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Wireless clients connecting to 2.4GHz, when 5GHz is also available

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FunkyBoss

Occasional Visitor
My setup is 2 RT-AC86U routers in AiMesh, ethernet backhaul, taking most of the defaults including the "Dual Band Smart Connect". So it's using the same SSID for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. I just upgraded to the latest firmware today: 3.0.0.4.386_40451

What I'm noticing though, is that wireless devices, which are connecting to the remote (non-main) AiMesh node, are always connecting to the 2.4GHz band, even though they are literally sitting right next to the router. I notice that most of the wireless devices connecting to the main AiMesh node, are choosing the 5GHz band. Is there something I have configured incorrectly that is making these other devices always use 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz on the remote AiMesh node? Both are newer laptops, a Lenovo and a MacBook Pro, which I know have 5GHz WiFi support. Or is this possibly some ASUS bug where clients are only choosing 2.4GHz on remote AiMesh nodes?
 
My setup is 2 RT-AC86U routers in AiMesh, ethernet backhaul, taking most of the defaults including the "Dual Band Smart Connect". So it's using the same SSID for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. I just upgraded to the latest firmware today: 3.0.0.4.386_40451

What I'm noticing though, is that wireless devices, which are connecting to the remote (non-main) AiMesh node, are always connecting to the 2.4GHz band, even though they are literally sitting right next to the router. I notice that most of the wireless devices connecting to the main AiMesh node, are choosing the 5GHz band. Is there something I have configured incorrectly that is making these other devices always use 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz on the remote AiMesh node? Both are newer laptops, a Lenovo and a MacBook Pro, which I know have 5GHz WiFi support. Or is this possibly some ASUS bug where clients are only choosing 2.4GHz on remote AiMesh nodes?

A new SDK in the recent firmware seems to improve the chipset WiFi signal. I had to raise the Roaming Assistant 2.4 RSSI threshold from the default of -70 to -62 (so far) to fix a similar 2.4 client problem. Worth trying for your issue.

Also, check for laptop WiFi adapter settings that sometimes offer more control over how the laptop connects... like 'keep scanning for a better connection'.

OE
 
A new SDK in the recent firmware seems to improve the chipset WiFi signal. I had to raise the Roaming Assistant 2.4 RSSI threshold from the default of -70 to -62 (so far) to fix a similar 2.4 client problem. Worth trying for your issue.

OE, I'm not quite sure what RSSI means, but I did find the setting for each in the "Smart Connect Rules" section. Currently for 2.4GHz, RSSI is set to "Greater -52dBm" and 5GHz is "Less -82dBm".. What do these mean, and is there something here that should change to have it at least try to connect to the 5GHz band? I assume this section is also shared between the main routher and the AiMesh node.
 
OE, I'm not quite sure what RSSI means, but I did find the setting for each in the "Smart Connect Rules" section. Currently for 2.4GHz, RSSI is set to "Greater -52dBm" and 5GHz is "Less -82dBm".. What do these mean, and is there something here that should change to have it at least try to connect to the 5GHz band? I assume this section is also shared between the main routher and the AiMesh node.

I said Roaming Assistant, not Smart Connect. It's under Wireless\Professional.

Google RSSI and read about it.

OE
 
Gotcha, thanks! I just made that same update on my router, and those clients now seem to be connecting to the 5GHz!

Cool! Hopefully that was it.

WiFi is hard!

OE
 

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