Devices connecting to poor signal

Hi DirtyEddie,

Can you share the network adapter driver version and model of your laptop?

Please check the network adapter driver version of your laptop can support 802.11k/v or not.
Due to most laptop may not support 802.11k/v and has stronger RF capability than mobiles, it could still connect on Node 2 when it move near Node 1. (Maybe you can turn off and turn on wireless feature of your laptop to reconnect when it is close to Node 1.)

Hi DirtyEddie,

I went through the literature on the subject.
It seems macOS does not yet support 802.11k and 802.11v.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206207
https://framebyframewifi.net/2017/08/20/macos-wi-fi-roaming/

May I know how do you check devices don’t connect automatically to stronger node?

And what is the distance between nodes? How is the signal strength of backhaul?
Is possible to share the screenshot? You can see below FAQ to check it.
https://homeforum.zyxel.com/discussion/1350/how-to-tell-where-the-extender-node-connects-to-in-the-network#latest

About the problem, below are several possible scenarios:
1. Maybe nodes are too close each other.
2. Most laptop/desktop may not support 802.11k/v and has stronger RF capability than mobiles, it could still connect on far node when it move near node. You may need to turn off and turn on wireless feature of your laptop to reconnect when it is close to that node.
3. Client device does not support 802.11k/v to cause it won't change connection when AP sent the steering suggestion. Steering behavior, it is depend on client device decision.