Optimizing your UniFi wireless network involves balancing coverage, speed, and interference. Below are key settings for both bands, including Multicast-to-Unicast configuration.
1. General Best Practices
- Band Steering: Prefer 5 GHz (
Settings > WiFi > Band Steering). - Disable Legacy Rates: Turn off 802.11b rates (1, 2 Mbps) (
Settings > WiFi > Advanced > Data Rate Control). - Airtime Fairness: Enable to prevent slow clients from hogging bandwidth (
Settings > WiFi > Advanced). - Minimum RSSI: Optional (e.g., -75 dBm for 2.4 GHz, -70 dBm for 5 GHz).
2. Band-Specific Tuning
| Setting | 2.4 GHz Recommendation | 5 GHz Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Width | 20 MHz (never 40 MHz) | 80 MHz (or 40 MHz if congested) |
| Transmit Power | Medium/Low | High/Auto |
| Channels | 1, 6, 11 (manual scan) | Non-DFS (36-48, 149-161) |
| DTIM Period | 3 (default) | 3 (default) |
| Fast Roaming | - | Enable 802.11k/v/r |
| Notes | Avoid DFS channels | Some clients may not support fast roaming |
3. Multicast-to-Unicast (Critical for Streaming/IoT)
- Enable Multicast Enhancement:
- Converts multicast traffic (e.g., Chromecast, Sonos) to unicast for reliability.
- Location:
Settings > WiFi > [SSID] > Advanced > Multicast Enhancement.
- IGMP Snooping (Optional): Helps manage multicast groups efficiently.
When to Use:
✔ Smart TVs (Apple TV, Roku)
✔ IoT devices (e.g., Sonos, VoIP)
✔ Video streaming (IPTV, AirPlay)
When to Disable:
❌ Legacy devices requiring strict multicast.
4. Advanced Tweaks
- Separate SSIDs: Use distinct SSIDs (e.g.,
MyWiFi-2GandMyWiFi-5G) if band steering fails. - Firmware Updates: Ensure UniFi APs and controller are up-to-date.
- WiFi Scanner: Use tools like
WiFimanto analyze interference.
Quick Checklist
- [ ] Enable Band Steering ("Prefer 5G").
- [ ] Set 2.4 GHz to 20 MHz, 5 GHz to 80 MHz.
- [ ] Manual channels: 1/6/11 (2.4 GHz), non-DFS (5 GHz).
- [ ] Adjust transmit power (Low/Medium for 2.4G, High for 5G).
- [ ] Enable Multicast Enhancement for IoT/streaming.
- [ ] Disable legacy rates (1, 2 Mbps).
- [ ] Enable Airtime Fairness.
- [ ] Optional: Set Minimum RSSI (-75 dBm for 2.4G, -70 dBm for 5G).