Best solution for single AP band steering

[ttc0419]

If I have a single router with two bands using a same SSID. Will usteer or DAWN help for roaming or they only work in multi AP setup? Is enabling 802.11r alone enough?

[brada4]

11r has nothing to do with roaming as such. It is just faster roaming when client supports it and intends to roam.

you need wpad-mbedtls in place of wpad-basic-mbedtls and usteer to enable roaming hints for devices not willing to roam on their own. dawn is for more complex setups.

[ttc0419]

Could you provide an example config for this setup? usteer recommends:

roam_scan_snr '-65'
signal_diff_threshold '8'

But since there's only one AP, roam_scan_snr '-65' alone should be good?

[brada4]

@ttc0419

example config

just do not change any parameter at all.

[roi120495]

Hey brada4, just checking. will usteer actually work or do anything on both bands of the same router with the same SSID even if I don’t set roam_scan_snr? Thanks!

[brada4]

It steers pessimal clients every 2 minutes

Best approach is to measure - restart 5ghz radio and in 5 minutes record clients not returned.

Now enable usteer wait another 5m

It is not wrong, just that with modern clients it is nit needed.

[roi120495]

Alright thanks, should I disable 802.11r in wlan roaming settings? I already had this option enabled way before setting up usteer (didn’t changed any parameters in usteer)

[brada4]

11r is <.6s roaming using crypto quackery, very useful for Voip phones that actually support it. Does roughly nothing with normal clients roaming in 1-2s and getting TVs buffering either way.

[timur.davletshin]

There was a hack long before advanced roaming extensions which helped clients to stick to one particular band, let's say 5GHz, - just increase beacon interval for 2.4 radio on your AP (500 ms @2.4Ghz and 100ms @5GHz is good starting point). 5GHz band will be discovered earlier. Worked virtually on every dual band client I had my fingers on. Reconnection time... - it totally depends on client, roaming extensions just reduce it. If your clients can roam - enable it. If they don't - drop it.