Android phones frequently losing WiFi connection to Hub 2 router

[#1]

We've recently upgraded to Full Fibre (FTTP) with a Hub Two router. We have not made any alterations to the router's settings. We have simply connected a laptop and phones using the supplied login details.

Our problem is that 2 Android phones frequently lose their WiFi connection. One minute they can show a reasonably strong signal strength. A minute later the WiFi connection has been lost. A minute or two later the connection is re-established. An iPhone used in the same room (in the same person's hands) does not experience this problem.

I know next to nothing about the technicalities of WiFi but I have had a look at the router's Technical Log and see frequent messages of the form "19 Jun. 2.4G client Mac: 3E:11:43:3B:E5:38 Deauthentications (Reason:Deauthenticated because sending station is leaving (or has left) IBSS or ESS)". What does this mean? Might it be relevant?

I would appreciate any suggestions as to how we might solve this problem.

[#2]

Are you using the same router as previously?

The log messages mean that the device has decided to change its Wi-Fi connectivity, typically changing between 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands.

What you report leans towards over aggressive Wi-Fi roaming on the part of the Android phones - see this https://teacherscollege.screenstepslive.com/a/1011369-android-os-wifi-roaming-fix and if the options are there, do the opposite of what is recommended here to make the roaming more aggressive, be less aggressive.

[#3]

Thanks for your quick response.

It's a new router. We previously had a Hub One. With that router we did see occasional disconnections on one phone, but not so frequent as to be a nuisance.

The problem that I've described is not caused by us moving around. It happens when we are sitting in one place using our phones.

If the problem is that the phones are trying to switch between 2.4GHz and 5GHz, is it possible to disable 5GHz? Would that help? Is that something that I would do in the router's settings?

I've not heard of WiFi Roaming. I'm not sure my phone (it's a Moto with Android 12) has that ability. I think the nearest relevant setting is "Turn in WiFi automatically" in Network Preferences. The Settings screen says that if this is on (which it is) "WiFi will turn back on near high quality saved networks, such as your home network." This works well when, for example, we come home after being out.

[#4]

I've found where in the router's settings I can switch 2.4GHz and/or 5GHz on/off. Would it be a good idea to try switching 5GHz off? Are there downsides?

[#5]

@barneagle 

If you only use 2.4GHz wifi you will limit the download to a maximum of 70Mbps, where as 5GHz can give up to 500 Mbps depending on the device being used and product you have.

Have you checked to see if the wireless spectrum is congested for the channels the Hub is using.

Google Play store, search for WiFi analyser, I use WiFi Analyzer Author Kevin Yuan, others are available.

In >Advanced settings >Wireless change 2.4 GHz to a lesser used channel

[#6]

Thanks, Dan.

I shall see what I can learn from WiFi Analyzer.

[#7]

There are a number of influential factors.

If a device supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz and both bands offer the same SSID (mandated on Hub 2 optional in Hub 1) then the device will monitor all available stations offering the SSID.  Are there any WAPs in the network?

Relative signal quality will fluctuate depending on other networks using the WiFi spectrum.  There are also similar characteristics within the router if channel selection is set to auto.  Depending on the competition on the channels, the router can decide to switch channels … which can cause clients with aggressive roaming to flip connection options.

For most purposes, switching off the 5GHz band (if you cannot control the Android behaviour) might be the most pragmatic solution … IF this behaviour is giving rise to real usage issues.

The strength of WiFi signals will vary by design depending on what is happening in the environment.  Aggressive roaming can then be problematic.

[#8]

@barneagle 

With the Hub Two it is possible to see the signal strength at the time of connection.

Navigate from the Home page >Advanced settings >Technical log >Event log.

You need to refine the event log search from 'All' to 'WiFi' using the category dropdown.

07:48:26, 20 Jun. 5G Client associate from 6c:2f:8a:nn:nn:nn (IP=192.168.10.164) RSSI=-62, Rate=390Mbps, host

07:31:09, 20 Jun. 5G Client associate from 0c:c4:13:nn:nn:nn (IP=192.168.10.101) RSSI=-67, Rate=702Mbps, host

22:42:21, 19 Jun. 2.4G Client associate from b4:b0:24::nn:nn:nn(IP=192.168.10.160) RSSI=-55, Rate=72Mbps, host

22:42:21, 19 Jun. 2.4G Client associate from b4:b0:24::nn:nn:nn (IP=192.168.10.161) RSSI=-61, Rate=72Mbps, host

I have a Pixel 7 Pro currently 

08:26:58, 20 Jun. 5G Client associate from 0c:c4:13:nn:nn:nn (IP=192.168.10.101) RSSI=-67, Rate=585Mbps, host Pixel-7-Pro

RSSI is the signal strength and is a negative figure 0 being high -90 being weak.

Typically only three 2.4 GHz channels are used 1, 6 and 11; this is to prevent channel overlap. The thinking is to use the least used channel which the Hub does, but this signal usage check occurs where the Hub is located not where the user is sitting.

I'd give turning off 5GHz for a while to see if that improves the situation, but be warned some applications might suffer with the reduced speed

[#9]

Thanks, Townman and Dan for your additional replies.

Since switching 5GHz off we have still had some disconnections but, so far as I can see from the Log, many fewer.

Thanks for pointing out the meaning of RSSI. This shows that the signal is weak - generally in the range -75 to -80 when using my phone in the room where we usually notice the problem.

I wonder whether it's worth trying moving the router to different locations. I have a Cat5e cable about 10 metres long. The router's set-up instructions say I must (or should) connect using an ethernet cable with red ends. I've tried googling to learn what red ends mean but have failed. The one I have has grey ends. Could I create any problems by trying to using it?

I'm trying to see what I can learn from WiFi Analyzer.
The Channels setting for my router says "Smart (Channel 1)" with options to select channels 1, 6 and 11.

The Analyzer displays seem to change quite dramatically from moment to moment even when I sit still for several minutes.

If I understand it properly the histogram usually shows more devices on Channel 1 than on other channels.
On Channel 1 there is sometimes only one device (my router). Sometimes there are 5 or 6. Mine usually has the strongest signal strength, but occasionally a "Hidden" device appears with a slightly stronger signal.
On Channel 6 there are usually between 0 and 2 devices.
On Channel 11 there are sometimes up to 4 signals, although 3 of them may come from the same BT WholeHome router.

I imagine the star rating screen is intended to suggest which might be the best channel to use.
As I move round the house, and even if I sit still in one place, the star ratings vary significantly. All the channels 1, 6 and 11 often show 9 or 10 green stars, but all sometimes drop to one red star.

Do you have any advice, please, on what conclusions I might draw from this, or what else I should look at?

[#10]

@barneagle 

The Red 'boots' on the cable ends are for clarity for the connecting up instructions only so any cat5e or above cable should work. A repositioning of the hub may have some advantages.

Yes, the stars are an indicator of which channel is best to use.

The unnamed signal you see is a not used backhaul connection, is a legacy connection from the BT Version which supports the BT discs wifi repeaters, it can be ignored.

Unfortunately signal strength can vary which is unavoidable.

Some 3rd party routers may have better wifi performance with the ability to split the wifi signal names if required.

A simple option would be to try each channel in turn to see which is best for you.

[#11]

Many thanks, Dan.