router Troubleshooting steps to try first: NOTE: Although this is for Asus/RMerlin-firmware powered routers, the steps below may be relevant to all routers, to get to a quick fix for common symptoms. Check that the router’s System Time is accurate on...

www.snbforums.com

 

[ColinTaylor]

Sorry, I really can't follow what you're describing. Is the problem that you are seeing any packet loss at all on a client, or that there's more packet loss when pinging the far side of the repeater? What is this "other more private network" that is using the same channels? What percentage packet loss are you talking about? To my mind there shouldn't be any at all.

 

[oldserverguy]

I had some unusual annoying issues so I started running ping tests of 4 packets every 10 minutes to both the "66" router and the "13" router and capturing the results. Showed packet problems. The network was OK when the "remote" router was a ancient WRT54G class router with a very old version DD-WRT but I decided to update to get better security - so I really doubt it's the concrete or distance.

I've done lots of testing for ASUS including dumping files, using the "RouteThis" android app, running tests with a USB drive plugged into the router to get more files, aerial map of the house and separate garage, distance measurements, etc. ASUS has every detail about the routers since I have an account.

I thing I can't do is cable the two together because the only way to do that would be to cut up concrete and drill holes into the concrete blocks.

I have 2 completely separate networks and the headend routers for both are ethernet connected to the Arris cable modem. The 2.4 channels are just as I configured my own and customer networks before - completely non-overlapping channels. I don't have any commercial with 5 Ghz but in looking at everything I was wondering if the two headend routers on the same channel and the "66" router and my powerline adapter in my office on a different channel but same channel could be a likely source of the problem. Perhaps the putting them all in different UNII-1 channels would help - I just don't have any experience with this.

Thoughts?

 

[oldserverguy]

Just got a reply from ASUS. They want me to change the channel to 36 and the width to 40Mhz. But a quick look shows that 36 can't be 40 Mhz. I'll see where this goes.

 

[ColinTaylor]

5GHz has a much shorter range than 2.4GHz and is easily blocked by concrete. If the link between the two Asus routers is over 5GHz that's likely the problem. Change to 2.4GHz for the link. Devices near to each router can still connect locally over 5GHz if they want to.

Channel 36 at 40MHz should be available on all 5GHz routers.

 

[HWDan]

Just got a reply from ASUS. They want me to change the channel to 36 and the width to 40Mhz. But a quick look shows that 36 can't be 40 Mhz. I'll see where this goes.

36 + 40 aka "38" = 40mhz
(probably depends on the how each vendor labels the channels, but choosing 36 and 40mhz gives you 36+40)

 

[oldserverguy]

I have both 2.4Ghz and 5 Ghz enabled and I know about the range issue. I did hard set the "13" to 40 Mhz and a control channel of 36. Analyzer doesn't show anything else at this band. Interestingly setting the bandwidth and channel aren't an option with the "66". Both routers are running current firmware.

I'm doing more testing now to see if this improved the situation.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Interestingly setting the bandwidth and channel aren't an option with the "66".

That's because it's in repeater mode and therefore has to use the same channel as the primary router.

 

[oldserverguy]

No really. I hard set the "13" to 40 Mhz per ASUS and a control channel of 36. It was on a 20 Mhz channel that auto'd to the same channel as the "86" that's physically adjacent to it. Now a WiFi analyzer shows them nicely spread. There isn't any setting that I can see to change the channel for the "66". Right now the analyzer shows it at 157 but the graph doesn't show the channel width. Note that sometimes the "66" channel changes.

It is "kinda" working but I want better than that. I run my secure network with PowerLine but the remote adapters can't be on a UPS which is OK for those devices (other than lightning). If the power fails I've got an good sized UPS running the headend network so if I'm home it might be inconvenient and my network printers won't work but we can get by. I know it's more than most residential setups but worked well for us when we had to leave for a hurricane a few years ago.