RT-AC68U Node Dropping WiFi (wired ok)

[thewarden]

I'm having an issue with my wholly 68u Aimesh network where the mesh nodes are dropping WiFi connections for a few seconds to a minute (mainly on my iPhone and iPad)

My set up is:

Modem --> 68u (router) --> 68u (node) --> 68u (node)

With all wired connections. With the way my house is laid out, I could much more easily go from router in the office to node in the basement to node in bedroom.

Starting sometime late last week, the node in the bedroom has been dropping WiFi connections for a quick interval and then reconnecting and I can't figure out why. I didn't make any changes other than power cycling all the routers.

Here's what I've tried so far (on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz):

-Disabled beamforming
-Disabled airtime fairness
-Disabled roam assist

I was on the 45717 firmware and upgraded to the newest 81049 with a factory reset and still have the issue. I've switched the two nodes to make sure it wasn't one that was having issues with no help.

I reverted to the 45717 firmware just to make sure that didn't increase the issue (with a factory reset again) and still no change.

If I turn off that node, I get a constant connection (but really slow due to weak connection in that part of the house). If I sit in the office, where the main router is located, I haven't noticed any WiFi drops. I plan to let my iPad stream for an hour or two tonight next to the main router to see if it has any issues.

Any ideas what I should try next? Go to straight AP mode and drop Aimesh? I'm also a little concerned that the node may be dying since it was a refurb from about 18 months ago but it's really weird that both would go out at the same time.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I'm having an issue with my wholly 68u Aimesh network where the mesh nodes are dropping WiFi connections for a few seconds to a minute (mainly on my iPhone and iPad)

My set up is:

Modem --> 68u (router) --> 68u (node) --> 68u (node)

With all wired connections. With the way my house is laid out, I could much more easily go from router in the office to node in the basement to node in bedroom.

Starting sometime late last week, the node in the bedroom has been dropping WiFi connections for a quick interval and then reconnecting and I can't figure out why. I didn't make any changes other than power cycling all the routers.

Here's what I've tried so far (on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz):

-Disabled beamforming
-Disabled airtime fairness
-Disabled roam assist

I was on the 45717 firmware and upgraded to the newest 81049 with a factory reset and still have the issue. I've switched the two nodes to make sure it wasn't one that was having issues with no help.

I reverted to the 45717 firmware just to make sure that didn't increase the issue (with a factory reset again) and still no change.

If I turn off that node, I get a constant connection (but really slow due to weak connection in that part of the house). If I sit in the office, where the main router is located, I haven't noticed any WiFi drops. I plan to let my iPad stream for an hour or two tonight next to the main router to see if it has any issues.

Any ideas what I should try next? Go to straight AP mode and drop Aimesh? I'm also a little concerned that the node may be dying since it was a refurb from about 18 months ago but it's really weird that both would go out at the same time.

Stay on 45717. Be sure you did reset and configure from scratch.

Use separate SSIDs and fixed channels... for example:
o set 2.4 GHz WLAN to Warden-24, n-only, 20 MHz, ch 1, 6, or 11 (non-overlapping; use least congested), WPA2-Personal AES;
o set 5.0 GHz WLAN to Warden, n/ac mixed, 80 MHz, ch 149 or above (US, non-radar, highest Tx power), WPA2-Personal AES.

Leave defaults except disable Airtime Fairness per band. Disable Universal Beamforming, if a particular client has trouble connecting at full link rate speed.

Leave AiProtection OFF for now.

Also, suspect the daisy-chained, refurbed, bedroom node that has the issue to... have an issue. If you move/swap it to a star connection, does the disconnection issue persist?

Also, temporarily try the daisy-chained, refurbed, bedroom node that has the issue on a different patch cord to see if the existing cable is involved.

Consider re-installing the same firmware on the troubled node, reset it, and re-add it.

Also, set node connection priority to wired/Ethernet just in case it's flipping back and forth between wired and wireless backhaul for some reason.

OE

 

[thewarden]

Thank you!! Separating the SSIDs seems to have done the trick

First I tried using a different patch cable, which meant running 100 foot ethernet cable from the office to my bedroom. My wife loved that

But I still had the same problem.

Then I decided to try to separate the SSIDs And see how that worked. Amazingly enough everything seems fine now that they’re separated. It’s strange though, I never had an issue with using one network name until last week. But all seems to be better now.

Thanks again!

 

[OzarkEdge]

Thank you!! Separating the SSIDs seems to have done the trick

First I tried using a different patch cable, which meant running 100 foot ethernet cable from the office to my bedroom. My wife loved that

But I still had the same problem.

Then I decided to try to separate the SSIDs And see how that worked. Amazingly enough everything seems fine now that they’re separated. It’s strange though, I never had an issue with using one network name until last week. But all seems to be better now.

Thanks again!

There is no Smart Connect band steering in the 68U, so your clients may not connect or stay connected as you would want them to when offered same SSIDs. (Even with Smart Connect at the router, the client still decides its connection... some better than others.)

Also, recent firmware has had an 'issue' with excessive channel scanning/changing when using Smart Connect which forces Auto setting for wireless mode, ch bandwidth, control ch, and extension ch... so, if using these Auto channel settings on your 68U, you might have been experiencing excessive channel changing which can causes clients to misbehave, disconnect/reconnect.

I would stay with separate SSIDs until your equipment supports band steering. Even then, using separate SSIDs may be more predictable/stable and serve to segment clients.

OE