AiMesh wl_rast_mode

[calimansi]

Hi Community,

I have a small two node aimesh network that I'm running at home. The two routers are connected with an Ethernet cable. Everything has been going great except for the roaming.

I enabled roaming assistant with an RSSI of -50 dbm. My house is a long 2000 sf, but the signal from the routers is such that it can almost reach from one end of the house to the other with little issue. My RSSI is around -65 when connected to the router at the other end of the house. I have added metal objects to "kill" the signal so that roaming will work. If roaming doesn't work, the network speeds are not as optimal as they can be, which does affect us because I have servers connected to the network and I'd like to keep speeds up as much as possible.

I believe the RSSI is being ignored and the aimesh network is really seeing it as -70. My question is, has anyone tried to change w1_rast_mode through SSH'ing into router and changing it from 1 to 0? 1 is legacy and 0 is RSSI. I have no other notes on what this variable does.

Any other variables to look at?

Maybe @RMerlin could help?

Thank you.

 

[K-2SO]

I have added metal objects to "kill" the signal so that roaming will work.

This is a very innovative technique.

I enabled roaming assistant with an RSSI of -50 dbm.

If you need to go so high, you probably don't need 2 routers.

 

[K-2SO]

My RSSI is around -65 when connected to the router at the other end of the house.

A quick test shows my 2x2 AC laptop still holds 585Mbps link at -65dbm and 390Mbps link at -73dbm. You can easily go with one router in the middle of the house. Remove the metal objects and one of the routers.

 

[calimansi]

I tried with only 1 router. The network gets really bad on the other side of the house. I can't put a router in the middle because that's not where the internet comes in at.

 

[K-2SO]

What routers do you have? What firmware they are running on?

 

[calimansi]

Bluecaves, the latest.

 

[K-2SO]

Asus enabled recently 802.11k and 802.11r on number of routers. Before messing with ssh, check what's Blue Cave situation with this program - https://www.helge-keck.com/. Roaming assistance on router side is one thing. Switching nodes is a client business. See if your devices have any Roaming Sensitivity or Roaming Aggressiveness settings.

 

[calimansi]

Looks like my routers have 802.11k, but not r. My PC roams when the RSSI on the router that I'm connected to reaches -70. This is very consistent.

 

[K-2SO]

My PC roams when the RSSI on the router that I'm connected to reaches -70.

This is the threshold for many devices. Apple iPhones iPads for example. Your issue is too strong signals from both APs.

 

[calimansi]

Not to sound negative or anything, but why is the RSSI cutoff associated with Enable Roaming Assistant even in there? It seems like it doesn't do anything. In my mind, what should happen is the threshold at one aimesh node is met (-50), the client is kicked off and blocked from reconnecting to the node that it was just kicked off on. Then the client should see the other node and join, then the system stops blocking at the original node. This happens at -70, but not at what is specified.

I do understand that roaming is a client function, but the roaming assistant should help with that.

Has anyone played with wl_rast_mode variable?

 

[K-2SO]

why is the RSSI cutoff associated with Enable Roaming Assistant even in there? It seems like it doesn't do anything.

Only Asus may be able to answer this question.

 

[calimansi]

I see. You're right, it is a signal strength issue.

I'll play with the wl_rast_mode variable when I have time. My solution of "killing" my signal is working for now.

 

[K-2SO]

My solution of "killing" my signal is working for now.

Could you share some info about this metal objects solution? Just curious.

 

[calimansi]

Haha. Thanks for asking.

So the routers are at either end of our house on tables on the floor. I put the routers under the table. One of the routers has a huge printer over it. The other router has a caged storage shelf with books on it that kind of blocks the line of sight to the other router. They're about 150 ft between the two routers. Doing this kills the signal enough for our mobile devices to roam whenever we approach either router. The other benefit of doing this is to hide the routers and makes it look a little cleaner and wife friendly.

 

[K-2SO]

You send more WiFi outside of your house.
There is a modem and a router on one side of the house. Another wired node on the other side. This cable must be going through the house, no? I would definitely find a way to connect a router somewhere in the middle, high off the floor. Look at wall plates, trace the cables, cut if needed, add a $15 switch if needed. Not trying to be rude, but it sound like you are solving a problem created by you.

 

[calimansi]

Yes, I am beaming Wifi outside the house!! haha.

I mounted the Ethernet cable to the eaves of the roof. The attic is too tight to get through.

Yeah, I know I created the problem. I guess I was expecting the end all solution to Wifi 5 with aimesh, it's only living up to 98% of what it could be... I'll check out what changing wl_rast_mode does this weekend and post a response here.

Thanks again.

 

[calimansi]

Ok, I did the test tonight... couldn't wait.

Changing wl_rast_mode to 0 does make it so that the RSSI level that you set is used by aimesh! This helps on the router side as once my RSSI drops below -50, the router will start actively trying to kick the client off and get it to associate with the other router!!

This doesn't solve anything for me as my devices will not roam! still!! haha. Oh well, it is an improvement.

 

[K-2SO]

This doesn't solve anything for me as my devices will not roam!

I don't use roam assist, but I remember the router cutting off the connection below the threshold. I don't understand. How come "it works with AiMesh" and "my devices will not roam"? What is happening below -50?

PS. Is Tx power slider available in Blue Cave firmware, Wireless Professional?

 

[calimansi]

"once my RSSI drops below -50, the router will start actively trying to kick the client off and get it to associate with the other router!!"

Yes, the blue cave has the tx power slider. I have it set to power saving, but that doesn't seem to have an effect on the distance.