How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client

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How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client

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How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client
How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client
2020-12-13 22:47:15 - last edited 2020-12-13 23:10:32
Model: RE505X  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.0.9 Build 20201013 Rel. 184524

Hello

 

I only have bought a re505x and set it up as an Access Point (AP). I am going to separate my WiFi network for old and the newest wifi standards by using re505x for modern devices simultaneously with an old one Wi-Fi AP for more older ones.

So I set "802.11ax only" option in Wireless Settings section of re505x. To have only 802.11ax devices being connected to it.

 

 

As I had set "802.11ax only" I was expecting only devices that use the protocol. But to my surprise in "Status" -> "Wireless Clients" I saw, and see, devices that I know for sure don't support the latest 802.11ax protocol.

I know the protocol has announced backward compatibility to previous standard so I guess some, for example, 802.11ac device might connected. But all this very confusing. If I set 802.11ax only option I expect only 802.11ax devices, exactly as it states.

Now it is not clear if my AP has switched into 802.11ac compatibility mode completelly and all my devices are connected as 802.11ac, even the most modern ones. Or some of them nevertheless are working as 802.11ax ones.

 

It would be nice if one can see what protocols are used by devices in his WiFi network. But it looks like the only information that AP provides is frequency. I can see a device is connected at 5GHz but can't say if it is 802.11ac or 802.11ax.

My question is how could I determine which one protocol is used by a WiFi client? Maybe there is an option enabling this functionality or I mislook something?

 

 

P.S. To tell the true I am very disappointed. The product boasts on its box a lot about its features, such as Wi-Fi6 speed, Target Wake Time and so on. But declines you to see any details about them being working. How could I say, for example, that my smart electric bulb uses target wake time if I even can't say in which mode WiFi  5 or 6 my AP operates. Even my old cheapest router from the past showed at what protocol devices were connected. :(

 

Here are screenshots of my Settings section and a list of connected wi-fi clients.

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#1
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Re:How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client
2020-12-16 09:29:59

Would someone from TP Link take a look on it?

I would be great if adding client protocol representation was considered as a feature request.

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#2
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Re:How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client
2020-12-17 03:33:34

@snaut81 

Good day,

802.11 ax is backward compatible to previous standard, so 802.11n and 802.11ac devices could still connect to the Wi-Fi but they are not able to reach the 802.11 ax speed.

 So if you want to separate the 802.11 ax devices and non 802.11 ac devices, you could have a check of the wireless link speed on the 5ghz network;

If the link speed over 5ghz was 867m/s—1200m/s, it should support 802.11ax protocol.

https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/2265/

Thank you very much.

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Re:How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client
2020-12-17 10:18:29 - last edited 2020-12-17 10:22:56

@TP-Link thank you for your answer.

 

Unfortunately I can't check link speed because only 802.11ax devices I have at the moment are Apple iPhone and iPad and that is not possible to see neither speed nor protocol or even frequency (5 or 2.4). As far as I understood there is a limitation in iOS operational system.
At all Apple forums they suggest to go to the router and check the things there. Well but with re505x I have the same suggestion but in opposite direction. =(

 

I have understood there is no such a functionality in re505x at the moment. But it would be really nice to have protocol or speed details about connected devices. If it is implemented in one of upcoming firmware updates it will make me (and I believe many others customers) very happy.

If it is possible thank you in advance. I will very appreciate that.

 

One more question if you don't mind.

802.11 ax is backward compatible to previous standard, so 802.11n and 802.11ac devices could still connect to the Wi-Fi but they are not able to reach the 802.11 ax speed.

Does that mean that link speed of 802.11ax devices is downgraded to 802.11n or 802.11ac capabilities when one of such devices is connected to the same access point?

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Re:How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client
2020-12-21 07:28:33

@snaut81 

Hi,

Yes, if the  802.11ax compatible devices are connected to the 802.11n/ac only access point, the link speed on the ax device is downgraded to n/ac standard.

vice versa, when 802.11 n/ac devices are connected to the 802.11ax access point, the link speed would still be n/ac standard.

 

Thank you very much.

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Re:How could I determine what Wi-Fi standard is used by a particular client
2020-12-21 08:27:48 - last edited 2020-12-21 15:26:55

 

TP-Link wrote

... when 802.11 n/ac devices are connected to the 802.11ax access point, the link speed would still be n/ac standard.

@TP-Link thanks for answering but that is not exactly what I asked about.

 

When we have an AX access point with AX devices being connected to it then everything obviously is alright - everyone works at AX speed. But then an AC device comes and connects to the access point.

I understand the AC device would work at AC speed not AX. That's pretty clear.

 

The question is will all the rest AX devices continue work at AX speed if an old AC device has connected to the access point?

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