Why is my client connecting to a far access point instead of the closer one?

Zyxel_Bella

A client device is connecting to an AP that is far away (worse than -82 dBm signal strength) instead of the closer AP (better than -67 dBm signal strength) even though Smart Steering and advanced settings are enabled.

The reason may due to the closer AP broadcast SSID does not support WPA2, which the client device prefers.

Suggestions:

1. Make sure security requirements:
Configure all APs in the network to support the security methods that clients support to ensure consistent behavior across your network.

2. Modify Radio Settings:

 - Disable the "Avoid 5G DFS channel" option and enable the "Blacklist DFS channels in the presence of radar" option. This will improve channel utilization and reduce interference between APs.

 - Change all APs' radio settings to the same mode (e.g., Wi-Fi 6/802.11ax) for better compatibility.

3. Adjust the Disassociate Station Threshold: Set this threshold to around -88 dBm.
This will prompt the client to disconnect from an AP when the signal becomes too weak.