Pixel 9 with WiFi7 not connecting at WiFi7 on NWA130be or the 6ghz Band at all.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @jpblanch75,

Thanks for the privilege! I apologize for my delayed reply. Please be assured that I have reproduced this issue by adding my device to your organization. It also occurred on other devices when connected to the 5G SSID. Since your SSID setting differs from the SSID we used in our office, we are investigating it now. I will let you know once we have further information.

P.S. We have collected the packets we needed when reproducing, so you don't need to collect them on your end.

jpblanch75

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/72503#Comment_72503

What settings are different because I have tried many different settings to try and resolve this.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @jpblanch75,

We use 2.4G, 5G, and 6GHz bands in one SSID.

But we noticed that three Pixel 9 are using 802.11BE today.

We have another test in our organization and site with the same configuration as yours, and the clients use 802.11BE.

We are conducting a deep investigation and I will keep you posted.

jpblanch75

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/72569#Comment_72569

Only 2 of my 3 access points are capable of 802.11be. When any of those Pixel 9 devices are connected to the NWA50ax Pro they won't show that they are 802.11be capable. That's why you are seeing it change in my client list.

Also, if you disable 6ghz in that ssid you use I bet you stop connecting at 802.11be.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @jpblanch75,

But from the client list I attached, two of your Pixel 9 are connecting to one NWA130BE and the rest of them are connecting to second NWA130BE🤔

I thought your issue is your Pixel 9 sometime can connect to NWA130BE with WiFi7, but sometimes it is only WiFi6.

Additionally, in our second testing, the SSID configuration disabled the 2.4GHz and 6GHz band, and we get the result that the WiFi7 devices are connecting with WiFi7. And they were connecting with WiFi6 when the NWA130BE is under your site.

jpblanch75

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/72580#Comment_72580

When I was looking at the list I wasn't seeing what you attached. Maybe it was holding on to old data but what I said stands true.

I can only connect to Wi-Fi 7 on 6ghz...Originally I couldn't but then it started to work. I have not been able to connect to Wi-Fi 7 at 5ghz or 2.4ghz.

jpblanch75

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/72580#Comment_72580

An update on this would be great!

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @jpblanch75,

Sorry for the delay. We investigated this issue with the full SSID configuration and radio band combinations.

Let me share the conclusion: The WiFi 7 client's behavior causes it to decide not to use WiFi7 but WiFi6 when your SSID configuration and radio band combination is 5G & WPA3 with transition mode.

We will release new firmware to enhance it and solve this issue. The current workaround is to use 5GHz & 6GHz band in one SSID.

jpblanch75

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/72730#Comment_72730

I really don't understand what you are saying here. I've used WPA3 and WPA2. They all produce the same results.

So you are telling me that if I combine 5Ghz and 6Ghz on the same SSID I'll get 802.11be for both 5 and 6 Ghz? This is odd after yopu told be this above: "Additionally, in our second testing, the SSID configuration disabled the 2.4GHz and 6GHz band, and we get the result that the WiFi7 devices are connecting with WiFi7."

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @jpblanch75,

Please allow me to correct some information first.

"Additionally, in our second testing, the SSID configuration disabled the 2.4GHz and 6GHz band, and we get the result that the WiFi7 devices are connecting with WiFi7."

After checking with our engineer, this result is based on the testing firmware which will be implemented in the next release. Sorry for the confusion.

I really don't understand what you are saying here. I've used WPA3 and WPA2. They all produce the same results.

Let me explain more:

• WPA3 Security Mode Condition:
  In the current 7.00 firmware release, we have observed that certain Wi-Fi 7 capable stations establish connections in 802.11ax mode instead of 802.11be when using WPA3 security configurations.
  Our engineering team has implemented comprehensive security enhancements in the upcoming beta firmware (v7.10) to optimize WPA3 operations. Internal testing with various Wi-Fi 7 devices, including the Intel BE200, Samsung S24 Ultra, and iPhone 16 Pro, has demonstrated successful 802.11be connections with WPA3 security mode.
  This enhanced firmware version is scheduled for release in Q1 2025. We recommend waiting for this upcoming release to ensure optimal Wi-Fi 7 performance with WPA3 security configurations.

• WPA2 Security Mode Condition:
  When a Wi-Fi 7 AP is configured with WPA2-PSK encryption, a Wi-Fi 7 station will most likely connect using the 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) mode instead of 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7). The following factors influence this behavior:
  • Backward Compatibility:
    • Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is backward compatible with earlier Wi-Fi standards, including 802.11ax. However, WPA2-PSK encryption was designed before Wi-Fi 7 and does not fully support advanced 802.11be features such as Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and wider channel utilization.
    • As a result, Wi-Fi 7 devices tend to revert to 802.11ax when WPA2-PSK encryption is used.
  • Encryption and Feature Compatibility:
    • WPA2-PSK, while compatible with older Wi-Fi standards, lacks support for security and performance enhancements introduced in WPA3. Many advanced features of Wi-Fi 7, such as MLO and enhanced MU-MIMO, require WPA3 for full functionality.
    • When WPA2-PSK is used, the connection typically defaults to the highest standard both devices can support within its limitations—802.11ax.
  • Limitations of WPA2-PSK with 802.11be Features:
    • Advanced 802.11be features (e.g., MU-MIMO enhancements, wider channels, and MLO) require WPA3 encryption. Without WPA3, these features cannot be fully enabled, and the connection reverts to 802.11ax.
• Based on our testing and experience, Wi-Fi 7 devices appear to determine their ability to use 802.11be mode based on H2E functionality, which is a key component of the WPA3 security standard.
  • Similar behavior was observed with other vendors' APs (e.g., Ubiquiti) configured with WPA2, where Wi-Fi 7 stations connected using 802.11ax mode instead of 802.11be.
  • This suggests that the limitation stems from the use of WPA2-PSK encryption, which does not support the advanced features of 802.11be.
• Thus we considered it's station behavior to use the 802.11ax connect to WPA2 security SSID for fulfilling the security requirement for Wi-Fi 7 generation standard.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.