Band Steering

RouterOS Wireless Networking
21

There is an AC23 (also noted as model AC2100) which I can get in Canada for $99
The AC21 does exist and imagine tis probably around $69 CDn which is closer to $ 44Euros..

Other than one more antenna, I couldnt quickly discern the difference??
https://www.tendacn.com/us/product/forhome-22.html

22

Hi,
it’s 2022, any news on “Bandsteering” on both Routeros 6 and 7?
Thanks, BR

23

Ubiquiti :frowning:

24

Just give one Band more power, make another one weaker, so devices automaticly will connect to the prefered band, if it is your wish…

25

I wish there were some capable wifi devices/vendor aside china-spyware (TP-Link, Zyxel, tenda,…) and ubiquiti cloudbloatware. And no, for a home user with privacy concerns it is out of price-range to go for 500€ enterprise wifi hardware e.g. from ruckus.

26

Pick up an old Cambium e410. They are similar to the r320 from Ruckus .

Want WiFi6… The xv2-2 can definitely be purchased for less than 500 US.

27

Beside Aruba AP-535/AP-555 access points we use Grandstream GWN7660 Wi-Fi 6 certified devices with local VLAN breakout.

  • Integrated cluster, i.e. you can manage all access points from one device. You can also use Grandstream’s cloud or on premise management software.


  • Roaming (802.11k, 802.11v, 802.11r)


  • Airtime Fairness Feature


  • Dynamic VLAN assignment with RADIUS (with integrated controller, too)


  • Works with IEEE 802.3af PoE


  • support band steering, aswell
28

keep in mind:

this way to make 5ghz organic is very good for capacity but sacrifice coverage

29

Just give one Band more power, make another one weaker, so devices automaticly will connect to the prefered band, if it is your wish…

That’s what Mikrotik is telling us for years. But band steering is much more than having different TX power for different bands. This might help if a station newly connects to the network, while some stupid devices will still pick the 2.4G band, even if weaker than 5G.
Band steeering is actively managing clients. If a client approaches the AP and is supposed to switch from 2.4G to 5G for closer range, the AP tells the client to switch band using 802.11v.
If this does not work, the client is deassociated from 2.4G and further connection denied, so the client is forced to connect on 5G. There usually also is a fallback leaving a device back on 2.4G after some attempts for the case 5G connection fails.

30

Cambium. Dò they only offer Cloud Management or on-premise Controller (VMware Image yuck) only? No Others options?

31

I am perfectly happy with Ruckus Unleashed. If you don’t insist on Wifi6, you can get used Ruckus APs on ebay for OK prices.

32

Cloud from manufacture
Private cloud set up by you.
Local interface web browser based.

33

I’ll give Aruba Instant On AP22 a try. Cloud Management only, but 802.11ax for cheap as 117€. Just for SOHO. If it sucks, I can still look out for an used Ruckus AP. R610 is currently for 500€ available brand new, but that’s 4 times the price. Maybe I too find one Ruckus on ebay for 100$ - all these guys on Reddit say. :smiley:

edit:
Aruba Instant On portal sucks. This is some cloud management for absolute non-technical people. Only the bare minimum can be configured and even this little config you can do, is scattered over 10 different screens. You need to search for hidden config icons, where you can maybe adjust a little more. I even have not found out, how to set wifi regulatory domain. it is just impossible. Not even the manual mention terms like country or regulatory domain. And its WPA3 sucked too, as my Intel AX200 was not even able to connect with WPA3 on. What a disappointment. And throuhput? I could not see a dramatically better iperf3 performance compared to Chateau LTE12.

BUT band steering really worked. So please Mikrotik, this is all we need. Some band steering.