Wifi band steering

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May 4th, 2022 11:23 am

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Mar 17th, 2022 9:06 pm

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

Mar 17th, 2022 9:06 pm

Wifi band steering

I wanted for it to work, so my devices connect to 5 GHz, then when they are far away from the access point they switch to 2.4 GHz because it's range is longer, then when they get closer to the AP they reconnect to 5 GHz. But it never worked for me. So, I use separate SSIDs for the 5 and 2.4 GHz bands and connect most of my device to 5 and not capable ones to 2.4.

I wonder if anyone had a system where band steering worked. Please share your experience.

16 replies

Mar 17th, 2022 9:43 pm

TE7: Sr. Member; Apr 13, 2009; 870 posts; 391 upvotes

Mar 17th, 2022 9:43 pm

It depends which AP do you have. Here is how to configure it for TP-Link AP using EAP Controller. You must have hardware controller or run controller software in order wifi band steering to work.

https://www.tp-link.com/ca/support/faq/2092/

Mar 17th, 2022 9:53 pm

hk1989: Jr. Member; Dec 31, 2021; 109 posts; 61 upvotes; Coquitlam, BC

Mar 17th, 2022 9:53 pm

your router and phone need to support this functionality

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Mar 17th, 2022 11:25 pm

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

Mar 17th, 2022 11:25 pm

TE7 wrote: ↑ It depends which AP do you have. Here is how to configure it for TP-Link AP using EAP Controller. You must have hardware controller or run controller software in order wifi band steering to work.

https://www.tp-link.com/ca/support/faq/2092/

Do you have this system? Does it work for you? I use Ubiquiti, they have an option for band steering but it never worked for me as intended.

Mar 17th, 2022 11:27 pm

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

Mar 17th, 2022 11:27 pm

hk1989 wrote: ↑ your router and phone need to support this functionality

What router and phone do you have? Does band steering work for you? How about other devices besides the phone? I've never heard about client support for band steering. What phones do support this?

Mar 18th, 2022 9:02 am

TE7: Sr. Member; Apr 13, 2009; 870 posts; 391 upvotes

Mar 18th, 2022 9:02 am

alpovs wrote: ↑ Do you have this system? Does it work for you? I use Ubiquiti, they have an option for band steering but it never worked for me as intended.

I do have it at office. It works as intended. I don't think it is worth for you to switch just because of this feature.

+1

Mar 18th, 2022 9:56 am

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 13045 posts; 7857 upvotes; Brampton

Mar 18th, 2022 9:56 am

Unifi's Band steering used to work pretty well but around V4 of the firmware it kinda sorta stopped working so well.

They have a beta 6.2.9 That works better if you want to give it a try. Caution if you have a lot of of IoT or consumer electronics on 2.4Ghz. Their firmwares since 4.x has been pretty buggy.

It's true tho your Devices need to have a proper working implementation of Fast Roaming and bug free radios on both bands like an iOS or Surface device and little to no IoT on that particular SSID for this to really shine.

Mar 18th, 2022 10:01 am

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

Mar 18th, 2022 10:01 am

tebore wrote: ↑ Unifi's Band steering used to work pretty well but around V4 of the firmware it kinda sorta stopped working so well.

They have a beta 6.2.9 That works better if you want to give it a try. Caution if you have a lot of of IoT or consumer electronics on 2.4Ghz. Their firmwares since 4.x has been pretty buggy.

It's true tho your Devices need to have a proper working implementation of Fast Roaming and bug free radios on both bands like an iOS or Surface device and little to no IoT on that particular SSID for this to really shine.

I read about the 6.2.9. We'll see how it will work. I was on 5 and now on 6.0.x something and no problems with IoT or other devices. But on separate SSIDs for bands.

I thought fast roaming only works for roaming among the APs.

Mar 18th, 2022 10:09 am

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 13045 posts; 7857 upvotes; Brampton

Mar 18th, 2022 10:09 am

alpovs wrote: ↑ I read about the 6.2.9. We'll see how it will work. I was on 5 and now on 6.0.x something and no problems with IoT or other devices. But on separate SSIDs for bands.

I thought fast roaming only works for roaming among the APs.

Yes and no. In a way moving from 1 radio to another is similar it needs to fast authenticate.

Mar 19th, 2022 3:33 pm

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

Mar 19th, 2022 3:33 pm

@EEE2, @Iluvdeals2018, you were vocal proponents of Ruckus access points. Do Ruckus APs have a working band steering system as described in the OP?

Mar 19th, 2022 4:44 pm

Callister: Sr. Member; Mar 8, 2013; 530 posts; 1974 upvotes; Toronto

Mar 19th, 2022 4:44 pm

Works by default on a Netgear Orbi Router and its satellites. Both 5.0 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands use the same SSID.

Outside the home, like pulling into the driveway, dual-band capable devices initially connect at 2.4 GHz. Moving inside, devices will switch to 5.0 GHz. The reverse 5.0 GHz to 2.4 GHz happens when leaving. Some clients are old, like the Samsung Galaxy A50 (2019) and a Moto X4 (2017), but work just fine with band steering.

+1

May 2nd, 2022 9:54 pm

Iluvdeals2018: Jr. Member; Aug 26, 2018; 144 posts; 154 upvotes

May 2nd, 2022 9:54 pm

alpovs wrote: ↑ @EEE2, @Iluvdeals2018, you were vocal proponents of Ruckus access points. Do Ruckus APs have a working band steering system as described in the OP?

Sorry haven't logged in a while. Yes Ruckus does have band steering along with a whole list of other advanced features that are far beyond my knowledge level. These are professional grade access points designed for enterprise use. The good thing is that pretty much the default settings work amazingly well; best wifi I have ever experienced hands down.

May 2nd, 2022 10:21 pm

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

May 2nd, 2022 10:21 pm

Iluvdeals2018 wrote: ↑ Sorry haven't logged in a while. Yes Ruckus does have band steering along with a whole list of other advanced features that are far beyond my knowledge level. These are professional grade access points designed for enterprise use. The good thing is that pretty much the default settings work amazingly well; best wifi I have ever experienced hands down.

Thanks. Which AP do you have? Does band balancing work for you? It is not on by default.

May 3rd, 2022 7:53 am

Iluvdeals2018: Jr. Member; Aug 26, 2018; 144 posts; 154 upvotes

May 3rd, 2022 7:53 am

I own a pair of Ruckus R610 I bought used on ebay. Highly recommend these if you can find a good deal used. They typically go for $200 used on ebay and approx $1000 each if purchased new ; definitely do no recommend buying new for home use.

Feature highlights:
https://www.netwifistore.com/datasheets ... x-r610.pdf

How to enable band steering. AKA band balancing:
https://docs.commscope.com/bundle/unlea ... C6225.html

Hope this helps.

May 3rd, 2022 12:58 pm

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

May 3rd, 2022 12:58 pm

Iluvdeals2018 wrote: ↑ I own a pair of Ruckus R610 I bought used on ebay. Highly recommend these if you can find a good deal used. They typically go for $200 used on ebay and approx $1000 each if purchased new ; definitely do no recommend buying new for home use.

Feature highlights:
https://www.netwifistore.com/datasheets ... x-r610.pdf

How to enable band steering. AKA band balancing:
https://docs.commscope.com/bundle/unlea ... C6225.html

Hope this helps.

I had already looked this up. The page you linked is a bit outdated. There is a new option "Adaptive Band Balancing" in addition to the main. Its purpose is to kick clients from the 2.4 GHz to the 5 GHz band after they associated with 2.4.

Does band balancing work for you? What percentages did you try?

May 4th, 2022 10:54 am

Iluvdeals2018: Jr. Member; Aug 26, 2018; 144 posts; 154 upvotes

May 4th, 2022 10:54 am

I haven't tried the adaptive band balancing feature as everything works excellent as is. I may tinker with it though.

May 4th, 2022 11:23 am

alpovs [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7441 posts; 5071 upvotes; SW ON

May 4th, 2022 11:23 am

Iluvdeals2018 wrote: ↑ I haven't tried the adaptive band balancing feature as everything works excellent as is. I may tinker with it though.

I can tell you it doesn't work.

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