roam assist

[LimJK]

Thanks for doing the work to look at the default levels.

-52 represents a stronger signal than -55. Every 3 dB represents a doubling (or halving) of power.

As I said previously, the likely reason for setting 2.4 GHz roam trigger level would be an attempt to band-steer devices to 5 GHz. Might work with some devices, not with others.

Tim,

Thanks for the education

For experimentation, I took my iPhoneX walk to the yard where 5GHz signal is weakened and iPhoneX Roam & bandsteered from 5GHz band (AiMesh Router AC5300) to 2.4GH band (AiMesh Node1 AC86U). When I walk back to my living room it Roam & bandsteered back from 2.4GHz (AiMesh Node1) to 5GHz (AiMesh Router).

I tried as much as possible to leave the various NVRAM settings as default and so far it seems to have serve me well

 

[monaro-ds]

Likely -50dBm was done for AImesh "node steer" to have max connection speed ...
Problem is not every device have same "-50dBm " in the same spot ...
ex: if my phone to main router showing -50 dBm my WIFI thermostat in the same spot only getting -70 dBm..
resulting in constant thermostat disconnect...
For thermostat speed is not important, (to little data ...) yet you cant get it to work correctly due to it constantly disconnecting...

it be nice if ASUS created "white list" for MAC addresses to ignore roam assist

 

[bsholbrook]

I really like the white list idea. I’ve left as much default as possible, fairly sure with current firmware the 2.4ghz default Rssi is -50 on 2.4 for 86u. I’ve dropped it to -70 and the disconnecting client stopped.

Ultimately I’d love to know why this client will only connect with the router which is further away. Seems like the client looks for the MAC address of the 86u or some similar element.

 

[bsholbrook]

Support is pushing to turn lots of features off, I get why and have tried quite a few to no avail. Itsreached a point I’m not willing to strip the config down and loose features we buy ASus for.

if there is a ways to convince this specific client that it can roam to another AP that’s the ultimate answer, short of that setting the 2.4ghz roam assist RSSI to -70 seems to be working

 

[monaro-ds]

if router(Aimesh) can check signal level for nodes and pick one with best signal is an good option ... but simply refuse connection to device just because signal is below -70 is not a good solution ...

or just give as "white list"

 

[arthurlien]

We found some issue in NAT Acceleration and it will affect roam functionality.

[template solution]
LAN>Switch Control>NAT Acceleration disabled

[Model]
RT-AC68U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3100, RT-AC5300

 

[Jim Kirk]

Tim,

As I follow this thread, I noted that some people have different default settings for Roam Assist. Thanks for your question as it prompted me to spend an hour over the weekend to do Factory Reset to all my 3 AiMesh Devices to find out what the default factory settings were using 3.0.0.4.384_20648-g21e3702:

Default Roam Assist: -55 dBm for the 2.4GHz Band
Default Roam Assist: -70 dBM for both the 5.0GHz Bands

The following is the default Smart Connect Rules after Factory Reset:

Novice Question with regards to value of RSSI Greater then -52 dBm
... is the RSSI of value of -55 dBm greater or lesser than -52 dBm (pardon my ignorance)

Any case all our 5 iPhones and 3 iPads roam pretty seamlessly at home, I use iOS Network Analyzer App and observe the almost instantaneous switch of BSSIDs of my 3 AiMesh Devices without drop in connection as I move around the house

Hmmm,

Take a look at my signature and see my smart connect rule. Here's the click on it link:
http://www.fareinc.com/AiMesh/Smart-Connect-Rule.jpg

Also, uploaded to the forum. See thumbnail.

Jim

 

[Jim Kirk]

We found some issue in NAT Acceleration and it will affect roam functionality.

[template solution]
LAN>Switch Control>NAT Acceleration disabled

[Model]
RT-AC68U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3100, RT-AC5300

I'm back on FW 20379 till the next update after 20648. See my signature.

@arthurlien

With 20379 shall I also implement LAN>Switch Control>NAT Acceleration disabled

Jim

 

[arthurlien]

I'm back on FW 20379 till the next update after 20648. See my signature.

@arthurlien

With 20379 shall I also implement LAN>Switch Control>NAT Acceleration disabled

Jim

Yes.

 

[bones20]

We found some issue in NAT Acceleration and it will affect roam functionality.

[template solution]
LAN>Switch Control>NAT Acceleration disabled

[Model]
RT-AC68U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3100, RT-AC5300

- Can you please elaborate what is the issue and in what scenario it applies?
- I have a 2 node setup with 68u with no issues in roaming functionality. Do you still recommend turning off nat acceleration?
- can you educate what is nat acceleration? does it apply to a regular home wifi setup?
- What are the side effects of turning off nat acceleration?

 

[arthurlien]

- Can you please elaborate what is the issue and in what scenario it applies?
- I have a 2 node setup with 68u with no issues in roaming functionality. Do you still recommend turning off nat acceleration?
- can you educate what is nat acceleration? does it apply to a regular home wifi setup?
- What are the side effects of turning off nat acceleration?

If you are using RT-AC68U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3100, RT-AC5300 as "AiMesh Router", the roam function will be malformed maybe, such as, when you are using LINE video or some online game, you are moving for AiMesh Router to Node( Node to Node), the connection dropped with LINE video or with Game Server.

If you don't care about this use case, you don't need to disabled nat acceleration. This is a workaround solution for someone.

 

[bones20]

If you are using RT-AC68U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3100, RT-AC5300 as "AiMesh Router", the roam function will be malformed maybe, such as, when you are using LINE video or some online game, you are moving for AiMesh Router to Node( Node to Node), the connection dropped with LINE video or with Game Server.

If you don't care about this use case, you don't need to disabled nat acceleration. This is a workaround solution for someone.

Thanks! What is LINE Video?

I do see slight reconnects with voice communication apps like zoom, skype etc. but then I dont think aimesh is capable of providing a seamless roaming (during voice call) right?

 

[arthurlien]

Thanks! What is LINE Video?

I do see slight reconnects with voice communication apps like zoom, skype etc. but then I dont think aimesh is capable of providing a seamless roaming (during voice call) right?

Video Communication by LINE Application.

 

[RMerlin]

https://line.me/en/

 

[Jim Kirk]

If you are using RT-AC68U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3100, RT-AC5300 as "AiMesh Router", the roam function will be malformed maybe, such as, when you are using LINE video or some online game, you are moving for AiMesh Router to Node( Node to Node), the connection dropped with LINE video or with Game Server.

If you don't care about this use case, you don't need to disabled nat acceleration. This is a workaround solution for someone.

@arthurlien

If I have a high speed fiber internet connection (1 Gb up/dn) would this change your advice (at least at this time per you reason for disabling NAT acceleration). Or does the benefit of having NAT acceleration on outweigh possible connection drop issues for a 1Gb connection?

In my case the most important issue for me is changing to a new Mesh point smoothly for obtaining maximum speed. I'm not concerned about Line Video or Game Server issues. Smooth change is my big concern.

Jim