Common pitfalls that can affect performance and reliability.
Double NAT
Not putting modem/ISP equipment in front of Nest Wifi in bridge mode, sometimes known as bypass mode.
- https://dongknows.com/double-nat-vs-single-nat/
- https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/6277579?hl=en
Too many Nest Wifi units
More is not neccessarily better, as more units adds more overhead (traffic going between Nest Wifi units), and wireless interference.
Placement
Don't hide the Nest Wifi units, place them in plain sight.
Wireless mesh (802.11s) hops and path selection
Fewer jumps is better. Nest Wifi will also prefer fewer hops, even if that route has much worse signal strength. If a node can reach the main unit at all on it's way to the internet, even though another node unit is closer and can give better signal strength, the node unit in this example will go directly to the main unit.
Best practice is to place the main unit in the middle, so that all other node units jumps as few hops as possible, with a optimal path and signal strength straight back to the main unit. To illustrate the point, here is a simplified diagram I just made.
Interference from other wireless equipment
Like a home surround systems.
MAC randomization and other privacy related settings
Disable MAC randomization, especially on Apple devices:
- Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/security/secb9cb3140c/web
- Google / Android: https://source.android.com/docs/core/connect/wifi-mac-randomization-behavior
- Microsoft Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ac58de34-35fc-31ff-c650-823fc48eb1bc
Other Apple related settings that can affect reliability.
- HTTP Proxy: Set to "none". https://www.expressvpn.com/support/troubleshooting/disable-proxy-safari
Other
It can also help to disable all preferred activities:
