What is band steering?
It encourages compatible clients toward a preferred band, usually 5/6 GHz, but the client makes the final association decision.
Wi-Fi help
Simple answers to common Wi-Fi questions
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12 answers found · last checked 17 August 2026
What is client steering between mesh nodes?
The mesh can encourage roaming to a better access point, but clients choose when to move. Poor node placement can make steering ineffective.
What is DFS and why did 5 GHz briefly disappear?
DFS channels share spectrum with radar. A router detecting radar must leave the channel, which can briefly interrupt or move compatible clients.
Can I manually change channels on eero?
No; eero uses automatic channel selection. Radio Analytics can show busyness, but manual channel selection is not currently offered.
What do RSSI, SNR and noise floor mean?
RSSI estimates received signal power; SNR compares signal with noise; noise floor reflects background energy. Stronger signal and adequate SNR generally reduce retries, but thresholds are device/use dependent.
Why is channel width important?
Wider channels can raise peak throughput but consume more spectrum and may be less stable in congested areas. 20 MHz is usually safer on busy 2.4 GHz.
SonosView original answer
What is airtime or channel busyness?
Wi‑Fi is shared and half-duplex: devices take turns. High activity or interference leaves less airtime and can increase latency and reduce throughput.
Why do I get packet loss with a strong signal?
Strong RSSI does not guarantee a clean channel or healthy path. Interference, driver bugs, congestion, backhaul or WAN issues can still drop packets.
CiscoView original answer
What is double NAT?
Double NAT occurs when two routers both perform routing/NAT. It can affect gaming, inbound access, VPNs and discovery. Use one routing layer where possible.
Should my eero be in bridge mode?
Only when another required router is doing routing. Bridge mode keeps eero Wi‑Fi but disables several advanced network/security features.
What is WPA3 and can it break old devices?
WPA3 improves security, but some legacy clients struggle with WPA3 or mixed modes. Use current firmware and the least-weakened compatible setting.
What is Wi‑Fi 6, 6E or 7 and will it make every device faster?
Newer standards improve efficiency and capability, but each client uses only what it supports; distance, channel, backhaul and internet tier still matter.