EAP 245 + Omada, connectivity issues
Configuration
Two EAP245-v3, latest firmware (2.3.0 Build 20190731 Rel. 51932), connected over Gigabit Ethernet to Cisco 3750G PoE switch, located at a fair distance between each other, configured with non-overlapping channels (1,11 for example).
Omada controller v 3.2.1 running on a Linux box, connected over Ethernet to the same switch.
Four SSIDs at both 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz.
Fast roaming, dual band 11k report enabled. Force disassociation disabled (but same results with Enabled)
Airtime fairness disabled (but same results with Enabled)
Band steering disabled, Mesh disabled.
QOS: WMM, Unscheduled Automatic Power Save Delivery - enabled. No Acknowledgement disabled.
Cloud access enabled.
Multiple (~12) mobile devices connected. Phones, laptops, some IoT devices (connect to a separate SSID).
Interference (as reported by Omada) is marginal on both APs and both 2.4 and 5 Ghz.
The Problem:
The network is unpredictable. At times I get very high performance, and seconds later (without changing location), speed drops to close to zero. Changing from one SSID to another usually solves the problem (but these two SSIDs are equivalent - only the name is different).
Sometimes my devices are connected (as reported by both the device itself, RSSI, and the Clients tab in the Omada controller), yet data doesn't get through.
I don't see a lot of (or any) Tx, Rx errors / dropped packets, even when this issue persists.
At times, Omada may report high utilization of an access point (both Tx and Rx) with very few, and sometimes no clients are connected (and definitely none of the clients is creating this pressure on the AP).
At times, my devices report ‘incorrect password’ to the WiFi, even though it is correct (and in fact unchanged). RSSI is pretty good, -52 dBm for instance (this is not a reception issue - These issues happen even if I am a few meters of the AP, and sometimes even standing right next to it). Some permutation of resetting everything multiple times helps - I am yet to figure out what is the winning sequence.
Reset for the router sometimes seems to fix the issue, sometimes not.
I’ve done some root cause analysis:
- Changed the Switch
- Powered-on the APs using the supplied PoE power supply
- Changed various configurations (WiFi bands, transmit power, airtime fairness, see above)
- I’ve tried disabling Omada controller
- I’ve changed the cables
- I stopped short of spraying the APs with holy water. Other than that I think I tried everything.
I’m seeing excellent reviews for this product (that's why I bought it), yet in my environment, I’m seeing the performance that’s worse than a consumer-grade AP from 7 years ago..
I appreciate your help