Mesh Wi-Fi Steering

Mesh Wi-Fi steering optimizes the Wi-Fi connections of individual wireless devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. At the same time, the load is optimized on all wireless access points (FRITZ!Box, FRITZ!Repeater).

Starting with FRITZ!OS 7.10, the band steering and AP steering features serve as the foundation for Mesh Wi-Fi steering. With FRITZ!OS 7.20, Mesh steering is expanded even further.

Prerequisites

  • All FRITZ!Repeaters and FRITZ!Powerline devices are integrated in the Mesh (see Integrating FRITZ! Devices into the Mesh of the FRITZ!Box).
  • The 2.4 and the 5-GHz radio networks of the FRITZ!Box have the same name (SSID). Other FRITZ! products in the Mesh adopt the Wi-Fi network name from the FRITZ!Box (default setting).
  • For AP steering: Wireless device (smartphone, tablet, PC) with support for the 802.11k and 802.11v Wi-Fi standards
  • For band steering: Wireless device with 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz Wi-Fi (dual band)

AP Steering

With AP steering the FRITZ!Box can control which wireless access point in the Mesh (for instance, FRITZ!Box, FRITZ!Repeater) a smartphone, tablet, or other wireless device connects to. The FRITZ!Box can even direct a wireless devices to switch to a different wireless access point in order to improve data transmission.

"Access Point“ is a technical term frequently used for the FRITZ!Box, FRITZ!Repeater and Wi-Fi capable FRITZ!Powerline devices in the Mesh.

Band Steering

Band steering is a function for controlling wireless devices that support dual band transmission (smartphones, tablets, for instance). With band steering, the FRITZ!Box can override the devices to decide which wireless device communicates on which Wi-Fi band (2.4-GHz or 5-GHz).

When a band is subjected to a heavy load (often 2.4-GHz), the FRITZ!Box can register a wireless device on the other band. The wireless device can be connected directly with the FRITZ!Box, or with another FRITZ! device that supports dual band, such as the FRITZ!Repeater 3000. The FRITZ!Box can also assist wireless devices in establishing the best connection.

With band steering, wireless devices are integrated in the Wi-Fi network much more efficiently, because the FRITZ!Box has information about all wireless devices and connections that the individual wireless devices cannot detect. This is evident in a noticeably improved transmission rate.

Advanced Mesh Steering starting with FRITZ!OS 7.20

Starting with FRITZ!OS 7.20, Mesh steering intervenes more frequently. Even for wireless devices that have a good connection, the FRITZ!Box regularly checks whether even better Wi-Fi performance is possible. If so, the wireless devices are automatically rerouted to the better Wi-Fi connection, for instance, if the wireless device has been moved away from the FRITZ!Box or back again.

In addition, robustness has been improved for handling wireless devices that do not completely master rerouting.

Instructions: Enabling Mesh Wi-Fi Steering

Mesh Wi-Fi steering is enabled by default, and can be enabled again at any time.

  1. Select "Wireless / Radio Channel" in the user interface.
  2. Enable "Adjust radio channel settings".
  3. Click on "Additional Settings".
  4. Enable the checkbox "To improve data transmission, wireless devices can be switched automatically between the 2.4-GHz and the 5-GHz frequency bands and between multiple FRITZ! products in the Mesh".
  5. Click on "Apply".