WhatsApp speed on Wi-Fi varies based on connection quality and device performance.
WhatsApp speed on Wi-Fi varies based on connection quality and device performance.
ChickenPhoYou
03-24-2016, 08:41 AM #1I have recently set up a new wireless access point to get better coverage (a Ubiquiti bullet M2 outdoor AP). The thing works pretty well for most things, and I get pretty decent speed and coverage where I need it, so in that sense I got what I was after. But then there's this issue it seems to have mainly when I use whatsapp (and possibly other services alike). In the middle of a conversation there are random moments where communication with the AP appears to stop for no reason and no messages can come in. Then after about 20-30 seconds or so the connection recovers and a few messages will come in, messing up the order of the thread because I sent something during that dead time. The weird thing is it does all this at maximum signal strength without ever disconnecting. Regardless of distance to the AP. I've checked pretty much every setting there is and nothing seems to affect the problem much. When it comes to networking aspects, the AP is set up to be as dumb as possible, no routing, no firewall no nothing, so in theory it should do nothing at all to the packets. It is also difficult to test, because it only occurs when chatting on Whatsapp. Web browsing goes without any issue and every speed test shows ping times well under 20ms. What I'd like to know is if any of you knows an obvious reason why this might be happening, or has had the same experience with this AP. (perhaps I should point out that I didn't have this problem on my old crappy AP.)
SpieleFresser
03-25-2016, 12:35 AM #2The issue isn't immediately clear from your description. It could relate to the Rocket M2 device, or possibly another component within the network, or even a combination of factors. Here are some considerations: The Bullet M2 is a wireless radio that works with both omnidirectional and directional antennas. Are you currently using one? If you have a directional antenna, signal strength may drop at the edges of the Fresnel zone, leading to intermittent disconnections. External WiFi sources in your home or nearby areas might cause interference or competition. With multiple WiFi signals present, clients may prefer stronger ones, causing them to connect there instead. This can result in the problems you're facing. The Bullet M2 operates on WiFi 4 technology, lacking MU-MIMO support. As more devices connect to a single access point, maintaining performance becomes harder. The best fix would be upgrading to WiFi 5 (WiFi 6) or 6 with MU-MIMO capabilities, or disabling unused client devices. Video and voice applications typically use significant bandwidth. If your main router lacks built-in QoS or traffic management, other devices can disrupt voice or video streams. You may need to prioritize these traffic types using QoS settings or enable advanced traffic control if your router supports it.
coolkiefer12
03-25-2016, 02:29 AM #3Omni antenna works well too. The connection stays strong without any drops. It keeps happening even close to the AP (within 1 meter). I’ve confirmed it’s using the least busy channel. That’s a good observation, though the previous router was also WiFi 4 and had the same problem. With only a few devices connected—about four or fewer—and when my phone is the sole client, the issue persists. This might be possible, but the router hasn’t changed and remains unchanged from before, with identical settings.
Lord_Typhoon
03-25-2016, 08:52 AM #4Check the wireless survey output. In AirOS > Wireless, set Access Point WDS to disabled. Switch to 802.11 mode and change the channel to G/N or just N if possible. Set the channel width to 20Hz (or 40MHz if available and you can use wireless-N). Turn off channel shifting. Choose a frequency with no overlap with other WiFi broadcasts. Enable WPA2 security, using PSK for authentication. In AirOS > airMax, disable it. Configure Network settings: Bridge Management, static IP address, then add your LAN IP details.
- 802.11 limited to b/g/n; b-support isn’t available (no b-clients found)
- 40MHz channels aren’t supporting connections
- Narrower than 20 MHz won’t work, possibly 10 or 8 MHz is a Ubiquiti option not in the standard
- WDS is enabled, but disabling it hurt coverage and speed
- Performance improved significantly when WDS was on, especially with airMax
- Site survey suggests placement on either a low or high channel; currently on channel 13, which seems suboptimal
xAndersalsdux
03-27-2016, 07:41 AM #5I used these configurations except for:
- 802.11 limited to b/g/n; b-support isn’t available (no b-clients found)
- 40MHz channels aren’t supporting connections
- Narrower than 20 MHz won’t work, possibly 10 or 8 MHz is a Ubiquiti option not in the standard
- WDS is enabled, but disabling it hurt coverage and speed
- Performance improved significantly when WDS was on, especially with airMax
- Site survey suggests placement on either a low or high channel; currently on channel 13, which seems suboptimal
FatihTerim
04-14-2016, 10:33 PM #7Identical outcomes are observed. All my client devices work with version 13 without issues. The issue remains consistent across different channels.
" model. As you can see, signal strength or interference isn’t an issue for me. This photo was taken from a distance away from the AP, otherwise the signal would be stronger. (Not the weird SSID, I’ve tested other ones)
YaschiCraft
04-26-2016, 07:12 AM #9I have all the WiFi gadgets I own—laptops, phones, printers, a few microcontrollers—and everything functions properly. Yes, mine is the "" model. As you can see, signal strength or interference isn’t an issue for me. This photo was taken from a distance away from the AP, otherwise the signal would be stronger. (Not the weird SSID, I’ve tested other ones)