WiFi (AP and Band) Steering doesn't work

[Manuel_Munich]

My WiFi router supports AP Steering and Band Steering to intelligently direct the clients to the closest WiFi access point and to direct the clients to the 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi bands, depending on the signal strength. This works fine with my two smartphones (iOS and Android). However, with the network adapters "Intel Wireless-AC 9560 160MHz" and "Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265" (Windows 10 20H2) the Steering does not happen, although these adapters support the 802.11k and 802.11v standards.

I use the latest WiFi adapter drivers.
"Roaming aggressiveness" and "Preferred band" setting changes didn't fix this issue.

Does anyone know how to fix this issue?

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @Manuel_Munich

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities.

In order to check this further, could you please provide the following information?

1- Did this configuration/features work fine before? If yes, was there any hardware or software change (Windows® update, driver update, etc.) related to the point when the issue started?

2- Are the wireless adapters the original ones that came pre-installed on the system? Or did you install/integrate them on the systems?

3- Router brand and model:

4- Also, please run the Intel® System Support Utility (Intel® SSU) and attach the report to this thread to gather more details about your system.

• Download the Intel® SSU and save the application on your computer
• Open the application, check the "Everything" checkbox, and click "Scan" to see the system and device information. The Intel® SSU defaults to the "Summary View" on the output screen following the scan. Click the menu where it says "Summary" to change to "Detailed View".
• To save your scan, click Next and click Save.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Manuel_Munich]

Hello @AndrewG_Intel,

thanks for your reply.
The answer to your questions:

1- Did this configuration/features work fine before? If yes, was there any hardware or software change (Windows® update, driver update, etc.) related to the point when the issue started?
No, the AP Steering and Band Steering never worked before.

2- Are the wireless adapters the original ones that came pre-installed on the system? Or did you install/integrate them on the systems?
I installed them by myself, after the OS was installed.

3- Router brand and model:
AVM FRITZ!Box 7490

4- Also, please run the Intel® System Support Utility (Intel® SSU) and attach the report to this thread to gather more details about your system.
SSU file is attached.

Thank you and best regards from Munich
Manuel

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @Manuel_Munich

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

We would like to have some clarification regarding our previous question, #2 (Are the wireless adapters the original ones that came pre-installed on the system?).

We didn't mean about "installing the Wireless drivers". What we would like to know is if the wireless cards (the real, physical cards) came with the computer from the factory or if you integrated them? (did you open the computers and connected the wireless card to the physical slots on the motherboard?).

Also, it seems we just received the Intel® SSU report with only part of the information. We would need the full Intel® SSU log to check this further. Please kindly follow these steps to generate and save the full log:

• Download the Intel® SSU and save the application on your computer
• Open the application, check the "Everything" checkbox, and click "Scan" to see the system and device information. The Intel® SSU defaults to the "Summary View" on the output screen following the scan. Click the menu where it says "Summary" to change to "Detailed View".
• To save your scan, click Next and click Save.

In addition to the previous information, please also provide us with the following details:

1- If this is a laptop, is the computer power source plugged in or battery?

2- Attempted workaround (turn off settings, change power settings, etc.):

3- Environment (office, school, hospital, factory, home?):

4- Details about "Wireless security method":

• Encryption Type (Open, RC4, TKIP, AES):
• 802.1X authentication type (WEP, TKIP, CCMP): 
• Key Management Type (PEAP, EAP-FAST):

5- Details about WiFi network environment:

• Firmware version of the AVM FRITZ!Box 7490 Router:
• Wireless Frequencies in use (2.4 and/or 5 GHz):
• 802.11n or 802.11ac enabled (None/HT(11n)/VHT(11ac)):  
• Channel Width (20 MHz vs. 40 MHz) for 2.4 GHz?
• Channel Width (20 MHz vs. 40 MHz vs. 80MHz) for 5 GHz?
• SSID stealth mode (hidden or broadcast):

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Manuel_Munich]

Hello @AndrewG_Intel,

thanks for your reply.

The Intel NICs were preinstalled with my Intel NUC PC.
I didn't touch it.

Please find the full SSU log attached.

The answers to your questions:

1- If this is a laptop, is the computer power source plugged in or battery?: PC, permanently connected

2- Attempted workaround (turn off settings, change power settings, etc.): temporarily changed and reset driver settings on the Advanced  tab, reset WiFi router

3- Environment (office, school, hospital, factory, home?): home

4- Details about "Wireless security method":

• Encryption Type (Open, RC4, TKIP, AES): AES?
• 802.1X authentication type (WEP, TKIP, CCMP): WPA3
• Key Management Type (PEAP, EAP-FAST): (unknown)

5- Details about WiFi network environment:

• Firmware version of the AVM FRITZ!Box 7490 Router:  07.24-84944
• Wireless Frequencies in use (2.4 and/or 5 GHz): both
• 802.11n or 802.11ac enabled (None/HT(11n)/VHT(11ac)): VHT(11ac)
• Channel Width (20 MHz vs. 40 MHz) for 2.4 GHz? full (channel 1 - 13)
• Channel Width (20 MHz vs. 40 MHz vs. 80MHz) for 5 GHz? full (channel 36 - 128)
• SSID stealth mode (hidden or broadcast): broadcast

Best regards
Manuel

[Manuel_Munich]

The first attachment upload didn't work, next try.

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @Manuel_Munich

Thank you very much for the information provided.

Please allow us to investigate this further and we will be updating this thread as soon as we have more details available.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[tenchelfee]

Hello,

currently i have the following notebooks available:

• hp 250 g6 with intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
• Zenbook with intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
• dell precision 7520 with Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265

They are connected to a fritz 6591 within a mesh environment.

Whereas all my Android phones are shown in the fritzbox as 802.11k and 802.11v capable, all the listed notebooks above are shown as 11k capable only. So AP-Steering is not working for them.

AVM, the producer of the fritz box claims, that they are "only showing" what the clients are supporting. So this is the reason, why I am putting the question right here:

Are the listed chips capable of 11v as stated? Is the Driver update the right one?

How to check manually in windows10, if 11v is really supported?

PS the first 2 listed notebooks received the last update:

Intel® Wireless Bluetooth® Package version = 22.10.0

• Driver version 22.10.0.2: For Windows® 10 using AX210, AX201, AX200, 9560, 9462, 9461, 9260, 8260, 18260, 8265, 18265 

• Driver version 20.100.7.1: For Windows® 10 using 3168, 3165, 7265, 17265

Best Regards

Arno

[tenchelfee]

Sorry, 11k is not working for the notebooks...

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @Manuel_Munich

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Our understanding is that Band steering is a technique used in dual-band WiFi equipment that encourages newer client devices to use the less congested 5 GHz network. Here’s how it works. When a new device connects to the network, the access point will determine if it is dual-band capable (in other words, can the device connect to the 5 GHz band). If it can, the access point will push the device to connect on 5 GHz by blocking any attempt by the device to connect to the 2.4 GHz band.

For more details, please check the Technical Product Specifications for your Intel® NUC Kit NUC8i3BEH, section 1.11.4 Wireless Network Module, page 19.

Based on the previous information we would recommend contacting the Access Point (AP) manufacturer for more assistance. In addition to that, you can check the wireless driver's properties (in Windows® Device Manager > Network Adapters > right-click on your wireless device and select "Properties" > "Advance") and make sure you have the correct setup for your network and router.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @tenchelfee

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities.

We noticed that you have additional inquiries and the wireless cards and computer models are different models than the one described in the original post.

Everyone's situation and environment are unique so we kindly recommend creating a new thread to isolate your case and system configuration, please make sure you add the information of the system model and specs, detailed information of the problem that you are having, plus all the information that you have already added to this thread, so we can assist you better.

Thank you for your understanding; hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @MartinoHelpdesk

We have not heard back from you so we will proceed to close this thread now. If you need any additional information, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician