In order to provide wireless network clients with a certain level of Quality of Service QOS, a special standard was created Wi-Fi Multimedia — WMM.
Some network equipment manufacturers call it slightly differently - Wi-Fi Multimedia Extensions, WME. The IEEE 802.11e standard is used as a basis, which provides the basic QOS capabilities for WiFi.

Currently, WMM defines four classes of service for wireless network traffic:

This technology does not provide a means of absolute and unconditional prioritization. But nevertheless, it allows packets with priority to be transmitted faster than others due to lower delays compared to lower priority ones.

There are no problems with the compatibility of devices with and without support for the WMM function. If traffic comes from a device that does not support this technology, then it is perceived as best-effort, i.e. with non-guaranteed delivery.

Although now it is quite difficult to find a modern router or access point without WMM QOS support, since it is supported by most manufacturers of network equipment and other electronics. On older devices, support for Wi-Fi Multimedia functionality can often be activated by installing new firmware.

Pros and cons of WMM technology

Pros:
+ widely supported by many equipment manufacturers;
+ increases the efficiency of the wireless network;
+ allows you to increase the battery life of phones and tablets due to U-APSD power management;
+ works for voice traffic and video;
+ allows you to achieve maximum transmission speed over the air;

Cons:
— not supported in older devices;
— does not provide 100% priority for voice traffic;

How to enable WMM on a router

By default, the wireless traffic prioritization feature on many modems and routers is disabled. In order to enable WMM QOS on the router, you need to go to its web interface (usually by IP address or ), open the wireless network settings and check the appropriate box. This is how it is done on TP-Link routers:

And this is how it is done on the Zyxel Keenetic router:

Roughly speaking, look for the option in the general network settings. If it is not there, look in the advanced settings. In some cases (as on D-Link routers), WMM QOS settings are located in a separate menu item.

Requirements for use

Updated 08-31-2011 14:38:25 PM

This article is suitable for:

TL-WN721NC, Archer T6E, TL-WDN3800, Archer T4UHP, Archer T4E, TL-WN722NC, TL-WN781ND, TL-WN723N, TL-WN422G, TL-WN811N, TL-WN321G, Archer T4U, Archer T2U Na no , Archer T600U Plus, Archer T2UHP, TL-WN821N, TL-WN851N, Archer T5E, TL-WN881ND, TL-WN861N, TL-WN951N, T4U V2, Archer T9E, Archer T600U Nano, TL-WN722N, TL-WN727N, WN821NC, Archer T9UH, Archer T3U, TL-WDN3200, TL-WN350G, TL-WN822N, Archer T4UH V2, Archer T8E, TL-WN310G, Archer T2U Plus, TL-WN725N, TL-WN721N, Archer T2U, , TL- WDN4200, TL-WN7200ND, TL-WN322G, Archer T2UH, Archer T4UH, TL-WN751N, TL-WN422GC, Archer T1U, TL-WDN4800, TL-WN751ND

Ad Hoc mode, also called peer-to-peer mode, allows nodes to communicate directly (point to point) without the need to use an access point, as shown in the following figure. No fixed infrastructure. To communicate with each other, nodes must be in the same range. You can get more information about the Ad Hoc network on Wikipedia.

Ad Hoc mode

A wireless Ad Hoc network must consist of at least 2 clients. In this article, we also take two computers as an example: Computer A and Computer B.

Note: Before you begin setup, make sure that the Windows Zero Configuration (WZC) service is running. If you don't know whether it's running or not, click here to check your settings.

1. Create an Ad Hoc network profile on computer A

Step 1: Go to Control Panel -> Network Connections and find Wireless Network Connection. Right-click on Wireless Network Connection and select Properties.

Step 2: In the Wireless Networks tab, click the Add button.

Step 3: In the Connections tab of the Wireless Network Properties window, enter the Wireless Network Name [SSID]. In our example, the name of the wireless network is adhoctest. Then, at the bottom of the window, check the box next to This is a direct computer-to-computer connection; access points are not used. Then click OK.

Step 4: After completing Step 3, a network profile named adhoctest should appear in Preferred Networks. Click OK to save the settings.

2. Manually configure the IP address on computer A

Step 5: Right-click on Wireless Network Connection and select Properties.

Step 6: In the General tab, double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

Step 7: Check Use the following IP address and enter the IP address and subnet mask. Then click OK.

Step 8: Click OK in the Wireless Network Connection - Properties window.

3. Search for Ad Hoc Network on Computer B

Step 9: Right-click on Wireless Network Connection, select View available wireless networks.

Step 10: Search for adhoctest wireless network (which was installed on computer A) in the search box. Then double-click on it and click Connect anyway.

Additional WiFi adapter options

To set additional options wireless adapters, select “Properties” of the wireless adapter in Device Manager and go to the “Advanced” tab.
To view a property's value, click the property name in the Properties list. The property value appears in the Value window. To change the value, click the Value list or enter a new value (choices vary for different properties).
NOTE: Some features may not be available for your Wireless Network Adapter model.

802.11hd
The 802.11h d feature allows you to configure advanced radio control of a WLAN card by its associated access point. Controls are enabled when the 802.11h d property is set to Loose 11h, Loose 11h d, or Strict 11h. When you select Strict 11h, the Wireless Adapter communicates only with access points that support IEEE 802.11h protocols when operating in regions that have special radio restrictions. When you select Free 11h, the WLAN card does not restrict communications based on the access point's IEEE 802.11h support. When you select Free 11h d, the wireless network adapter does not restrict communications based on the access point's IEEE 802.11h or IEEE 802.11d support.
Values:
Off (default)
Free 11h
Free 11h d
Strict 11h

Afterburner
Afterburner is Broadcom's high-performance, higher-bandwidth proprietary implementation added to IEEE 802.11g compliant wireless products.
Values:
Disabled (default). Disabling Afterburner.
Allowed Afterburner Resolution

Antenna diversity
Antenna diversity is a feature provided in most LAN equipment, which is equipped with two antennas - a main and a secondary. When set to Auto, antenna diversity monitors the signal from each antenna and automatically switches it to the one with the stronger signal.
Values:
Auto (default).

Range Preferences
The Select Band feature is only available on dual-band Wireless Network Adapter models. When using the Select Band property, the user can specify a range that complies with the IEEE 802.11 roaming standard. In this case, the wireless client will be able to establish communication with another access point based on the selected range, even if the signal of the access point with which the connection is currently established is strong enough to maintain communication.
Values:
No (default). Roaming without taking into account the frequency range of existing access points.
802.11a (5 GHz band)
802.11g/b (2.4 GHz band)

Bluetooth Interoperability
Interworking with Bluetooth allows a universal I/O suppression protocol between IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) and an external Bluetooth signal to minimize mutual interference. Interoperability with Bluetooth Allowed by default.
Values:
Allow (default)
Prohibit

BSS mode
BSS mode is used to limit the IEEE 802.11b/g bandwidth to IEEE 802.11b mode only. BSS mode is applicable to networks configured with access points.
Values:
Default (default)
802.11b only

Off radio with wired connection
If this setting is set to "Enable" when you connect a computer to the Ethernet port and the connection is good, the computer automatically turns off the IEEE 802.11 radio. This will preserve IP address placement, reduce security risks, resolve dual interface routing issues, and extend battery life.
Values:
Disabled (default)
Allowed

IBSS mode enabled
You must enable this property to use the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility or the Wireless Connection Wizard to create or connect to a peer-to-peer network. For security reasons, the network administrator may require that this feature be disabled.
Values:
Enabled (default)
Off

IBSS 54g(tm) protection mode
A mechanism for setting a prefix for each OFDM data frame with a send/clear request to send (RTS/CTS) sequence of keypad dialing (CCK) frames. The RTS and CTS frame duration fields must allow an IEEE 802.11b node to correctly establish its network placement vector (NAV) and avoid collisions with successive OFDM frames. As required by Wi-Fi(r), the security mechanism is automatically enabled whenever an IEEE 802.11b STA joins the BSS. If there are no IEEE 802.11b STAs attached, then no security mechanism is used and full IEEE 802.11g performance is achieved.
Values:
Auto
Disabled

IBSS mode
IBSS mode is used to set the communication type for an ad hoc network. The parameters can be as follows:
Values:
802.11b mode (default). Connects only to IEEE 802.11b networks with the highest transmission rates. This also excludes IEEE 802.11g networks.
802.11g mode Connects only to IEEE 802.11g networks with the highest transmission speeds.

Access Point Compatibility Mode
Implementations of earlier access points may deviate from IEEE 802.11 standards. Setting this property to Best Compatibility allows the wireless network adapter to improve connectivity with such access points, but at the cost of performance. The default setting is Best Performance.
Values:
Best Performance (Default)
Best Compatibility

Managed MAC Address
The locally managed MAC address is used to replace the MAC address of the Wireless Network Adapter utility. A locally managed MAC address is a user-defined MAC address that is used instead of the MAC address originally assigned to the network adapter. Each network adapter must have its own MAC address. The locally managed address is a 12-digit hexadecimal value.
Values:
Meaning. Assigns a unique host address to the adapter.
None (default). Use the adapter address assigned by the manufacturer.

The corresponding assigned ranges and exceptions for a locally managed address are as follows:
Range from 00:00:00:00:00:01 to FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FD
Do not use a multicast address (LSB = 1).
Do not use only zeros or only "F" in the address.

Minimum power consumption
When enabled, this property allows the wireless client to either turn off the radio or not scan when there is no connection to the wireless client's network or the computer is in IDLE state.
Values:
Enabled (default)
Off

PLCP header
The PLCP header is used to specify the header type for CCK rates. The type can be Long or Auto (short/long).
Values:
Auto (short/long) (default)
Long

Power Saving Mode
The Power Saving Mode property is used to put the wireless client computer into IEEE 802.11 power saving mode. When the Power Saving Mode feature is enabled, the radio periodically turns off to conserve power. When the radio is in power saving mode, received packets are stored at the access point until the radio is turned on. The Fast setting provides full throughput while saving power.
Values:
Fast (default)
Included
Off

Radio broadcast on/off
If this property is set to Disabled, the radio is turned off. Sometimes it is necessary to turn off the radio temporarily to comply with radio transmission restrictions, such as on board commercial aircraft during takeoff or landing. Changing the value to "Enabled" turns the radio back on. Some computers may have a different, more convenient way to turn the radio on and off. To find out if these features exist on your computer, check your computer's manual.
Values:
Allowed (default)
Disabled

Speed
This property allows you to specify the speed (in Mbps) at which data is transferred. Possible values: 1; 2; 5.5; 6; 9; 11; 18; 24; 36; 48 and 54. The default is "Optimal Speed". This setting automatically adjusts the transmission speed to the optimal speed based on the capabilities of other wireless clients and access points.

Speed ​​(802.11a)
This property allows you to specify the rate (in Mbps) at which data is transferred for IEEE 802.11a operations. Possible values: 6; 9; 12; 18; 24; 36; 48 and 54. The default is “Optimal speed”.
NOTE The default value of this property is set to maximum performance. Therefore, home network users are not recommended to change this value. Changes should only be made by network administrators or technicians with experience working with wireless LANs.

Speed ​​(802.11b/g)
This property allows you to specify the speed (in Mbps) at which data is transferred for IEEE 802.11b/g operations. Possible values: 1; 2; 5.5; 6; 9; 11; 18; 24; 36; 48 and 54. The default is "Optimal Speed".
NOTE The default value of this property is set to maximum performance. Therefore, home network users are not recommended to change this value. Changes should only be made by network administrators or technicians with experience working with wireless LANs.

Disable ranges
This feature is only available on Wireless Network Adapter models that are dual-band compatible.
Values:
No (default)
Disable 802.11g/b
Disable 802.11a

Fragmentation threshold
The maximum size in bytes at which packets are fragmented and transmitted one fragment per unit of time instead of transmitting the entire packet at once. Available values ​​range from 256 to 2346. The default value is 2346.

Roaming solution
Signal strength values ​​that determine when the Wireless Network Adapter utility begins scanning for other access points.
Values:
Default (default). 75 dB
65 dB bandwidth
By distance 85 dB

Roaming trends
This property configures roaming boundaries for the Wireless Network Adapter utility.
Values:
Moderate (default). Roaming for access points boosts the signal by at least 20 dB compared to the current access point.
Aggressive. Roaming for access points boosts the signal by at least 10 dB compared to the current access point.
Restrained. Roaming for access points boosts the signal by at least 30 dB compared to the current access point.

RTS threshold
If the number of frames in a data packet is near or beyond the RTS threshold, a send/clear request to send a handshake is enabled before the data packet is sent. The default value is 2347. Range is 0 to 2347.

Automatic SSID update
When you use the Wireless Network Wizard or Wireless Network Connection Configuration Tool to connect to wireless networks, all networks you have connections to appear in the Preferred Network Connections list on the Wireless Networks tab of the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility. Every time you start your computer, it automatically tries to connect to the network listed at the top of the list. If the network is within range, a connection is made. If the value is out of range, the computer attempts to connect to the next network in the list and continues this procedure until it finds a suitable network. You can move your preferred networks up or down in the list.

If the "Auto SSID Update" property is disabled, you can manually disable the process automatic connection to the network and connect to any network, regardless of its position in the list (see “Utility controls”). If the Automatic SSID Update property is enabled, you cannot manually disable the automatic connection process.
Values:
Off (default)
Included

WMM
Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM(tm)). The WMM feature ensures quality of service for audio, video, and voice applications over the wireless network by prioritizing content streams and optimizing the way bandwidth is allocated to competing applications.
Values:
Auto (default). If the WMM property is set to Auto when a wireless client is connected to an access point and the access point has the Unscheduled Power Saving Mode option enabled, the wireless client will be able to enter power saving mode.
Enabled. The wireless client enters power saving mode for WMM communications regardless of whether the unscheduled power saving mode option for the access point is enabled or disabled.
Off. The wireless client does not have WMM communication.

WZC IBSS channel number
The WZC IBSS Channel Number property selects the Independent Basic Service Setup (IBSS) channel number to operate while wireless networks are managed by the WZC. Default value: 11.

Ethernet managed by WZC
If the WZC Managed Ethernet property is enabled, the Wireless Configuration (WZC) service is enabled to manage 802.1x connections for Ethernet devices on the computer.
Values:
Off (default)
Included

XPress(TM) Technology
Xpress™ technology is a proprietary frame bursting technology that improves performance by redistributing data so it can be sent to any frame. Xpress™ technology is disabled by default.
Values:
Disabled (default). Disable Xpress™ technology.
Allowed Allowed by Xpress™ technology.

Not all routers have the necessary quality of service, but if a user is looking for a new one in the market, you need to know about the important WMM feature, without which...

From Masterweb

25.07.2018 01:00

Every year, Wi-Fi mobile devices require more and more battery power, as applications for voice, audio and video, which are quite energy-intensive, have become widely used. In order to save the operating time of a laptop or mobile device in this situation, many manufacturers began to use WMM technology. It functionally provides quality of service (QoS) in Wi-Fi networks. Before enabling WMM, configure the router by prioritizing traffic from different applications.

It is now a required feature for 802.11n-enabled devices. More advanced WMM Power Save technology is optimized for latency-sensitive applications and improves the performance of any Wi-Fi device. By using it, the same amount of data can be transmitted in fewer frames in a shorter time, allowing the router to maintain a low-power dispenser state between transmissions.

Basics and priorities

WMM (WiFi Multimedia) supports audio, video and voice priority and consumes less power compared to other similar applications. Using QoS (Quality of Service), WMM ensures that applications that require more bandwidth and performance are queued with higher priority.

For example, video and audio applications are given higher priority than applications such as FTP, so the user does not experience playback lag when making a phone call.

Before enabling WMM, define the following four priority queues:

1. Voice (VoIP), highest priority with minimal latency, making it ideal for voice applications.
2. Video is the second highest priority.
3. Most standard IP applications are routed to a medium priority queue.
4. FTP and other applications that are not time sensitive are placed in the fourth queue when WMM mode is enabled.

Subset of IEEE 802.11e standard

WMM was the predecessor to the 802.11e standard, an improvement on that standard, and has rightly been called an improvement in quality of service (QoS). Even though the original WMM standard and 802.11e are now obsolete, the industry continues to use the old terminology. WMM supports radio profiles as well as corresponding QoS policies that describe access classes. A wireless client using WMM Power Save communicates with the access point using a Radio profile. Before turning on WMM, configure access priorities: voice, video, background.

WMM Power Save is disabled by default on access points, even if it saves battery life, because clients using Power Save must send a separate PSpoll to receive each unicast packet buffered by the access point radio. This can sometimes slow down performance, depending on your network configuration. In addition, applications must support Power Save to inform the client about the requirements of the traffic that is generated.

This technology conserves client battery life, can operate on any Wi-Fi network, and coexists with traditional 802.11 power-saving mechanisms. For example, if you enable WMM Zyxel. What does this mean for the user? This connection will ensure economical operation of remote devices within the router’s coverage area.

Connecting Quality of Service

Quality of Service is a router feature that helps control how bandwidth is distributed among devices and applications. When a network is congested with too much Internet traffic, Quality of Service prioritizes certain types of traffic over others. Wi-Fi Multimedia - This feature is the simplest form of QoS and only works with Wi-Fi traffic.

One more important function quality - Bandwidth Control, before enabling WMM, allows you to set minimum and maximum bandwidth limits using IP addresses and port ranges. Addresses correlate with devices, while port ranges correlate with applications. This is the most reliable form of quality service. When purchasing a router, you need to make sure that the buyer gets one that supports Bandwidth Control in addition to Wi-Fi Multimedia.

Enabling QoS on your router takes a few steps, but since each model is different, get universal step by step instructions impossible. Luckily, these settings are quite easy to find. WMM should be located in the Wireless section, and Quality of Service (or Bandwidth Control) usually has its own section, which is often located in the additional settings menu; to do this, you just need to enable the Wi-Fi Multimedia WMM mode.

5 Reasons to Enable Quick Settings

Typically, routers process Internet traffic on a first-come, first-served basis. A Netflix data packet arrives, the function transmits it to the TV. A data package arrives to download, she delivers it to the computer. But a router can only process a limited amount of data per second, so sometimes packets get backed up and form a separate line - especially when there are a ton of packets coming in at once. Quality of service allows the router to prioritize, say, Netflix data packets.

Even if there are many downloaded packets "waiting in the queue", as soon as a Netflix data packet arrives, the router switches its attention and processes it immediately. To do this, you just need to know how to enable WMM ad hoc qos. This can have a very positive impact on a home network, especially when there are multiple users and devices trying to do high-capacity intensive work. Here are some use cases where QoS can come in handy:

1. Reduce lag in online games.
2. Improve your Skype, Google Hangouts, Discord or any other Netflix Stream video chat without interruption.
3. Minimize heavy loading.
4. Prioritize PC traffic over other traffic.
5. Due to the quality of service, you can set some devices to be faster; to do this, you need to enable the Wi-Fi Multimedia WMM mode.

Battery Saving

Power Save products designed for mission-critical applications such as mobile phones, smartphones and other portable power devices typically use WMM Power Save. The basic concept of WMM Power Save is that the client triggers the release of buffered data from the access point by sending an uplink data frame. Upon receiving this trigger frame, the access point releases previously buffered data stored in each of the four queues.

The user will be able to enable WMM qos in the settings to help launch the mechanism for dividing traffic into four access categories: background, best efforts, video and voice. The QoS policy defines different treatment for each access category. As a result, different packets are processed differently. Power related parameters:

1. Minimum power consumption. Allows you to use 802.11 power saving mode. This is when the radio or scanning may be temporarily disabled if it is not associated with an access point or the computer is in standby mode.
2. Output power. Sets the transmit power to predefined values: 100, 75, 50% of the rated output power.
3. U-APSD support. This is the WMM-Power saving function, providing additional features energy saving for client applications if the user has enabled WMM in ad hoc qos mode.

Enable support on your router

Automated WMM service prioritizes multimedia features over the wireless network and significantly increases throughput for devices using these criteria, so less time is spent buffering and more time is spent streaming content. What does it mean to enable WiFi Multimedia WMM mode? Below is the procedure:

1. Login to your account.
2. Open a browser, enter the manufacturer's default IP address, which is usually located on the bottom of the router or in the user manual. Using your username and password, go to the router settings page.
3. Open the Wireless tab to change your wireless network settings.
4. Go to the WMM or equivalent tab.
5. Wi-Fi Multimedia WMM mode will cause the settings to change later.
6. Enable WMM support; its settings will be either in its own category or in a subheading in the wireless network settings menu.
7. Click the drop-down list or button, depending on your router, and select the desired setting. There will likely be other advanced options available in this menu.
8. Click “Apply”, then reboot the router according to the general settings.

Network Performance for Windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 introduced a new network traffic feature based on QoS traffic management, which allows system administrators to prioritize traffic based on URLs and will be executed immediately after enabling the router's WMM. In earlier Windows versions The quality of service of outgoing IP packets could only be controlled by IP address and port number.

QoS-enabled routers work in conjunction with Windows to prioritize or throttle traffic. Windows 7 and Vista support two different forms of QoS. The latter's policy prioritizes and expands network traffic based on static parameters set by the system administrator.

Applications that are particularly sensitive to network latency, such as video streaming and Voice over IP, rely on QoS to reserve the bandwidth needed to operate smoothly when networks are heavily congested. To enable WMM apsd and take advantage of QoS in Windows, network routers and switches must support Differentiated Services Code Points (DSCP), which are values ​​(0-63) marked in the IPv4 and IPv6 packet headers using the Type of Service field ( TOS) and traffic (an octet class in IPv4 and IPv6, respectively, that defines the priority assigned to outgoing traffic).

Wireless setup

Even if a user of a home Internet network has a cable laid throughout the house, it still happens that Wi-Fi needs to be distributed. In this case, experts advise investing in a simultaneous dual-band router. These fancy routers provide Wi-Fi on the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands.

To ensure that as much data as possible is transferred to your TV or anything else that captures video streams from the Internet, you can split the SSID to create two networks. Place all streamers on the faster 5GHz network and everything else on the slower 2.4GHz network. Many routers have the ability to prioritize media, applications, or devices and give out the most bandwidth, giving the TV or other video recording device top billing on your home network.

Device prioritization typically requests the MAC address. This is a unique number assigned to all devices on the network. You can usually find it near the Ethernet port, in the device settings, or the router will display it for all devices connected to it. This prioritizes both the app and the device to ensure maximum throughput at home.

Benefits of QoS

Network traffic management is often considered the reserve of high-end enterprise routers and switches, but even with consumer-grade Wi-Fi adapters and routers small organizations can take advantage of basic QoS with WMM. With Windows policy, it is especially useful for networks with congested WAN links.

Windows QoS provides system administrators with a simple way to implement basic controls over congested networks, helping to ensure that applications sensitive to network congestion, such as VoIP and other business resources, are prioritized. Windows 7's QoS-based traffic control simplifies configuration and ensures that important Internet resources can be accessed in a timely manner, no matter what else might happen on the network.

Setting up a broadband upgrade will require some funding, no one likes to spend extra money, but if the user is really serious about their home network settings, they will have to do it. With 4K internet streaming now truly available to the widest range of consumers, you'll need to upgrade to 20Mbps to truly enjoy crystal clear images. Next, you can't do without the QoS package in Windows 7, as it will help buffer and provide a great HD stream.

Such capabilities were discovered in a screenshot of the ZyXEL VSG1432-Telus Wireless WMM, which features MAC WPS WMM authentication, enhanced Wi-Fi multimedia. If you enable WMM ZyXEL, what does this mean for the user? The result will be visible within the first minutes of the router’s operation.

WMM APSD enable or disable?

Configuring WMM APSD is a power saving mechanism implemented in Wi-Fi standards. Before you decide to turn this setting on or off, you need to know that it means automatic power saving. This is basically a feature mode that allows mobile devices to save more battery when connected to a Wi-Fi network by allowing them to go into standby or sleep mode.

APSD enables smooth transition into and out of standby mode by allowing mobile devices to signal the router's status. Similar to how the beacon interval and DTIM period work together to save device power. Whenever the wireless mobile adapter enters power saving or standby mode, the router or access point can buffer data and hold it for the mobile devices.

There are two types of APSD that are included in the battery saving feature. U-APSD (Unscheduled Automatic Delivery with Energy Saving):

1. Client devices signal the router to transmit any buffered data.
2. S-APSD (Power Saving Automatic Scheduled Delivery). The access point sends buffered data based on a predetermined schedule known to the power saving device, without any signal from the station device.

The battery consumption benefit can range from 10 to 30% compared to disabling this option. First you need to check whether the router manufacturer has released new firmware that will solve the problem.

Related router brands: WMM APSD Asus, WMM APSD D-link, WMM APSD Nest. Additionally, AirPlay devices use the Multicast feature to broadcast their presence. This advanced ASUS router may attempt to save power by disabling/filtering some network traffic.

First of all, you need to update Wireless - Professional firmware to version 3.0.0.4.360. Adjust settings:

1. Enable wireless scheduler - "No" (default "Yes").
2. Enable IGMP Snooping - Enable (disabled by default) - edit.
3. The only setting that has a WMM DLS value is “Enable” (the default is “Disable”).

To take advantage of the WMM Power Save functionality, both the Wi-Fi client and the access point must be Wi-Fi certified.

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Wi-Fi network technologies are becoming more and more common and are used on almost all computers and mobile devices today, with IEEE 802.11n being the most popular among all standards. True, it provides the ability to limit the speed of the Internet used. However, given the fact that most people surf the web in search of multimedia files, an additional standard, Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM), was developed. What it is and why it is needed will be discussed in this article. Internet users should be aware of this standard and make sure that the “WMM Enable” function is checked in the modem settings.

Connection and data transfer speed

What does it mean to enable WMM? Let's look at this issue.

First of all, it is worth noting that connection speeds and information transfer speeds are completely different concepts, and many users try to mistakenly focus on the first option, expressed in Mb/s. In reality, it does not show the actual bandwidth of the network connection you are using. And it is shown by the network adapter driver so that you can see exactly what speed you are currently using within the selected standard.

In other words, your operating system provides information about what the maximum connection speed is possible on a given hardware. But in reality it can be significantly slower. Actual speed may depend on a number of factors, including your 802.11n access point settings, and in particular the "WMM Enable" feature. You should activate it if you want to use the Internet without restrictions, and this is provided for in your tariff.

How to find out the speed?

If you want to get a reliable value of your wireless network speed, you can use one of the following methods:

• Run the procedure for copying a large file in your operating system, and then try to roughly determine the speed at which this file was transferred. It is worth noting that in operating rooms Windows systems 7 and further, if copying takes a long enough time, you can go to the additional information window, where information about the reliable speed will be present.
• Use specialized utilities like NetMeter or NetStress, which are designed specifically to determine your bandwidth. It is recommended to configure the device in advance and activate WMM. It is quite important to enable this feature before starting tests.
• If you are the administrator of an entire network, then the lperf and Jperf programs are also suitable for you.

How does this standard work?

The 802.11n standard uses large number technologies, and one of them is the WMM function. The user can enable it in order to remove various restrictions and provide higher throughput. It is worth noting the fact that any such technologies will show truly noticeable results only if they work with devices that support the 802.11n specifications.

Turn everything off while testing

Do not forget that before testing the network, you should turn on WMM, and also completely turn off any other devices except those that you will be testing. In a wireless network that is based on 802.11n, there is an option to use devices from previous standards. It is worth noting that 802.11n provides mechanisms to support older standards. As a result, speeds with 802.11n can drop by 50% or even 80% if a slower device is receiving or transmitting data.

In order to ensure the highest possible performance of this standard, many experts highly recommend using only clients that support it on the network.

We remove the 54 Mbit/s limit

In the vast majority of cases, users forget to enable WMM, and are also unaware that if outdated WPA/TKIP or WEP security methods are used, the provided speed will decrease by approximately 80%. 802.11n comes with an initial setting that performance greater than 54 Mbps cannot be fully realized using one of the above standards. The only exception may be devices that are not certified for 802.11n.

It is for this reason that if you do not want to face the problem of reducing your speed, it is recommended to use only WPA2 network security methods using the AES algorithm, however, do not forget that the use of open networks is in itself unsafe.

It happens that in some situations, when using an 802.11n adapter, as well as installing a wireless access point of this standard, a connection occurs exclusively via 802.11g, and the user cannot even turn on the Zyxel WMM. What is this problem? In the vast majority of cases, this indicates that the security settings of the access point you are using use WPA2 technology with the TKIP protocol. At the same time, do not forget that in WPA2 settings it is recommended to use exclusively the AES algorithm instead of TKIP, which will allow you to significantly improve your experience with the device.

Also, many cannot enable WMM APSD for the reason that the access point settings include the use of automatic detection mode. Experts say that it is still recommended to manually change the only standard to 802.11n instead of leaving the automatic detection function.

WMM mode

Wi-Fi Multimedia defines 4 types of access categories:

1. WMM-priority of voice traffic (highest priority). Allows multiple parallel VoIP connections with low latency.
2. WMM priority for video traffic. Sets priority for video traffic over regular traffic.
3. WMM priority for non-guaranteed delivery. Traffic from devices that do not have a QoS mechanism
4. WMM low priority. Low priority traffic that has no latency or transmission performance requirements.

In order to be able to access the Internet at speeds greater than 54 Mbps, you will need to enable Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) mode. The 802.11n specification requires support for 802.11e devices, which allows the use of a mode with sufficiently high throughput.

You need to enable WMM mode if your device will be certified to use 802.11n. It is worth noting that it is recommended to automatically activate this mode in each Wi-Fi certified device. In other words, it is always better to ensure that WMM mode is enabled, regardless of whether you are using an adapter, an access point, or a router.

Please note that this mode must be activated not only on your access point, but also on the wireless adapter.

It is worth noting that, depending on your device, the procedure for making such settings may even change. Also, different adapters may have different function names. So if you don’t find the “enable WMM” function in your device’s menu, don’t despair. Read the instructions carefully, perhaps the manufacturer simply called it differently.

Among other things, some developers also write that it is possible to provide higher connection speeds if the user in AD HOC QOS mode has enabled WMM.

Disable the use of the 40 MHz channel

In accordance with the 802.11n standard, it is possible to use 40 MHz broadband channels, which provide increased throughput. However, in reality, if the channel width changes from 20 to 40 MHz, eventually there may even be a noticeable decrease in speed characteristics instead of the expected increase.

Why shouldn't you use it?

Using a 40 MHz channel can provide a potential 10 to 20 Mbps increase in your network throughput, but in the vast majority of cases such an increase will only be seen if the signal is strong enough. If the signal strength decreases, then ultimately the use of such channel width becomes much less efficient and does not allow for an increase in throughput. Thus, if 40 MHz is used when the signal strength is weak, it can reduce throughput by 80%.

If you decide to use such a channel, but notice a significant drop in speed, you can simply reconfigure your device to work with the 20 MHz channel. Thus, you can achieve a noticeable increase in connection throughput.

Use only current drivers

In order to configure your Zyxel router to a normal connection speed, you should use only the latest wireless adapter drivers. Situations often occur when, after installing a more recent version of the driver from the manufacturer, a significant increase in connection speed was achieved.

Thus, we have considered only the most accessible and effective ways How you can configure Zyxel devices to provide faster connection speeds, as well as more stable Wi-Fi network performance. But we should not forget that there are a large number of other factors that also affect the operation of wireless Wi-Fi networks:

• Other Wi-Fi devices located within a short distance.
• Bluetooth devices that operate somewhere within the coverage area of ​​your Wi-Fi network.
• The distances between Wi-Fi devices being used are too large.
• All kinds of obstacles, such as furniture, walls and ceilings, which constantly absorb the emitted radio signal.
• Varied household appliances, operating directly within the coverage area of ​​your network.
• Devices that operate via the USB 3.0 standard.

The last point may surprise many users, but it is true; devices with a USB 3.0 interface create certain interference with Wi-Fi networks in the 2.4 GHz range.

If you ultimately configure everything correctly, you can safely count on the fact that your overall Internet speed is guaranteed to increase. Many users are not even aware of these features, using default settings, when in fact their connection potential allows for much higher speeds.