What data can I collect from my Bullet M2 radio to show to my new Santa Cruz Mountain WISP provider that my radio refuses to "associate" with the access point for hours upon hours after a (very) minor change in the radio settings?
HISTORY:
- I'm was trying to learn about power & distance radio setup.
- Yesterday, I started playing with the ACK distance setting.
- I've read it should be set to 120% of the actual distance to the AP.
- Google map calculators put me at 7,500 feet from the WISP antenna:
The lack-of-association stayed gone for hours, even though I could easily SEE I had -65dBm signal strength. It would not associate. I went to bed and by the time I woke up, the access point had associated with my radio (with me doing nothing in between except giving it time).
This is a screenshot of the results:
Again, this association lasted for hours with me doing nothing but a zillion reboots, scans, switches to other access points (none of which I could connect to because they weren't mine), etc.
Finally, all of a sudden, the kids yelled "The Internet is working again", and there it was. Here is a screenshot of the current results:
I recently switched to a new WISP provider here in the Santa Cruz Mountains and I don't want to call him yet until I gather enough data from the radio about what is happening. I don't really think the ACK is the problem since it shouldn't have that major of an effect (both ways).
Plus, I didn't document it as my memory may be foggy on this but I now remember had lost the association for hours once or twice before when I made a minor tweak to the settings.
So, something is very wrong - but then it's all right (on its own).
QUESTION: What data can I gather to provide to the WISP to indicate whether the problem is in his equipment or mine?
EQUIPMENT: 19 dBi planar antenna + 28dBm (630mW) Bullet M2 radio