@jjj42 

 

Hey

 

This has been asked a number of times, sadly the EAP Wall units are unlikely to ever get roaming enabled, this is by design

 

The Wall units are designed for dormitories / hotel rooms where the user is in one room and therefore has no need for roaming, all communications will be to that one Wall AP in that room.  Basically static or low travel usage, kinda strangely makes sense

 

EAP (standard ceiling variety) are the opposite and is designed for areas for semi-static and high travel, therefore tend to be more expensive and higher powered.

 

The terms Static, Semi-Static and Travel are used in site surveys to indicate how long a device will be connected to that AP.  

 

Static is desktops / laptops used that don't move for 2+ hours (working in hotel room for example)

Semi-Static is laptops / phones / tablets that may be used statically for 30min-2 hours (likes in a lobby, busy office or restaurant)

Travel devices are as they say, devices passing by quickly.  Eg someone walking through reception on a VOIP call, or standing in a hall for 2-3mins using a tablet.  Therefore fast roaming is necessary

 

EAPs that have a higher travel will likely require a higher capacity radio, faster processing and quicker response to be able to deal with a dynamic changing number of clients.    Wall EAPs therefore are lower spec, lower capacity and don't need fancy antenna tech.. as they serve x number of devices with very little change. 

 

Hope that helps!

 

Hi there, do you mean that the device (for example a phone) won't roam even if it goes right next to the 2nd wall-AP while the 1st (associated one) is far away and has low signal? Even after some seconds?

@eliasbats 

 

Basically yes..

 

If your setup doesnt have roaming then the device is left to make the roaming decision itself, and generally is awful at it.

 

It depends on device vs device but generally, in a non roaming WiFi setup (just 2 APs uncontrolled with the same SSID on each) it will hold onto the first AP until it either

1. loses connection

2. the RSSI / DBi hits a threshold where the device thinks it cant sustain a connection that is worthwhile, this could be at 10mbps or less.

 

I have seen it with extenders, homeplug WiFi and repeaters all the time.   You could literally be standing next to the 2nd AP and its still got a -75dbi (basically nothing) from the first AP and it will still not move as the first AP is "connected".

 

The reason for this, the device isn't aware of other APs in the area that it can roam too, therefore it holds on till death.. it then disconnects and starts to rescan for the SSIDs in its known list, once its found one it reconnects.  Its not a ROAM rather a disconnect / reconnect and will kill any connection / call / video you had active at the time.

 

If a controller is involved and roaming enabled, the controller will alert the device to the other APs it can use and tell it to move.  This could be in advance of leaving the first APs range or could be proactive to offer a better connection (less contention, faster speeds) if it moves to AP2.  The device will then do this and not have to disconnect. 

 

Hope that helps!