Some general questions, since I have very limited knowledge about this technical stuff:
If clients are between two APs, how will they react if lets say both APs have about the same signal? Is there a dBm threshold they want to measure against? If better signal on another one then lets move the client to that one instead?
How does the process look like? Will the AP instruct the client (lets say an iPhone) to connect to another AP MAC address or is the AP “releasing” the client and the client will pick up another AP?
How often do clients poll and take a decision if they shall leverage the other AP instead or stick to the current one?
If a client has a better signal on the 2.4 GHz band from AP1 but a stronger 5 GHz signal from AP2, which will be preferred?
If an AP is mounted on a wall I assume the signal backwards (through the wall behind the AP will have a lower signal). If I instead put the AP around 40 cm / 1.3 feet from the wall (lets say on a shelf) will the signal have better chance of penetrating the wall behind the AP? Or will the signal be better bouncing on walls infront of the AP and then backwards through doorways and stuff?
I will leverage the AP-6 Pro for my ~50 wifi clients and I was wondering if the regular AP-6 had been more than enough anyway for my small home deployment. 1 Gbit Up/Down Internet and the clients are mostly talking to online services so the bandwidth internally will not exceed 1 Gbit anyway. I just went with the PRO to be more future proof!
If clients are between two APs with similar signal strength, they typically evaluate which AP provides the better connection. The decision often hinges on factors such as signal strength (measured in dBm), signal quality, and load on the APs. Clients do not use a fixed dBm threshold universally; instead, they use their algorithms to decide when to switch to a better AP.
2. Switching Process Between APs
The process of switching between APs (roaming) is generally client-driven. The client (e.g., an iPhone) continuously monitors the signal strength of the connected AP and neighboring APs. When the client determines that another AP offers a significantly better connection, it will disconnect from the current AP and connect to the better one. The AP itself doesn’t typically instruct the client to move unless it has a min dB set which will force a disconnect.
3. Frequency of Polling and Decision-Making
Clients frequently check the signal quality of their current connection and neighbouring APs. This polling can happen every few seconds to minutes, depending on the client’s operating system and the network configuration. The exact frequency can vary but is designed to ensure optimal connectivity without causing excessive battery drain.
4. Band Preference (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz)
When a client detects a stronger 2.4 GHz signal from AP1 and a stronger 5 GHz signal from AP2, the decision can depend on several factors:
Client Algorithms: Many modern devices prefer the 5 GHz band due to higher throughput and less interference.
Band Steering: Some APs, including the Alta Labs AP6 Pro, can guide clients to the 5 GHz band if it’s deemed more optimal.
5. AP Placement and Signal Penetration
Mounting an AP on a wall can result in lower signal strength behind the wall. Placing the AP about 40 cm (1.3 feet) away from the wall on a shelf may improve signal penetration behind the AP slightly, but it also increases signal reflection off the wall and can improve coverage in front of the AP. This placement can indeed create a better overall signal distribution by leveraging reflections.
6. AP-6 Pro vs. Regular AP-6 for Home Deployment
For a home deployment with ~50 WiFi clients and a 1 Gbit Up/Down Internet connection, the regular AP-6 might have sufficed. The AP-6 Pro offers higher performance, more advanced features, and future-proofing, which can be beneficial as your needs grow. Given your aim for future-proofing and optimal performance, the AP-6 Pro is a solid choice. It ensures you can handle increased demands and new technologies as they emerge.
Hope all the above helps, but if you have any questions please do let me know
