Wireless Access

See screenshot, all of these networks are from IAP-105's running with the virtual controller.  There are only 2 SSID's and 5 Radios.  So the top 5 listed are from one SSID (5 radios) second 5 listed are from second SSID(5 radios)  but 2/5 show b,g,n  3/5 show a,n.

 

I've double checked settings and everything seems to match... I can tell you 2/5 radios were purchased at a different time that the original 3... but they are all on the same firmware, and all settings seem to match.

What is the problem?

We are seeing inconsistant speeds depending on the area of the office we are.  It's my understanding these IAP-105's are "Sticky" APs so we have seen users get stuck on the radio on the other side of the office.... now besides that point we have also seen users with full signal only getting 20-50MBps, they go to the other side of the office get connected to a dif AP and see 300+MBps.  I'm wondering why 3 radios are running one type and 2 running other types...When their configs match and they are the same model radios.

What utility are you using to report the SSIDs in the screenshot?  You should use an alternative utility to compare.  The first screenshot had channel 5.  Did you add channel 5 to the regulatory domain?

I don't have the Channels limited:

 

I would use another utility to double-check what is being seen.

But even clients are seeing a weird mix of AN, GN

Looks like you have 40Mhz enabled on the 2.4Ghz channels, that should be removed as some client scan utilities don't report 40Mhz 2.4Ghz scanning properly. Additionally, from the first utility you showed, it looks to only be showing the radio phy rate, not the actual data rates. I agree with Colin, find a new/better utility, and if need be open a TAC case to have them analyze your config if need be. I find it hard to trust the output from scanning tools that report irregular data. 

Those were newly enabled (80MHz suport and Wide Channel bands for both frequencies)  just to see if that would increase my overall speed.

 

 

I'm working on getting my support contract renewed atm, and will reach out once thats complete.

 

 

1. Check the output of "#show ap bss-table" on the IAP. 

2. Try using different utilities from different devices. 

3. Try the command "netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid" from a windows command prompt to check the channels. 

4. Collect an air-capture on different channels from a macbook (or any other tool you have) to verify it on the pcap. 

 

If all the results are conflicting with the IAP outputs, raise a TAC case as said above. 

bss-table command only seems to show one radio, that one radio is outputting 2 of each SSID

Prime example, all of a sudden I have "limited access"  but everything looks ok with the exception of speed and signal...

 

Also note that the "Mailroom" AP is not the closest AP to me, but for some reason my connection jumped over to it.... the only fix for this was to disable my wireless card on my laptop and re-enable it... it then grabed the closest AP, and my signal strength is good, but speed is iffy.

 

any update here on my replies?

I would start with TAC once you have your support contract renewed. Unfortunately this board has limited resources to deep dive issues. I also notices you have muddled with your basic and supported rates (at least as far as the netsh output reflects in one of your screencaps). It seems lots of settings have been changed, so rolling back to defaults and starting fresh might be a good place to start.

 

Good luck!

Where do you see that the basic and supported rates were "muddled" with?  The only thing I can think of is I set bandwidth limits "per radio" on our Guest wireless.  

 

I'm working on getting those renewed now, and I'll call in.

The screenshot here: http://community.arubanetworks.com/aruba/attachments/aruba/unified-wired-wireless-access/58778/1/Capture.JPG shows high basic rates.

Oh okay,

I did un-tick the box to "Customize valid Channels" a while back as a troubleshooting step, this is what they show now:

 

Well, we don't know what you have enabled or disabled, so you should open a TAC case so that they can sort it out.  Quite frankly, going back to the defaults is the best solution.  The only thing that should EDIT: NOT be be left at the defaults is the min and max transmit power, which should start out at 12 and 18.

 

My min is 18 max is 24 right now.  I was under the impression that 23 was the max per FCC regulations, and even if I set it higher, the radio it self would regulate.

should it be 12 min 18 max?

You will have roaming issues if you set it anywhere close to the max. If you set it to over what it is approved for it will limit it to the approved power.

Min should be 12 and Max should be 18 to start. Everything else should be at the defaults.

Thanks,

 

Everything should already be defaults... the things we've changed were to troubleshoot the connectivity issues we've seen.  Last time I called into Support they explained that these IAP-105's are "sticky" clients, so roaming doesn't really happen automatically... is this true?  what kind of range do these have at 12dBs? 18?  (we are on a single floor, roughly 20,000 sq ft, and have 5 of these scattered throughout the office space, mounted in the ceiling.

The range is dependent on how high they are mounted and the materials and obstruction in your individual environment.  Having the power at maximum creates issues.  APs are not sticky, clients are sticky depending on the environment.

10 ft cielings with drop ceiling cardboard tile... so interference should be minimal.  We are in an industrial building so there are metal studs... and radios are spread accordingly.

Hi jfrish, 

 

If I've understood correctly, you now have five IAP 105 units broadcasting 2 ssids. So you expect 5 bssids on b/g/n and 5 bssids on a/n. But you see different b/g/n and a/n counts on your tool. 

 

I don't see any bssids on the screen shot. You need a tool that would show the bssids and you have to check that against the "# show ap bss-table" output from you IAPs. 

I purposed removed the SSID's in the first screenshot, here they are: