Why Does WiFi Performance Decrease with Multiple APs?

Zyxel_Jami

When multiple APs operate in the same environment, WiFi performance may decrease due to co-channel interference, channel congestion, or environmental obstacles.

A common cause is when nearby APs operate on the same channel. In this case, the APs must share airtime and bandwidth, which can reduce throughput and impact signal quality.

Other factors may include:

• High channel utilisation, especially on 2.4 GHz
• Physical obstacles such as walls, floors, or metal structures
• Overlapping coverage caused by excessive transmit power

To help improve performance, we recommend:

• Enabling Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS) to automatically choose less congested channels
• Optimising channel width and transmit power settings
• Reviewing AP placement and coverage overlap

Reference guide:
Nebula - How to Fine-Tune Deployment with Radio Settings

Wireless performance may vary depending on the deployment environment and surrounding interference conditions.