RT-AX58U with RT-AC68U AiMesh node - all devices dropping from all networks regularly

[dangkhoa]

Hi folks,

I've been pulling my hair out for a while trying to figure this one out. All of my devices on all of my networks (main network, media device network, IoT) will regularly drop out simultaneously. This has been going for months now, and seems to happen once or twice a day for anywhere between 1-5 minutes before devices begin reconnecting.

I was able to catch a log of this event occurring, which I've attached and can't show inline due to post character limitations.

My network setup is as follows:

* Main router: RT-AX58U, running AsusWRT-Merlin 3004.388.10
* AiMesh node: RT-AC68U, running AusWRT-Merlin 3004.386.14_2 (connected to main router via wireless backhaul)
* YazFi 4.4.8
* YazDHCP 1.2.1

I did see this thread regarding a similar error message (wlceventd_proc_event(662): wl0.2: Disassoc D4:9C:DD:78:F4:31, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0) but this error is happening for basically all devices it seems.

Looking for any help here - wondering if my AiMesh node is the culprit here, but loathe to give it up since I don't have great coverage on the first floor of my house without it, and unfortunately my house isn't wired up with Ethernet so I have to use wifi backhaul.

 

[bbunge]

While it should be OK to run Merlin on the AC68U the Asus firmware for it is newer. You should give the Asus firmware a try on the node.
Do you have all the Aimesh settings on Auto or at the defaults?
Do you have the router WIFI on fixed channels and bandwidth? Also, avoid the DFS channels as the router switching channels can cause the problem you mentioned.

 

[dangkhoa]

While it should be OK to run Merlin on the AC68U the Asus firmware for it is newer. You should give the Asus firmware a try on the node.
Do you have all the Aimesh settings on Auto or at the defaults?
Do you have the router WIFI on fixed channels and bandwidth? Also, avoid the DFS channels as the router switching channels can cause the problem you mentioned.

The node's Backhaul Connection Priority is set to 5GHz Wifi First, and Ethernet Backhaul connectivity is disabled; other than that, all other AiMesh settings are default/auto.

Router itself is also on auto for channels/bandwidth for both (2.4GHz: 20/40MHz bandwidth; 5GHz: 20/40/80MHz bandwidth). At one point I had them manually set, but I've read conflicting information about whether it's better to manually or automatically set channels, as well as using channels other than 1/6/11 on 2.4GHz.

I will try putting a newer AsusWRT (non-Merin) firmware on the node router.

 

[Tech9]

Lock the channels and channel bandwidth, 2.4GHz the channel that works best @20MHz and 5GHz channel in non-DFS range @80MHz. Don't rely on Smart and Auto. If your router starts channel hunting your devices will be disconnecting constantly, some won't reconnect immediately or at all. Further down the road replace the ancient RT-AC68U with something better. You may get another RT-AX58U used quite cheap. Make sure it's the same hardware revision as yours, there is V1 and V2 with different hardware inside. Two identical routers running the same firmware and updated at the same time have better chance to work well together. Good luck!

 

[dangkhoa]

I set to 20MHz and 80MHz respectively, and selected channels based on my local area (used a wifi analyzer app on my phone to identify the best channels). I'll report back if things improve.

 

[Tech9]

For testing purposes set 2.4GHz Ch.6 and 5GHz Ch.36. Wi-Fi Analyzer apps don't show channel utilization (or channel available bandwidth) and are mostly useless for finding the best channel. The channels no one around uses are usually not the best ones. There is a reason no router/AP is using them. Don't hurt yourself with wrong tools.

 

[gk802]

I've been seeing something very similar...basically a "mass reconnection event" that occurs a few times a day. Looking back in the logs, for me, it began roughly concurrent with version 10_0 (1H October). I haven't spent much time investigating it because I haven't seen any negative effects, and I basically laid it off to either a change in the logging or something similar. The messages vary by device...disassociation due to "unspecified reason", or "inactivity" or "sending station is leaving", then a nearly immediate reconnect. Each device seems to pull a new DHCP lease upon reconnection. I also thought it might be driven by DHCP lease renewal, but the timing doesn't seem to correspond to either the lease expiration time or 1/2 the lease period. My setup: RT-AX86U (all devices connect to it). RT-AC68U as media bridge only. No AIMesh. Fixed channel on both wireless bands.

 

[degrub]

"sending station leaving" is possibly weak RSSI from the client to the AP, ie the client radio may not be able to push enough power into the signal. A closer/repositioned AP may solve the issue. Inactivity may be power savings on the client.

 

[dangkhoa]

For testing purposes set 2.4GHz Ch.6 and 5GHz Ch.36. Wi-Fi Analyzer apps don't show channel utilization (or channel available bandwidth) and are mostly useless for finding the best channel. The channels no one around uses are usually not the best ones. There is a reason no router/AP is using them. Don't hurt yourself with wrong tools.

I'll give these channels a try. I was previously on 11 and 44, respectively. What tools would you recommend I use for wifi analysis?

 

[Tech9]

Not sure what tool is good because I use UniFi systems and they have built-in environment monitoring. Haven’t tested any 3rd party tools lately. The tool has to show channel available bandwidth, otherwise is useless.

 

[RMerlin]

Modern Asuswrt-Merlin models will display channel usage on the Wireless Log page. I believe Winfi also reports it (at least it used to back in the 1.x days, I haven't checked if 3.x still does).

 

[Tech9]

RT-AX58U good? If Yes - problem solved, this is the tool.

 

[dangkhoa]

Looks like I just had another disconnect event. As @gk802 mentioned, this appears a lot in the logs:

Nov 29 12:23:54 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): wl0.2: Disassoc F8:51:28:0B:04:15, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0

 

[Henkan]

Been there done that. Don’t mix AX and AC routers in a mesh net.

 

[dangkhoa]

I'll try turning off my AC router altogether and hopefully the coverage on that side of the house isn't too bad...