TP-Link Omada AP Mesh Network Troubleshooting Guide

Contents

Objective

Requirements

Introduction

Troubleshooting

Case 1: Fail to discover Mesh AP

Case 2: Unstable/disconnected Mesh AP

Case 3: Clients get slow speed with Mesh network

Conclusion

Objective

The article introduces various ways to troubleshoot an Omada AP Mesh Network.

Requirements

• Omada Controller (Software Controller / Hardware Controller / CBC)
• Omada AP

Introduction

This article applies to: Omada Mesh Devices

Mesh is used to establish a wireless network or expand a wired network through a wireless connection on the 5GHz and 6GHz radio bands. We can use Omada AP products to build mesh networks in indoor and outdoor areas.

Here are the instructions on how to set up mesh with different management methods:

Omada Controller: How to Build a Mesh Network via Omada EAP in Controller Mode

Omada APP: How to Configure your Omada EAP into a Mesh Network Using the Omada App

You might initially encounter difficulties setting up your mesh network or experience performance problems after configuration. To assist you, we've outlined some troubleshooting steps below. We'll cover two key areas:

Root AP: In a mesh topology, APs in the Omada Controller network are accessed via wired Ethernet.

Mesh AP: In a mesh network, APs are managed via wireless uplink

Troubleshooting

Case 1: Failure to discover the Mesh AP

Step 1. Log in to the Controller, go to Settings > Site > Wireless Features to confirm that Mesh and Auto Failover are enabled.

Step 2. Ensure the mesh AP is powered and isolated, with no wired connections to the gateway, switch, or other APs. Then, verify if the AP's LED is slowly flashing (4.2 seconds on, 0.8 seconds off).

Step 3. Make sure the mesh AP is within the coverage of the root AP, and try to place them in the same room for the first installation.

Step 4. If the Root AP's 5G band is configured to use a DFS channel, it's expected that the Mesh AP won't be discoverable in the 5GHz band during the Channel Availability Check (CAC) period.

Step 5. Confirm that the Root AP is working on a channel supported by the Mesh AP. It is recommended that the Root AP be deployed to band 1 first.

Step 6. Try changing another AP to the Root AP and discovering the Mesh AP again.

Step 7. Hard reset the APs and try again.

Case 2: Unstable/disconnected Mesh AP

Step 1. Perform a ping test on the computer where the Root AP is located. If the mesh AP cannot be pinged continuously, troubleshooting is recommended according to the steps in Case 1.

Step 2. An unstable mesh connection is likely if a Mesh AP is pingable but experiences high packet loss or latency. Determine the Mesh AP's hop count, as Omada APs support up to three hops. More hops can increase interference and connection issues. Consider reducing the hop count for better performance.

Step 3. Confirm whether the channel utilization of the band where the mesh is located is too high. If so, please adjust it to a bandwidth and channel with less interference.

Step 4. Modify the transmit power of the Root AP

Log in to the Controller, navigate to Devices > Config > Radios > Tx Power to adjust the transmit power to an appropriate level. Remember, higher transmit power can increase interference with neighboring APs. To improve connection stability, gradually decrease the transmit power until the issue is resolved.

Step 5. If the Mesh AP can automatically reconnect, check the signal strength on the Omada Controller. Please tap on the Mesh AP to view the signal quality between it and its parent access point.

Generally, a signal strength of -30dBm is excellent, -60dBm is normal, and -80dBm is weak. If the signal is weak, please relocate the Mesh AP closer to the Root AP or switch to a different uplink AP.

Step 6. If the disconnected AP won't get back online after all these steps, please forget it on the Controller or hard reset it and try to add it again.

Case 3: Clients get slow speed with Mesh network

Step 1. If the client connects to the Root AP and receives slow speed, please refer to the following steps:

• Connect a PC directly to the front router/ switch and check whether the wired speed is normal.
• Confirm if settings such as bandwidth control are set up on the router/switch.
• Confirm if the Rate Limit is configured and enabled on the AP.
• Change the Ethernet cable from AP to the front router/switch.
• Check the signal strength and the distance from the client to the AP during the speed test.
• Check for any obstacles between the AP and the client or if the speed is normal when the client is closer to the AP.
• Check whether there are multiple APs located near one another.

• Check if the channel utilization is high: Change the channel, channel width, and TX power, then test the speed again.

• Confirm if the Multicast-to-Unicast Conversion function is enabled.

• Ensure the AP’s firmware is the latest. Reset the AP and create a new SSID (or keep the default SSID) for the speed test.

Step 2. If the client connects to the Mesh AP and gets slow speed, please refer to the following steps:

NOTE: Because Mesh APs share wireless bandwidth with connected clients, their performance might be lower than that of those directly connected to the Root AP. This can result in slower speeds. The following factors could be contributing to this issue:

• Confirm at which hop the Mesh AP is located. The larger the number of hops, the greater the interference or loss of the mesh connection, which will also affect the speed test results. You can reduce the hops for a better user experience.
• Check the signal strength of the associated clients. If the RSSI associated with the client is less than -75dBm, it may result in a low negotiation rate. Check whether the client and the AP are too far apart and confirm whether there is any obstruction between them.
• Check whether there are multiple APs located in close proximity.
• Check if the channel utilization is high. Please change the channel/channel width/TX power, then test the speed again.

• Confirm if the Multicast-to-Unicast Conversion function is enabled.

• Make sure the AP’s firmware is the latest. Reset AP and create a new SSID (or keep the default SSID) for the speed test.

Conclusion

If the problem still exists after trying the above steps, please contact TP-Link technical support for further help.

To learn more about each function and configuration, please go to the Download Center to download the manual of your product.