In the second of the 7-part series of Enterprise Wi-Fi Myths, Senior Project Engineer and Wi-Fi specialist Mark Rigby shares why ‘all Wireless clients do not see the network equally’.

Myth 2 of 7: All devices see the network equally

The myth that all wireless clients see the network equally is based on the assumption that every device on a Wi-Fi network experiences the same performance, speed, and connection quality. In reality, wireless clients do not experience the network equally, due to a variety of factors related to device capabilities, environmental conditions, network design, and how Wi-Fi itself works. From varying device capabilities to location and network traffic, we learn more about the many different variants affecting your Wi-Fi network’s performance.

Device Capabilities Vary Widely

Misconception: All devices connect to Wi-Fi in the same way, so they should perform equally.

Reality: Different devices have varying Wi-Fi capabilities, including differences in supported standards (e.g., Wi-Fi 4, 5, or 6), the number of antennas, supported frequency bands (2.4 vs. 5 vs. 6 GHz), and supported technologies like MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output). This is why vendor advertised speeds are not typically achievable in the real world.

Impact: A device with a single antenna (1×1) and support for only Wi-Fi 4 will have a much slower and less reliable connection compared to a device with a 4×4 antenna setup and Wi-Fi 6 support. Devices with newer standards can access features like MU-MIMO and OFDMA, which improve speed and efficiency, while older devices can’t. This creates a significant disparity in performance between devices. Slower devices will impact the experience of faster ones.

Distance from the Access Point (AP)

Misconception: All clients within the network’s coverage area should get the same performance, regardless of their location.

Reality: Distance from the AP affects signal strength, speed, and reliability. The further a client is from the AP, the weaker the signal it receives, resulting in lower data rates and increased latency.

Impact: Clients that are closer to the AP will likely experience faster speeds and more stable connections than clients farther away, which may suffer from slower speeds and higher packet loss due to signal degradation. Again clients further away will disrupt closer clients as they will not be able to transmit data at the same rate. The inverse-square law of wireless propagation means signal strength drops rapidly with distance.

Interference and Obstacles

Misconception: All devices in the same room or area should have equal access to the Wi-Fi signal.

Reality: Wireless signals are affected by physical obstacles (e.g., walls, furniture, and floors) and interference from other electronic devices, such as microwaves, Bluetooth devices, or neighbouring Wi-Fi networks operating on the same channel.

Impact: Devices in different locations experience different levels of interference and signal obstruction, causing some to have degraded performance. For example, a client in a room with thick walls between it and the AP will experience weaker signals compared to one in direct line of sight to the AP. Additionally, interference from nearby third party Wi-Fi networks can cause slower speeds and packet loss.

Network Traffic and Client Demand

Misconception: The network delivers the same bandwidth to all devices equally.

Reality: Wi-Fi networks are shared mediums, meaning all devices connected to the same AP are sharing the available bandwidth. Depending on what a device is doing, its traffic demands can vary.

Impact: Devices that are streaming 4K video or downloading large files consume more bandwidth, leaving less for other devices. Some clients will experience slower speeds and increased latency when other devices are using a large portion of the bandwidth. Network scheduling mechanisms, like OFDMA in Wi-Fi 6, can improve efficiency, but legacy devices may still experience slower performance.

Wi-Fi Standards and Compatibility

Misconception: All clients will automatically get the fastest speed possible on the network.

Reality: Devices that use different Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6) don’t experience the network equally. Legacy devices (Wi-Fi 4 or older) may slow down the entire network because APs often need to maintain backwards compatibility. Likewise, some clients do not support all bands available for wireless, and therefore may not receive the benefits 5 or 6GHz brings. Using more congested bands, typically results in a slower experience.

Impact: When older devices connect, they may force the AP to use lower data rates and legacy protocols, which can reduce the overall performance for all clients. A device that supports Wi-Fi 6 can achieve much higher speeds than a device that only supports Wi-Fi 4, even when connected to the same network.

Client Roaming Behaviour

Misconception: Devices always connect to the best possible AP with the strongest signal.

Reality: Devices don’t always roam to the strongest or closest AP, especially if the network has multiple APs. Many devices tend to “stick” to the AP they originally connected to, even when moving away, resulting in poor signal quality and slower speeds.

Impact: A device that remains connected to a distant AP will suffer from decreased performance, while devices near the same AP may perform better. This phenomenon is called sticky client behaviour. Some devices have better roaming algorithms than others, but not all clients will effectively switch to the optimal AP.

Different Frequency Bands (2.4 vs. 5 vs. 6GHz)

Misconception: All clients can take advantage of faster, higher-frequency bands equally.

Reality: Not all devices support all three 2.4, 5 and 6GHz bands. Devices on the 2.4 GHz band may experience more interference and slower speeds due to overcrowded channels and slower maximum data rates compared to devices on the 5 GHz band.

Impact: Devices on the 5 GHz band generally experience faster speeds and less interference, while those stuck on the 2.4 GHz band may struggle with congestion and slower performance. Some older or budget devices might only support 2.4 GHz, limiting their performance compared to newer devices that can use 5 GHz or even 6 GHz (in Wi-Fi 6E).

AP Scheduling Mechanisms (OFDMA, MU-MIMO)

Misconception: All devices benefit equally from the latest Wi-Fi technologies.

Reality: Advanced features like OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) and MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO), which can improve overall network efficiency and performance, are only available to devices that support them. Older devices or devices without these features can still experience slower speeds and higher latency, even on modern networks.

Impact: Clients that don’t support these features will not benefit from enhanced scheduling, leading to inefficiency and lower throughput for those devices. Devices that can use OFDMA or MU-MIMO will experience better performance, but legacy clients will slow down the network for everyone.

Conclusion

In summary, not all wireless clients see the network equally. Understanding these variables is critical for optimising network performance. While newer, more capable devices may enjoy faster speeds and better reliability, older or less advanced devices may struggle with slower connections and delay their advanced counterparts, especially in crowded or high-traffic environments. Therefore, proper network design, device management, and Wi-Fi standards play a huge role in ensuring the best possible experience for all clients.