How to Improve Wi-Fi Client Stability and Reduce Roaming Issues?

Zyxel_Jami

Client devices, particularly stationary ones, can experience frequent disconnections and undesirable roaming between Access Points (APs). This typically occurs in environments with multiple APs, where devices encounter weak signal strength, high channel utilization on bands like 2.4GHz, and struggle to maintain a stable connection. In such scenarios, devices may continually switch between APs or bands, leading to poor performance.

Adjustments

To enhance client stability, several network parameters can be tuned:

• 5GHz Power Adjustment: Increasing the transmit power of the 5GHz radio on APs can improve signal coverage and encourage devices to connect to the faster, less congested 5GHz band.
• WLAN Limiting Speed / Minimum Data Rates: Setting appropriate minimum data rates helps ensure that only clients capable of maintaining a stable connection at a certain speed remain associated, preventing very distant or weak clients from consuming airtime inefficiently.
• Band Steering (5GHz Preference): This feature encourages dual-band clients to connect to the 5GHz band, offloading traffic from the often-congested 2.4GHz band and improving overall network efficiency.
• SSID Tagging to Specific APs: For devices that are stationary and require a very stable connection to a particular AP, dedicating an SSID to that AP can prevent unwanted roaming and ensure consistent performance.

Configuration Steps

Follow these steps to improve client stability and manage roaming:

1. Increase 5 GHz Radio Power:
   • Identify the AP closest to the affected client devices.
   • Increase the 5GHz radio power on this AP.
2. Optimize WLAN Limiting Speed / Minimum Data Rates:
   • Adjust the WLAN limiting speed or minimum supported data rates on your radios.
   • For 2.4GHz, consider setting the minimum rate to 5.5 Mbps.
   • For 5GHz, consider setting the minimum rate to 12 Mbps (if not already set to the highest beneficial quantity).
3. Enable 5GHz Band Steering:
   • Turn on the feature that steers devices connected to an SSID from 2.4GHz to 5GHz. This encourages clients to utilize the less congested 5GHz band for better performance.
4. Consider SSID Tagging for Specific Devices (Advanced):
   • For highly sensitive or critical stationary devices, consider creating a dedicated SSID.
   • Tag this SSID to only broadcast from the nearest Access Point to ensure these devices always connect to their intended AP and do not attempt to roam.
   • Refer to Zyxel's guide: "How to configure a unique SSID on specific APs in Nebula" for detailed instructions.

Notes

• Client Roaming Decisions: Remember that roaming decisions are primarily made by the client device (STA), not the AP. AP configurations influence client decisions by altering signal landscapes and available options.
• Monitoring: After making changes, continuously monitor client behavior and connection stability to evaluate the effectiveness of the adjustments.