@Kevin_Z 

Dear Kevin,

Thks for the info.  I unfortunately didn't read the info before updating.

The reason why I want to downgrade is because it seems (not sure) that wifi coverage seems to be different with different versions of the firmware.  I have a baseline result with version 1.0.6 (V1_220330), have a tolerable result with 1.0.9 (V1_220330), but have annoying results with the versions in between and this 1.1.0.  This is why I am attempting to downgrade to the previous versions.

I guess that sort of teach you.  Sometimes the benefits of upgrade are questionable; perhaps unless you have a definitely identifiable reason, it's less annoying/time-consuming to not upgrade.

Thks again.

@Kevin_Z

Configuration:

• One-mesh network with AX-55 & 4 RE205 extenders
• 10-year-old toshiba (2.4G Wifi-5 only) with fixed location; it's within overlapping wifi coverage of the router & multiple extenders.  This machine is used to ping different network elements inside and outside the network.
• Signal measurement: NetSurveyer on the Toshiba.
• No bluetooth devices used.

Problem:

Despite having the strongest "beacon strength (dBM)" from the router, the toshiba would sporadically connect to the extenders.  When connecting to an extender, the bandwidth is usually lower, but the more annoying problem is pinging the extenders would fail unpredictably (would not if connected to the router).  Since the toshiba is used to assess the health of the network, when connecting the the extender, this makes interpreting the data harder and more erratic.

The toshiba seems to connect to the router more consistently with some versions of the router's firmware, i.e. 1.0.6 and 1.0.9, but seems to be more sporadic with other versions.

Suspect:

Maybe it has to do with beam-forming technologies on the router?  That's why firmware is a suspect.

To do:

I'll collect more signal data and post more.

Data here:

The first picture is when I first connected to the network today.  The toshiba first connected to the extender (the MAC ending with 30:ea).  But seeing the signal strengths, I manually disconnected (through Win7 Wireless Network Connection panel on the taskbar) and reconnected again, now the toshiba is connected to the router (the MAC ending with 85:00).  But this doesn't always work, more often, the toshiba would reconnect to an extender anyway.

As you can see, the channel selection is most likely not a suspect.  The only competition to the one-mesh network is weak an far-away.

Here's when the signal from the router is really good.

  @Kevin_Z

see above.

  @Kevin_Z 

Well, I suppose at this point I can conclude that the reason why I keep getting connected to the extender is because its antenna strength/beacon strength is stronger or at least is equal.  Whether or not different versions of firmware from this one result in the router sending a stronger signal in this direction is all speculative at this point.  It's hard to measure anyway because the signals seem to fluctuate regardless.

Thx for asking.

  @Kevin_Z 

And also, with one-mesh setup, it seems you can't change the channel/channel-width anyway.  Seems to be automatic configuration.

Regards,

  @Kevin_Z 

The adapter is Atheros AR9002WB-1NG wireless adapter.  The other devices I don't pay attention to because connecting to either the router or the extenders are just fine.  It's the PC that is used to monitor the network that I would have preferred connecting to the main router al all time.

What I am sort of suggesting is perhaps the firmware changes how the routers send signal into different direction.  Using some firmware is more preferable for the reason I mentioned.

this seems to be my issue also,

I am trying to revert back to 1.09 as that worked great but been having issues recently like my ring cameras locking onto an extender out of range and not sending video.
Old wifi N devices cant seem to connect unless its to the wifi extender.
Also if my phone drops from 5g to 2.4g it has a connection error and when i use wifi analyzer the 2.4g sporadically appears and dissapears.