High latency on Meraki wireless networks can stem from various causes, including poor signal strength, interference, bandwidth saturation, misconfiguration, or external network issues. Here's a structured approach to resolve high latency issues for Meraki wireless users:
Step 1: Identify the Scope of the Problem
Who is affected? All users or specific ones?
Where is it happening? All APs or specific locations?
When does it happen? All the time or during peak hours?
Step 2: Check Wireless Health in the Meraki Dashboard
Navigate to: Wireless > Wireless Health
Look for:
High latency during DHCP, DNS, or authentication phases.
High client retries, failed connections, or poor throughput.
Step 3: Investigate RF Environment
Go to: Wireless > RF Spectrum
Check for:
Channel utilization (over 80% is problematic)
Interference from non-WiFi devices (especially on 2.4 GHz)
Adjust Channels/Power:
Enable or tweak Auto RF: Wireless > Radio Settings
Consider manual channel allocation for high-interference areas.
Step 4: Optimize Wireless Settings
Band Steering: Enable it to push clients to 5 GHz (less congested).
Minimum Bitrate: Set it to a higher value (e.g., 12 Mbps) to prevent low-speed client connections from dragging down performance.
Client Balancing: Enable it to distribute load across nearby APs.
Step 5: Check Wired Uplink Health
Uplink Latency: Go to Network-wide > Traffic analytics or run a live ping/traceroute from the AP.
Switch Port: Make sure APs are on Gigabit ports with PoE stability.
Backhaul Congestion: Check if WAN connection is saturated.
Step 6: Remove or Isolate Problematic Devices
Legacy clients (e.g., 802.11b/g) can drag down performance.
Rogue APs or noisy clients? Check under Wireless > Air Marshal.
Thanks
Gopinath
