Legacy PS Poll Device Requirement - Solved by "Legacy" mode

[[Daniel]]

I recently purchased an ASUS RT-AC86U. I was able to successfully set it up and connect all my devices... except for one. Apparently my Sensi WiFi Thermostat has a requirement for Legacy PS Poll, and any router not supporting it is deemed incompatible. Both my ISP modems that I was using (across two different ISP's) had no issues talking to my Sensi... but the ASUS does as it only supports WMM APSD, which is not compatible with Legacy PS Poll.

Is there hope that the Merlin project may be able to bring it back? Or would ASUS entertain adding support for PS Poll?

Thank You!

 

[st3v3n]

Daniel, I'm not sure about that particular wifi thermostat, but I wouldn't have one, even though that's a fine router, we have an RT-AC3200 running v380.68_4. Seriously, someone hacked into a friend's wifi thermostat this spring and nearly burned her house to the ground, or that's what the report said. Apparently they weren't able to have any luck getting her $8K refridgerator to self-destruct, so they took it out on her house. YMMV, good luck.

 

[[Daniel]]

Something to think about for sure; however, it would still be good to know if PS Poll is a supportable option in case I run across another device that needs it.

 

[RMerlin]

Anything related to wifi is outside of my control.

 

[sfx2000]

Tell Sensi to fix their firmware... the WiFi chip in that device is QC-Atheros, and it supports WMM

802.11n requires WMM support - and WMM-ASPD is an extension of legacy PS poll...

 

[RMerlin]

Make sure you disable MU-MIMO, Implicit Beamforming and Airtime Fairness - these are more likely to be problematic.

 

[sfx2000]

Make sure you disable MU-MIMO, Implicit Beamforming and Airtime Fairness - these are more likely to be problematic.

And with 2.4GHz - setting it to B/G/N operation (disabling TurboQAM) can fix many issues with 802.11n chips that do not understand the VHT info elements presented when TurboQAM is enabled.

 

[[Daniel]]

Thank you for the many replies. I have tried disabling all the options presented on the 2.4 GHz channel... MU-MIMO, Implicit Beamforming, Airtime Fairness, TurboQAM... even tried disabling Explicit Beamforming. Unfortunately, this did not allow the Sensi to connect successfully.

However, during one of my "apply settings", both 2.4 and 5 Ghz radios disabled and never came back. The Radio setting for each was enabled, but the Wifi Log indicated they were disabled, even the LEDs were off. The only way I could get the radios to re-enable was to power off the unit and power it back on again.

Not a very confidence boosting experience for a new router purchase. Is this common? Or perhaps this is an argument to install the Merlin firmware?

 

[Grisu]

Have problems even with Merlin Beta-FW on this device, but most times better than original one.

If you are trying different WIFI-settings at some point pages wont be updated, then you see a mix from 2G and 5G on the screen till it ends in a total collaps (reboot needed).
Most channels are gone or using with EU-setting 12dB weaker signals, not usable!

Keep in mind its brand new and FW not stable at the time ...

Unfortunately, this did allow the Sensi to connect successfully.

Sorry what a bad luck that you got it connected, I thought that has been exatly what you asked for ...?!?

 

[eddiez]

Simple solution: Buy a cheap legacy AP with PS support or router (use as AP) and connect it to your Asus.

 

[Grisu]

he bought a device for USD 200, this cant be a solution for the problem resulting in an additional WLAN.

ok if he can return the AC86U and doesnt need it for other features.

 

[[Daniel]]

Have problems even with Merlin Beta-FW on this device, but most times better than original one.

If you are trying different WIFI-settings at some point pages wont be updated, then you see a mix from 2G and 5G on the screen till it ends in a total collaps (reboot needed).
Most channels are gone or using with EU-setting 12dB weaker signals, not usable!

Keep in mind its brand new and FW not stable at the time ...

Just so I understand what you are saying... If I leave the WiFi settings alone I shouldn't see the radios suddenly disabled, but I at this early stage I should expect to power cycle the device if I do adjust the settings as the device is not yet stable.

Is this ASUS' pattern? Release a new device unstable and then fix it over time? If they generally work towards and arrive at stability... I think that is something I can live with and look forward too. Or should I consider an older model like the RT-AC68U, hoping that it has had the time to stabilize?

Sorry what a bad luck that you got it connected, I thought that has been exatly what you asked for ...?!?

Sorry, I stayed up way too late messing with the router... and missed the key word in "not working". Updated my original post.

Simple solution: Buy a cheap legacy AP with PS support or router (use as AP) and connect it to your Asus.

I did think about that, but I have tried many unsuccessful google searches and product manual downloads hoping to find something that states it supports PS Poll. I think it was something taken for granted at some point, as it doesn't seem to be a feature folks talk about or point out.
The shop in my area does have an RT-N600 and RT-N12 D1 that are cheap... but I didn't want to jump to purchasing them without knowing if they supported PS Poll or not.

he bought a device for USD 200, this cant be a solution for the problem resulting in an additional WLAN.

ok if he can return the AC86U and doesnt need it for other features.

It's not ideal, but it also wouldn't be the first time a "feature"/standard got replaced/bumped as time went by... like I haven't had a 3.5" floppy disk in my PC builds for years. So I can chop the loss of PS Poll up to "progress".
Ultimately, I am less concerned now about PS Poll not being supported, and more concerned about how "stable" I am hearing this router isn't. The whole reason I purchased this router was because my new ISP's modem/router could not handle more than 8-10 devices. After connecting my 15+ devices, their unit would randomly drop devices (WiFi or LAN) and HDCP would fail to assign the IP's I wanted to a few MAC's. I just wasn't expecting a new router to be worse; disabling it's radios completely.

 

[eddiez]

he bought a device for USD 200, this cant be a solution for the problem resulting in an additional WLAN.

ok if he can return the AC86U and doesnt need it for other features.

His choice...he got himself a device with very deprecated specs/requirements (thermostat). Try asking for a Prius with a crank

 

[Grisu]

I think you can stay with it if PSP is not your great problem, will definitely get better over the time.
And you wont change settings anymore once it works and all settings are done.
AC68U and most others from asus got problems at start of sale.
You got recent HW, 68U is quite stable now but over 4 years old and there are some limitations.

Just be prepaired to do some FW-updates for the next year if you still have problems maybe they will be solved with one or the other.

 

[[Daniel]]

I think you can stay with it if PSP is not your great problem, will definitely get better over the time.
And you wont change settings anymore once it works and all settings are done.
AC68U and most others from asus got problems at start of sale.
You got recent HW, 68U is quite stable now but over 4 years old and there are some limitations.

Just be prepaired to do some FW-updates for the next year if you still have problems maybe they will be solved with one or the other.

Thank you for answering my questions. I think will stay with what I've got. There 've been a few suggestions here for settings to adjust, but I'll look for more settings recommendations so that I can educate myself more.

 

[[Daniel]]

Perhaps F/W updates have helped over time, but I think two "Wireless - General" 2.4G settings actually finally got my thermostat connected:

1. Switched Wireless Mode to Legacy
2. Disabled b/g Protection

Because my SSID changed over time, I needed to re-setup the thermostat using my cell/app, and it connected straight away once I worked through the "wizard".