2 AP's Seen When Client Device Scans RB-532/XR2 AP

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

I have just setup a new AP using the MT RB-532 and the Ubiquite XR-2 Mini PCI.
At the AP is a Radio Waves 19db 90degree HPOL sector, the MT RB-532 is setup as 2Ghz-10Mhz.

For the client device we use the MT RB-112 and CM-9 with the ROO2 2.4Ghz 14dbi assembled for HPOL also set as 2Ghz-10Mhz.

When I scan for AP’s from the client device the scan list populates with 2 AP’s (2 channels) from the same MT AP.
The scan results at the client device shows Freq. 2452(-39) and 2412(-90), but should only be showing 2452.
The MAC on both scanned AP’s are identical.

As a result the Client Device will associate and de-associate continually.
I have set both the AP and the Client Device identical regarding Data Rates, & Security (WPA2 PSK tkip)

The AP log shows the connection, disconnection-reassociation, & banned (last failure re-associating) twice, seems as it should only log one event rather than 2 events.

When at the Client Device scanning, the reults of the scan are as seen below:

Likewsie while at the Client Device I notice that when it connects it does so on 2452 and only connects with a 1MB TX/RX value before disconnecting.
I am in an absolutely un-obstructed LOS of the AP too!

The new AP wireless setup using the following values

0    ;;; WLAN Wireless Interface
      name="wlan1" mtu=1500 mac-address=00:15:6D:63:10:C8 arp=enabled 
      disable-running-check=no interface-type=Atheros AR5413 
      radio-name="00156D6310C8" mode=ap-bridge ssid="GigaNet AP4 T1 24 H" 
      area="" frequency-mode=regulatory-domain country=united states 
      antenna-gain=0 frequency=2452 band=2ghz-10mhz scan-list=default 
      rate-set=configured supported-rates-b=1Mbps,2Mbps,5.5Mbps 
      supported-rates-a/g=6Mbps,9Mbps,12Mbps,18Mbps 
      basic-rates-b=1Mbps,2Mbps,5.5Mbps 
      basic-rates-a/g=6Mbps,9Mbps,12Mbps,18Mbps max-station-count=2007 
      ack-timeout=dynamic tx-power=17 tx-power-mode=card-rates 
      noise-floor-threshold=default periodic-calibration=enabled 
      periodic-calibration-interval=60 burst-time=disabled dfs-mode=none 
      antenna-mode=ant-a wds-mode=disabled wds-default-bridge=none 
      wds-default-cost=100 wds-cost-range=50-150 wds-ignore-ssid=no 
      update-stats-interval=2m default-authentication=yes 
      default-forwarding=yes default-ap-tx-limit=0 default-client-tx-limit=0 
      proprietary-extensions=post-2.9.25 hide-ssid=no 
      security-profile=network_wpa_prof disconnect-timeout=3s 
      on-fail-retry-time=100ms preamble-mode=short compression=yes 
      allow-sharedkey=no

Has anyone got any suggestions or words of wisdom as to how to overcome this issue?

Thanks in advance for any help too…

2

The 5 and 10 MHz channels show side bands.
At -39 I would suggest going to a smaller antenna and reducing your radio power of your CPE.

That said, a 27 dB XR2 and a 19 dB Sector equates to 46 dB.
Reduce the power of the AP to 7 dB to stay legal.

The reason for 7 dB is that the XR 2 has a default offset of 10 dB, so at 7 dB it is actually set at 17 dB. 17 + 19 = 36 (4 Watts).

Anything higher and I would be inclined to think that was illegal almost anywhere.

-39 is severely over driving your radio. Try to accomplish a signal strength on the connection at the mid 60s (~ -64), as these are the best connections in my experience.

3

Thank you very much for the information and suggestions, I will try those tomorrow!

Should I select Ant. A OR B using the Ubiquite XR2?
I saw in various different posts that people are indicating that Ant B would be the proper choice for the XR2.

Thank you for your time

4

The XR2 only has one.
Select Antenna A

5

This morning I reduced the TX power of the RB-532/XR2 based AP down to 7db.

At present I don’t have any lesser gain 2.4 Client Antennas on-hand, so I reduced the TX power of the RB-112/CM9 based Client Device to 12db.

I managed a connection to the AP with a noise floor of -102db an Ack of 28 (within 100’ of AP 20 degrees beyond 90 degree coverage of Radio Waves Sector)
and a TX/RX Signal Strength of -70/-69.

TX/RX CCQ: 63-51
SNR: 32db
TX/RX Rate: 18MB/24MB
The connection stability seems to ocassionally deteriorate- I notice that when connected to the AP and viewing the Traffic that the TX OR RX will display “zero”, not usually both similtaneously though.
When I run Freq. Usage scans I am the lone stranger using 2Ghz-10Mz

I can log onto AdultSwim.com and play virtually any video without any jitter or pause what-so-ever.

Any suggestions on performance troubleshooting/improvement would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your time…

6

-51 on the rx is still very high.
At 100 feet a 14 db roo2 with 12 dB is still too strong.

You can probably get away with a 2-3 dB omni on the CM9, or reduce your power on the CM9 yet again to around 5 dB.

These are just guestimates as I am not familiar with your environment.

EDIT:

Keep in mind that using a 10 MHz channel does not mean that 11b or 11g will not influence your results, as they most certainly will.
The difference is that the noise that does affect your link most will be found mostly within the 10 MHz channel you occupy as oppose to 20 MHz which influences 11b and g.

7

OK I will have to locate a reasonably priced outdoor enclosure to utilize on the Client Devices as that is why I use the ROO2 compartment antenna.

That is very intersting how b/g can still influence 2Ghz-10Mhz, I just assumed it would provide some form of protection…

On a positive note: I have been tweeking on both the AP & Client Data Rates- At this point I have tried allowing 6MB-12MB and could only manage 856kB of bandwidth at the client side.
At this bandwidth streaming video sucked pretty bad!

Then I tried only allowing a 6MB Data Rate and managed 1.2MB of bandwidth at the client side.
To stress test it I chose to look for more intense videos than are offered at AdultSwim.com and went to MGM.com and began running trailers without so much as a hickup or studder!!!

I appreciate your help and in-sight

Thank you