WIFI 6 mesh not working correct unless "Force WPA Supplicant WIFI backend" is selected

[EGO_zav]

Hi,

I found that the Steam Deck was always extremely slow in my household where we have a Mesh setup of three routers even when used next to one router.

On closer observation I found it would never connect with the router it was next to, but instead connected to one on the other side of the house. This was persitently the case even after reboots of both all routers, the Deck and even after deleting settings for it on the router.

The thing that fixes this is to set the "Force WPA Supplicant WIFI backend" setting in the Developer section of the Deck UI. Right after activating this switch it immediately connected with the correct router a much greater speed even without a reboot.

-Bernd

[Mahjik]

That is exactly why they added that option. The Deck was not working will with some of the mesh networks out there and that option was way to fix "those" mesh networks. But it slows down connecting for those who don't have that issue. This is why it was added as an option, not standard as the problem only happens with certain networks.

There were a lot of complains with Fritz networks which seem to be a provider only in a certain region.

[EGO_zav]

Fritz router and their mesh works great with ALL other devices here though and I am seeing about a hundred right now. So I would think the fault is likely on the decks side.

[Mahjik]

Originally posted by EGO_zav:

Fritz router and their mesh works great with ALL other devices here though and I am seeing about a hundred right now. So I would think the fault is likely on the decks side.

It could also be all your devices are made for your region, where the Deck is not. Either way, that's exactly why that option was added.