Very odd experience on Ubiquity WLAN 6Ghz (random loss of stream from Roon Server)

Roon Software Discussion Networking
1

Problem:
Randomly Roon Client loses data stream from Roon Server “…waiting server…”

Software for Roon:
Roon Server ver. 2.0 (Build 1496) Production (Roon Rock on Proxmox).
Roon Client ver. 2.0 (Build 1496) Production on a Mac Mini M4 Pro, MacOS Sequoia ver. 15.3.1

Network gear:
(NO VLANs, no segmentation!)
ISP Broadband connection 800Mbit/100Mbit directly connected to DreamMachinePro
Ubiquity DreamMachine Pro (wifi controller, router, firewall etc.)
Ubiquity U7 Pro Wall (have also tried same non-wall version access point)
SSID X only on 2.4Ghz
SSID Y only on 5Ghz
SSID Z only on 6Ghz
Software version for DreamMachine Pro (Network part): 9.0.114
Software version for U7 Pro Wall access point: 8.0.9.16583
No band steering or any other auto-optimization funky things.

The experience with very frequent but random loss of a music stream from Roon Server to my Mac Mini ONLY happens when I connect to the 6Ghz SSID. Stream is stable for hours on end on the other SSID’s.

Other observation: When connected to 6Ghz ping from Mac Mini TO the Roon server is very stable with sub 10ms ping times (obviously not showing much about what happens further down the network stack of the OSI model - because surely something must happen!).

Bonus info: Everything is on the same network segment, no routing between vlans, no filters/blockers or anything you could dream up - only the wifi controller, 1 access point, 1 6Ghz client and no neighbors…

Has anyone experienced this? Any workarounds (cache of the stream or something?).

Thanks all!
/Kenneth

2

What channel width are you using for your 6 GHz radios? I’m not sure what the options are since my UniFi U6 Pro access points only have 2.4 and 5 GHz. But, I would try setting all 6 GHz radios to a channel width of 80 Mhz and medium power. For example, here’s what I’m using:

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I have the same settings on all AP’s with excellent results. However, some environments require measurements and tweaking to dial-in.

4

Roon Server connected via Gb Ethernet.
Client is locked to only use 6Ghz SSID during tests - no way it could be jumping around and I would also have seen this in the roaming-logs in the Ubiquity gear :slight_smile:
No multiple subnets or anything fancy at all.

/Kenneth

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6

From what I recall:
Having a 6GHz only SSID is actually not recommended. You’ll want to have an SSID that combines both 5GHz and 6GHz (optionally also 2.4GHz). See also Apple’s recommendation

7

This is in early access. I think it’s only fair you only report issues for Official releases.

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8

How close is your mac mini to the AP? What’s the signal strength? 6GHz devices typically need to be closer to an AP than 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

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9

Your ROCK is on Proxmox - I would double check the virtual network infrastructure in there - is it NATed? is it bridged? Normally that implies two networks, the internal between the VMs and the external, so I would make sure the Roon server in the ROCK is not trying to route thru the internal network.

10
  1. Nope, nothing special with heat.
  2. All other types of applications are still working - accessing Internet etc. etc. Only Roon is impacted.
  3. 1 single “cardboard” door
  4. Hehe - right - wanted to have the Mac Mini on its own wireless spectrum
11

Hey Mr. Berlin.
There is no flip-flopping of routing despite ROCK being on Proxmox. Notice I wrote, that the Roon connection is “rock-solid” with no playback issues for hours non-stop if I manually make my Mac Mini connect to the standard 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz network (SSIDs on the same access point) - hence - no need to troubleshoot on the Proxmox side of things.

12

2 meters from the access point.

14

Just something to bear in mind - the more wireless networks you add to an AP, the more you’re dividing up the bandwidth available to it. Presume your AP is running a Gbit wired backhaul to the UDMP?

Like @David_Snyder, I’ve never ventured down the Wi-Fi 6 route. All the important stuff chez Mad Scientist is on 20/10 Gbit fibre and 10/1 Gbit copper. My 3 Unifi AC Pro APs have a fairly easy life.

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