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tfosseli
Inspiring
October 11, 2023
Solved

Resolved - Unstable wifi coverage with Quest 3 on some Router Brands.

  • Update January 2024 - full post history below
Hi. Let me try to give a quick TLDR summery.
 
Since the launch of the Quest 3, numerous users have encountered difficulties with their Wi-Fi connections related to wireless PCVR. A notable bug affects certain mid-range AX and AXE routers, such as TP-Link's AXE75, leading to significant packet losses and varying negotiation rates. Consequently, connection speeds fluctuate between 480 and 1921 Mbps, occasionally reaching 2161 Mbps but rarely achieving the full 2401 Mbps speed.
 
In contrast, the Quest 2 maintains a stable 1200 Mbps on 5GHz dedicated networks. However, on release, the Quest 3 struggled to reach 720 Mbps, with speed fluctuations occurring every other second.
 
Meta was promptly notified of this issue on launch day and has been working on resolving it through build updates. Versions v.57 to v.60 have seen a dramatic reduction in negotiation rates, making wireless VR "usable" under certain conditions, particularly when in close proximity to the router and within the line of sight. Nevertheless, users still report random speed reductions to unusable levels (below 740 Mbps), even at close range.
 
TP-Link has been diligently working on resolving the issue since the initial launch. Unfortunately, their latest update indicates that they couldn't make a breakthrough on their end, and they believe the problem persists on the client side. They've conducted thorough tests with various chipsets, including MTK, BCM, and QCA routers, and it seems these routers are experiencing similar issues. Their focus shifted to Meta software updates, and their most recent test with the Quest3 V60 suggests that while the negotiation rate still varies, the occasional streaming lag seems to have disappeared.
 
A glance at this threads posts reveals that TP-Link is not the only affected brand; users with Asus and other AX and AXE routers also face similar challenges. The root cause seems to be linked to either Meta or Qualcomm. Users have noted similar issues with the Google Pixel 7, leading to speculation about problems with the XR2 Gen2/Snapdragon 8 Gen2 drivers. So in other words it's in Meta and Qualcomm's hands at the moment.
 
Please reply to this thread and post your information as per Metas instructions:
 
"December 14th Update from MetaStoreHelp 
Hey everyone! I wanted to let you all know that I heard back from our engineering team. It looks like there might've been some changes with the recent v60 update. I recommend checking your headset to make sure that it is updated to the latest version, and then checking your Wi-Fi connection with your headset. If you're still having trouble after updating your headset, please let me know the below information and I'll pass it along to our engineering team so this can be looked into further.
 1. Router make and model.
 2. Router firmware.
 3. Full Headset version. (59.0.0.##) Go to Settings > System > Software Update"
 
You can also make a video grab of your issue and send it to Meta over the "report a problem" option in the headset.
 
 
NOTE: If you have a working setup with a different router and not experiencing any issues please post the details on this separate thread: https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Get-Help/What-Wifi-6e-routers-currently-works-bug-free-with-the-Quest-3/td-p/1101778
 
 
 
 
Original post October 10th 2023
 

On my Quest 3 the WIFI signal is hopping from 720 - 864 - 960 

But my Quest 2 ti stable at 1200 Mbps

I am sitting 1 m from the Ruter

Is my Quest 3 broken or is this a bug?

 

Edit FYI: This is a firmware bug with communication between some brand of routers. Please post your info here as a reply. (Se MetaQuestSupports reply)

The team has been made aware and is currently looking into the unstable connection reports.

Meta needs to know:

  1. What version is your headset running? (Full number, i.e. 57.0.0.####)
    • Quick Settings > System > Software Update
  2. Which router do you currently have?
  3. Tag MetaStoreHelp 

Also.. Remember to send a bug report via Oculus apps or headset...

Here is how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i9Q_h_yeQQ

 

Edit 2, to be clear: 

The issue is not dependent on AirLink or VirtualDesktop. It's a clear communication issue between the Quest 3 and certain routers in Quest build vertion 57.  That effects both 5Ghz and 6Ghz. Quest 2 is unaffected.

Here is the issue we are facing demonstrated to TP-link:

https://youtu.be/JFrl9rTJH8E?si=2vBOI6E2PjGvPL_7

 

If you're r not experiencing any issues please post the details on this seperate thread: https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Get-Help/What-Wifi-6e-routers-currently-works-bug-free-with-the-Quest-3/td-p/1101778

 

Edit 3 - Update:

Version 59 showed no improvement. TP-Link has received a unit and are experiencing the same negotiation rate problems. They are investigating the problem. 

 

MetaStoreHelp has stated that they are working on the issue and it will be fixed in a future firmware update. https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Get-Help/Unstable-wifi-covarage-with-Quest-3-on-some-Router-Brands-Known/m-p/1099915#M241197

 

Edit 4 - Update...
TP-Watched  @VirtualOmnipresence 's video  and confirmed: 

Our Wireless RD found that it might be the case Quest3 are kind Quest3's wireless connection rate strategy is more aggressive in terms of speed reduction. Once it encounters wireless packet loss or interference, it will reduce the negotiation rate on a large scale, thus affecting the actual wireless performance.

In other words, it is actually unnecessarily overly sensitive... especially when interference is basically impossible at 6GHz.

We've tested the Quest3 v57(haven't got v59 yet) so far with almost all our routers from wifi6e to wifi7 with QCA/BCM chipest...

Also thanks a lot for your updates about that article, we will also notice to get the previous quest2 sample to check how it works with our router in old firmware, then upgrade it to newer one for checking.

We will also focus on this issue later quickly if there's new firmware released.

 

Edit 5 - November 20th 2023

Still no more contact with meta and the silence is deafening. 

Though with the new update to v.59 it is actually a lot better on AXE75 for both 5g and 6g. It's fluxing, but not below 1200 in 6g and not below 720 in 5g. Making it... "usable"... if you are relatively close to your router.

Here is my video in my test with v. 59.

We still want to take advantage of the 2401 Mbps so that we are not reliant on no interference and being 2 to 3 meters from the access point. 

Any working 6Ghz device connected to a 6 Ghz router, dedicated at close range should output a connection at 2401Mbps. If it doesn't it's simply not working correctly. 

So I'm not giving you a pass just yet Meta. 😉

 

Edit 6 December 8th

A lot of new posts here and in my community on still experiencing this issue making their wireless experience unbearable. The uptick has been noticeable since the release of SteamLink bringing more people over to PC wireless. 

I also go a new confirmation from MetaSupport over email:

Meta Store Support following up on your issue.

To clarify, the issue you are experiencing is most likely to be patched up with a new software update. I know how inconvenient this may be for you. We really appreciate your extended patience and utmost understanding regarding this matter. As much as I would like to give you an exact timeline, since this is still a known issue, I'm afraid we are still unable to provide an exact date for it.

This is also for our customers, as we don't want to set you an expectation that is vague. We value transparency here at Meta, and we can assure you that we will quickly contact you as soon as possible once the issue is resolved or workarounds are provided.

We're eager to have this one sorted out for you, so we'll keep an eye on this issue. Looking forward to solve this issue at your earliest convenience so you can proceed enjoying your VR experience.

----

later:

I can confirm that your issue regarding Wi-Fi connection has been coordinated with our engineering team; however, they didn't provide an exact time; maybe they are still figuring out the root cause of the issue. By the way, thank you for the clear explanation of your issue; that helps us a lot.

 

Edit December 14th Update from MetaStoreHelp 

Hey everyone! I wanted to let you all know that I heard back from our engineering team. It looks like there might've been some changes with the recent v60 update. I recommend checking your headset to make sure that it is updated to the latest version, and then checking your Wi-Fi connection with your headset. If you're still having trouble after updating your headset, please let me know the below information and I'll pass it along to our engineering team so this can be looked into further.

  1. Router make and model.
  2. Router firmware.
  3. Full Headset version. (59.0.0.##)
    1. Settings > System > Software Update

---

Here is my video on testing version 60

tfosseli
tfosseliAnswer
Inspiring
February 8, 2024

EDIT May 21th 2024: The bug returned with build v.65. Lets hope its a hiccup.  

...

 

Hey everyone! Build v62 has officially arrived, and I'm pleased to announce that my initial issues have been resolved. The speeds remain rock solid at 2401Mbps, even when I'm in a different room from the router. There was only one brief 5-second disconnect, which was swiftly resolved and did not reoccur during my session.

The issues concerning fluctuating speeds, packet losses, and random negotiation rates have all but disappeared.

However, I'm aware that some of you are still encountering difficulties connecting to the 6G network in general and are experiencing random disconnects. I'm unsure if these issues are related, especially as the problem doesn't seem to be consistent with router brands.

I recommend creating a separate forum thread on the matter so that those affected can voice their concerns and avoid being mixed up with the excitement in this thread.

Thank you to everyone who has engaged in civil discussions and shared their experiences and constructive feedback. And thank you to MetaStoreHelp and TheAntiSocializer for making sure our issues were heard by the Meta engineers. 

 

Edit: if your experiencing micro studders in AirLink follow this thread: https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Get-Help/Quest-3-Airlink-micro-lags-and-stutter-esp-when-moving-head/m-p/1150175/ 

 

When a "problems finding 6G Wi-Fi" thread is created, share it here, and I'll add a link to it. 

(I can't stay as the OP of a post concerning problems connecting to a 6G network as I am not experiencing that particular problem and can't replicate it.)

 

1188 replies

New Participant
December 22, 2023

I have a similar issue. I have tried the

TP-Link Archer A8 2.20

Firmware Version:
1.13.2 Build 230824 Rel.75032n(5553)
 
And it also does the same on the eero Pro 6E, but the eero doesn't come back after 5 - 10 seconds it just dies.
 
 
Quest 3
Version 60.0.0.193.366.548441753
Runtime Version 60.0.0.195.366.548441754
ItsBegger
New Participant
December 23, 2023

Oh, great I have an Eero Pro 6E coming to replace my old Dual Band Eero's.

New Participant
December 23, 2023

Can confirm this problem still persists on my unifi setup (U6 Enterprise) Other devices can connect without a problem, Quest 3 cant even see the network.

New Participant
December 24, 2023

issue still persists, router is a 

FRITZ!Box 6591 Cable

headset firmware version is

60.0.0.195.366.548441754.

Participant
December 25, 2023
Asus GT-AXE16000
quest 3, v60 firmware. 
 
Still having issues with wifi 6e connection. router approx. 2 to 3 meters distance. Network setting is 6GHZ (160Mhz), sometimes the connection occurs immediately after turning on the goggles, sometimes not. Sometimes after connecting, it disconnects and reconnects. Sometimes the 6GHz network simply disappears from the list of available networks. If the connection is established, it often works correctly. There is no rule for all this.
Participant
December 25, 2023

Asus axe7800 new quest 3 owner. Same thing sometimes it connects and sees wifi 6e, sometimes I have to sit in network settings for awhile for it to show up.

 

Clearly this is a massive issue with quest and issues with there network/wifi module they need to get fixed.

Participant
December 25, 2023
Some additional info from my side: As i mentioned before i've got the same issue both with my router (Speedport Smart 3, Wifi 5) and my D-Link VR Airbridge stick (Wifi 6). The airbridge stick (Wifi 6) is worse than the router (Wifi 5), both are about 2 meters away from my playing area and there are no objects obstructing the view between the router/airbridge and the headset.
 
The bitrate fluctuates wildly with both devices. Playing very slow games like The 7th Guest is possible with very little stuttering, but faster games, especially with lots of rotation and other types of movement happening are stuttering pretty badly, even at low max bitrates (which looks of course very blurry).
 
Other devices don't have issues with the Wifi connection at my home. I also removed all other devices from the Wifi network for testing, so only the Quest 3 is connected. There was no improvement. Only way to "fix" this is using a link cable, but that bring's it's own issues (need to restart the headset several times before the Oculus software detects the Quest 3 properly). Rift S on PC works way less troublesome, so i still use the old headset for simracing (main reason i started with vr).
 
My system specs: AMD Ryzen 7 5800x3d, 32 GB G.Skill 3600 Trident Z Neo CL16, RTX 4070 Ti, Gigabyte x570 Aorus Elite, Samsung 860 M.2 Evo 1 TB, Samsung 870 Evo 4 TB, Windows 11 64 Bit
 
Router: Speedport Smart 3
Firmware: 010137.5.1.001.0
 
D-Link VR Airbridge
Firmware: can't find any info
 
Meta Quest 3 
Systemversion 49777350057900510
Version: 60.0.0.193.366.548441753
Runtime-Version: 60.0.0.195.366.548441754
 
For my main purpose (simracing) the headset is currently simply not usable and I don't even can to show it to other people because the question keeps coming up ("Why do I always have freeze frames? Your PC should have more than enough power."). I don't want to buy a new router without being 100% sure it will fix the issue for good.
Please fix this soon, it's getting really frustrating right now.
New Participant
December 26, 2023

Same problems, this is my info:

Router: Asus RT-AX57
Firmware: 3.0.0.4.386_52294
 
Meta Quest 3 
Version: 60.0.0.193.366.548441753
Runtime-Version: 60.0.0.195.366.548441754
New Participant
December 26, 2023

No improvement with v60 on my Quest3:

Honor Router 3
Router firmware version: 10.0.5.26
Quest version: 60.0.0.193.366.548441754
Quest runtime-version: 60.0.0.195.366.548441754

New Participant
December 27, 2023

Hello,
I decided to provide my experience with the issue. Perhaps it will help someone else.

I bought my Quest 3 and connected via WiFi to my existing wifi 5Ghz network created by my ASUS router RT-AC66U B1. Every game was stuttering and I experienced issues mentioned in this forum. The first recommended thing is to use dedicated  WiFi router to eliminate issues. So I did that and bought myself TP-Link Archer AX23 WiFi6 router. 

The Issue was exactly the same. So I tried all the settings (bitrates, codecs...), streaming services (Virtual desktop, Steamlink, AitLink...) that I could change, even fresh reinstallation of my Windows 11. Tried all the settings and the issue was exactly the same - micro stuttering in games.

So my last effort was to buy more expensive router ASUS GT-AX6000. And the issue is gone and I enjoy smooth gameplay. I am on 5Ghz, WiFi 6.

TL;DR:
Tried 3 routers: RT-AC66U B1, TP-Link Archer AX23.  ASUS GT-AX6000  and only with the GT AX-6000 was not experiencing any issues.

I do realize it is caused by firmware issue within Quest 3 and buying expensive ASUS router might be a risky move, but in my case it paid off.  

tfosseli
tfosseliAuthor
Inspiring
December 27, 2023

Thank you for sharing. We are aware that this issue does not effect all routers. There is a separate thread for sharing information on this: https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Get-Help/What-Wifi-6e-routers-currently-works-bug-free-with-the-Quest-3/td-p/1101778

tfosseli
tfosseliAuthor
Inspiring
December 27, 2023

MetaStoreHelp and end of year update from TP-Link.

"Really sorry to say that we cannot make a break through from our side, and the final point about this issue is still the client side issue.

We tried to check the status with different chipset, like MTK, BCM and QCA routers. They are performing the similar cases too.

After that, we focused on the Meta software updates, and our newest test was based on the Quest3 V60, the newest result shows clearly there's still negotiation rate varies, but it seems the occasional streaming lagging disappeared.

That's all what we got so far about the Quest3 and our Routers."

But still to all on this thread a Merry Christmas and a happy New year. Lets hope it will be a grate year for VR.

Up and Coming
December 27, 2023

Thanks for the update! I still can't believe TP-Link is giving us more updates than Meta. 🙄

t3chnod3lic
Up and Coming
December 27, 2023

Meta are awful. I'd heard of them and never purchased any of the previous headsets. Been using the original vive for 6 years or more. I tell you, I wish I hadn't bothered. I've had it too long for a refund. I'm thinking of shelving the Q3 and buy a decent headset. Over two months and it's clear they're not serious about fixing this. When was the last time you saw any meta staff here????  Biggest regret of 2023. Lovely tech, crap software, even worse company. The Q2 never has this issue from what I've read. How hard is it to compare the software /firmware between the two headsets. Narrow the issue down. They just don't seem as proactive. They wanna sell headsets but customer service is shocking. What a fool I am. Think the Big Screen Beyond for me next. 

Up and Coming
December 27, 2023

Meta Support came here not too long ago... asking people to stop fighting on the thread. 😅

t3chnod3lic
Up and Coming
December 27, 2023

People are frustrated with this. Cost me £600+ with no fix in sight. Tantamount to fraud. An expensive piece of kit and Meta really don't appear to give a **bleep**. I'm sorry folks. I'm just extremely disappointed and feel betrayed.