Band Steering 5ghz/6ghz
I'm using an iPhone 16 Pro Max and I'm finding the phone is very quick to switch off of the 6ghz band back down to the 5ghz. Currently band steering is enabled on the AP7
In my office which is 25ft away from the AP7 and within almost direct line of sight with no walls in between, I'm surprised that the iPhone is reverting down to the 5ghz network. Previously I used the Asus ET12 and I found every 6ghz capable device easily held onto the 6ghz band anywhere in the apartment (it's a small NYC apartment). Being in NYC, even the 5ghz network is heinously congested (I can see 2 dozen SSIDs when scanning for networks) so I always prefer to use the 6ghz at all times.
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I am wondering how Firewalla has the 6ghz power tuned (not sure if it is configurable differently between 2.4/5/6?). Is the default Firewalla 6ghz broadcast power significantly lower than the Asus?
I do not have AP7 (waiting to order one) but I do have a single UniFi U7 Pro and it has given me a lot of issues with iPhone 16 Pro. I have AP in my office and in my bedroom with fairly direct line of site about 25 feet (though through two open doorways). I found that if I hold the phone as I would normally use it my throughput would plummet to about 8mbps. If I held the phone with one finger pinching each side I would end up getting 800+mbps.
I ended up having to drop the 6ghz power to "Low" because the iPhone would hold on to 6ghz with a death grip even when 5ghz was the much better choice. It is possible that Firewalla made some tuning decisions based on similar observations from earlier beta testers?
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After turning off band steering, I've taking note the following:
The iPhone 16 still tends to switch off of the 6ghz when in my office. The 6ghz signal strength tends to be around -77 dBm. When it switches to the 5ghz, signal strength increases to -70 dBm. The phone at this 25ft distance tends to switch back and forth between 6 and 5ghz a few times an hour.
I have a laptop that has a 6e network card and from the same room and distance, it's 6ghz signal is much better at -67 dBm and it does not seem to switch down to the 5ghz.
Obviously the iPhone 16 pro max hardware/software is playing some sort of role in this as it's sitting at a distance/signal threshold that is making it go back and forth between bands.
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iPhone will try to switch band or roam by itself when RSSI is lower than -70 dBm. This is likely why it switched back and forth.
https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/wi-fi-roaming-support-dep98f116c0f/web
I think laptops generally have better wifi signal than phones.
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Band steering is to steer devices when they are idle to more optimal frequency/AP, so it doesn't run that frequently, maybe once per day.
The firewalla controller takes care of roaming part and tells your phone what frequency is the best one. Your phone can listen to not listen to these requests, it is really optional. So "roaming" is a function of the phone, the controller, or a combination of the two.
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