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Two machines randomly dropping off AP7 WiFi

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Zach
Hey forum, looking for some tips or debugging help for two machines on my AP7 network that keep having cases where they lose internet access for a couple seconds and then reconnect. This is quite bothersome for ongoing video calls/streams, as you can imagine. I can see from the app the point where all network activity drops and then spikes back up when it seems to reconnect. I’m not sure how to dig in further. The two machines are Win11/10 and the app says their connectivity strength fluctuates between -64dBm and -80. I have two AP7 and have tried using the optimize feature, but it doesn’t seem to have helped. Thanks!
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    Firewalla

    Can you look at what channel these two devices are connecting to? Check this link https://help.firewalla.com/hc/en-us/articles/35673830268691-Firewalla-Access-Point-7-Troubleshooting-Guide#h_01JKC8SK7QBEC2159W59PMXDFC and scroll down a bit to "DFS and 5ghz" section

     

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    Zach

    Machine 1(stream) is on channel 64. Machine 2(game) is on 128.

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    Firewalla CM

    @Zach, channel 64 and 128 are both DFS channels. Some devices may not support DFS channels. Can you try manually selecting a non-DFS channel for the 5GHz band for your AP7s and see if that works?

    For reference, these are the non-DFS channels: 36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165

    Go to Wi-Fi > Access Points tab > select an AP7 > scroll down to 5 GHz band > tap Channel > Manual > select any channel that is non-DFS. (see here for more info)

    Or, if you are in 1.64.1 beta, you can disable the DFS channels automatically in the Wi-Fi settings. (see here)

    Let me know if this works.

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    Zach

    Ok I have set one AP to 161 and the other to 153. I should note one of the two disconnecting devices(stream) is using 6 GHz band. Unless there’s some way we could track, we can only tell if the network interruption happens while actively using it, like on a call. I guess I could try having it netcat connect to the Firewalla every second can record when it fails. It would also be interesting to see a history of which AP it is connected to, I suspect it might be switching APs.

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    Support Team
    • Edited

    What are these devices having connectivity issue?

    Is the AP using wireless backhaul or wired backhaul?

    For wireless backhaul, if the RSSI between the two APs is low (e.g. < -70 dBm), the satellite AP may trigger backhaul scan to find a better uplink to connect, which may cause intermittent connectivity issue. In this case, all devices connected to this wireless backhaul AP may have the issue.

     

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    Zach

    Both are Windows desktop computers , one is windows 10, the other on windows 11. Both APs are on wired backhaul

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    Firewalla CM
    • Edited

    Hi @Zach,

    How far are the computers from the AP7? 

    Have you experienced any improvements in connectivity since switching to non-DFS channels?

    Edit: I have created a ticket for you and we will follow up through there.

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    tapethis

    I have a similar issue. I have 2 AP7 Ceilling units connected to a Ubiquiti POE switch that is connected to a firewalla gold. Devices drop every 30 minutes, and DFS is turned OFF. The AP channel is set to automatic, but they are already on non DFS channels.

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    Larry

    Still happens to me randomly as well; it used to be primarily our phones, but this week I started having the issue with laptops.  When I get in this weird dropped cycling state eventually the ipv4 DHCP data shows everything self assigned so nothing works.

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    Firewalla

    @tapethis, I've created a ticket for you.

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    Firewalla

    @Larry I have created a ticket for you as well. 

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    David Koppenhofer

    @firewalla
    Is there any update about this issue?

    I just bought a few AP7D's, and I'd like to know if anything has happened on these tickets.

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    Zach

    @David, unfortunately I didn’t have much luck fixing my issue. Not to anyone’s fault. Firewalla support was very helpful, but I never could figure out the issue. I ended up running a LONG ethernet cable to the machines having trouble.

    Hope others had success.

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    Firewalla

    David Koppenhofer best create a ticket. There are so many different dependencies on wifi, including things like DFS, WPA, and even the placement orientation. 

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    David Koppenhofer

    Thanks, Zach. Too bad the root cause was never identified. 

    @firewalla I don't actually have my APs yet. I just wondered whether I'm going to catch any flack from my wife for dropping $$ on network equipment that makes her experience worse. I won't worry about it any more unless there's an issue. 

    Looking forward to receiving my order and putting them into service.

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    Larry

    FWIW, I still have the issue on some of my Apple devices.  As soon as I fire up a second (or 3rd) AP all hell breaks loose and the devices drop randomly or connect but don't get DHCP, so still offline.

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    David Koppenhofer

    Oh, I hope Apple devices don't have a problem. The only Apple device is my wife's iPhone...

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    Larry

    In my case it is my wife's iPhone 16 Pro Max that suffers the most, which in turn causes me to suffer.  As soon as she maths out that I spent $720 (or whatever) to add two AP7Cs that I can't turn on without her losing WiFi connection every few minutes I'm done for.  ;)

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    Firewalla
    • Edited

    Larry can you check your case, or I can help to create you a new one. Our support was trying to contact you may 27th; they can still help you out with the issue. 

    We just release 1.65.1 to beta, which likely will improve things a bit.  https://help.firewalla.com/hc/en-us/articles/40423986646035-Firewalla-App-Release-1-65-FireAI-App-Routing-and-more#01JXW3QJT5XV8A9SQM20JRM7N9

     

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    David Marcus

    I’m having the same problem with my three new AP7s. They randomly fall off the network then reconnect after a time. I’ve turned off storm control, DFS and band steering. Signal strength is usually better than 70 dBm but sometimes not for one or all. If I want to keep them — and my marriage — it looks like I’m going to have to wire at least the AP7 that’s in my wife’s office unless there is wisdom here. I’m using a Gold Pro with app 1.65.1.

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