topic RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues in ExtremeWireless (WiNG)

Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 22:49:00 GMT

We have an issue which we cannot seem to figure out. We recently upgraded our AP's to 7522's in all of our buildings (370+ AP's). Users are complaining that their handhelds keep dropping their connection (mainframe and RDP). Whats interesting is that users say that it was better on the older 650's we had in place before the upgrade. We have had site surveys done in several of our buildings and added AP's where recommended.

Inventory SSID is WPA2-CCMP
Using smart-rf policay
g-rates disabled

Any idea on what to look at next?

Thanks

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

RobertZ — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:20:00 GMT

Dan what firmware version are you running? What devices are they using?

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

ckelly — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:22:00 GMT

First things...

1) What version of WiNG on the AP650's? versus, what version of WiNG on the 7522's?
2) Did you replicate the AP650 profile for the AP7522's?
3) Same SmartRF policy used for both 650's and 7522's?
4) Same WLAN Profile used for both the 650's and 7522's?
5) Are you 100% certain this problem only started once you began using the 7522's? Could it just be coincidental timing?

If you see a pattern here, we're looking for anything that is different except the AP hardware.
Once you can eliminate any possible configuration differences, then we can start investigating if there might be something at fault that is specific to the 7522, that did NOT exist on the 650.

For those users affected, *how often* does it happen?
Any idea if this client-side problem is affecting ALL users or just some subset?
Possible to take one of the affected units and upgrade its firmware (if there is an update) and then see if it continues to have an issue?

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:48:00 GMT

I had to ask a coworker as a lot of this has happened before my time here.

Current version is 5.8.6.5 on the 9610 and AP's. Users are using 9090's,92N's, and TC8000's.

We have tried updating some guns to latest version and fusion driver and it did not help.

Not entirely sure about the version on the 650's, but we believe it was 5.x.x

With the 650's, we did not use rf-policy.

The 650's had external drop down antennas. Our current 7522's have internal antennas.

WLAN profile is the same.

Co-worker stated that we rarely had issues when we had the 650's. Now we always have reports of issues with the rf guns dropping.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

ckelly — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:52:00 GMT

So it sounds like the AP650's were likely running some older WiNG code...and then when the 7522's were installed, and maybe then at the same time the controller was also upgraded to 5.8.6.5 (and pushed out to the 7522's).

When you say that the 650's didn't use an rf-policy, what does that mean exactly?

What height are the 7522's mounted? (was it the same for the 650's)?

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:08:00 GMT

We didnt use a smart rf-policy with the 650's. We do with the 7522's.

Mounting height was the same for the 650's. It varies from anywhere from 15ft high to 50 depending on the building and location.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:12:00 GMT

I should mention that this is a manufacturing facility with a lot of machines and automation. Not sure if our AP choice is causing these issues.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

ckelly — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:17:00 GMT

75xx series APs with internal antennas have a very good track history in warehouses. The highest I've heard of them being mounted is about 40ft though. 50 foot mountings is really going to be pushing it.

Seeing that you statically channel/power mapped the 650's, I'd really be interested in hearing how they were configured. Do those 650 'objects' still exist on the NX9610 or were they deleted?

Can you post your current SmartRF policy that is being used? Wondering if maybe the radio power on the 650's was set higher than what the SmartRF policy's max value allows for....

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

RobertZ — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:17:00 GMT

How To: How to Collect a Smart RF report from WiNG Wireless ...

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

RobertZ — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:20:00 GMT

Does the problem happen in a particular area, at a particular time or throughout the site?

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:20:00 GMT

It happens throughout the site. Different buildings and different rf-domains.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:30:00 GMT

there are only several places where they are mounted that high. The majority are much lower than that.

Here is some info:

wlan INVENTORY1 description Data Collection Device (HH) SSID
ssid INVENTORY1
vlan-pool-member 109
vlan-pool-member 110
vlan-pool-member 111
bridging-mode tunnel
encryption-type ccmp
authentication-type none
fast-bss-transition
802.11v bss-transition
wpa-wpa2 psk 0 xxxxxxxxxxxxx
wpa-wpa2 handshake timeout 800
wpa-wpa2 handshake attempts 3
wpa-wpa2 handshake priority normal
use ip-access-list out BROADCAST-MULTICAST-CONTROL
use mac-access-list out PERMIT-ARP-AND-IPv4
shutdown on-unadoption
controller-assisted-mobility

smart-rf-policy
assignable-power 5GHz min 14
assignable-power 2.4GHz max 20
assignable-power 2.4GHz min 11
channel-list 5GHz 36,40,44,48,149,153,157,161

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

ckelly — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:36:00 GMT

Any particular reason you are tunneling the WLANs back to the controller? (More just curious about this)

The SmartRF policy looks pretty basic.
Do the affected devices use only 2.4GHz or only 5GHz or both?

As Robert asked, a SmartRF Report might be revealing.
Really wondering what power level the APs are being set at by SmartRF....

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:42:00 GMT

I got a smart-rf report for an rf-domain that has been really complaining lately. I cant seem to find a way to attach it.

In this rf-domain, the handhelds have been changed to use only 5ghz. We do have 2.4 enabled on the radios just because there are some laptops out there that do not have 5ghz capabilities.

As far as the tunneling, not really sure. I think it has to do with how our network is separated. Again, before my time here.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

ckelly — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:50:00 GMT

Daniel, you can email the report directly if you'd like. I can share it with Robert.
ckelly@extremenetworks.com

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:50:00 GMT

Thank you Chris. Email going out shortly.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

RobertZ — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:50:00 GMT

or you can upload it here

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

ckelly — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 01:25:00 GMT

Dan, I see quite a bit of recovery activity. Neighbor recovery, coverage-hole recovery, much of it by AP "Ind-Exp-2ndFlShipping-AP-58". Anything special about that AP's location?
(Also seeing this type of activity on the 2.4GHz radios as well, but it doesn't appear to be nearly as frequent)

Question: When the 650's were being used, were the handhelds typically using the 2.4GHz radios?
If a survey was done for the deployment of the 650's, was the survey performed based on 2.4GHz coverage requirements? (not for 5GHz coverage)

What I'm getting at here is that the AP placements may have been surveyed based on 2.4GHz coverage...and then you've moved most of your clients over to 5GHz (all of your handhelds). Based on the SmartRF report and all the power recovery activity, I'm thinking that maybe the coverage doesn't look too good using 5GHz.

You could test this by taking 1 or 2 handhelds and re-configuring them to only use 2.4GHz ONLY and then put them into production for a day or two...or however long would prove if the change made a difference. If you see that the connection issues go away on those devices, then I would conclude that you're dealing with a 5GHz coverage problem.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Daniel_Starosci — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 01:25:00 GMT

Chris, I will have to look into that AP. I believe the handhelds were using 2.4 with the 650's. I will take 2 handhelds and change them over to just 2.4 and see how they do.

RE: Handheld scanner wireless issues

Andrew_Blomley — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 01:50:00 GMT

Hi Dan

Can I recommend that you contact GTAC

https://www.extremenetworks.com/support/contact/

We have a very good wing team that will be able to assist in this matter.

I can see some changes in your WLAN setting that you have configured that could cause problems in old windows mobile devices roaming.

You have enabled 802.11r for example that is not support on windows mobile so will not help.

Can you also attached a copy of the tech support file

thank you

Andy