Technical Tip: How to troubleshoot connectivity issues with legacy wireless devices/Scanners/POS machines

1. Create a separate  SSID (bridge/tunnel as per the design) for the legacy wireless devices/scanners/POS machines.
2. A separate WLAN network provides the opportunity to configure and fine-tune the network settings as per the specific wireless client device without affecting the latest Wi-Fi clients like mobile phones and laptops.
3. Such legacy Wi-Fi devices come with device specifications and a data sheet that recommends the best practices for the smooth operation of the device.
4. Check which Wi-Fi band works best with the device amongst b/gn/a/ac/ax.
5. If the device prefers to connect on 2.4Ghz Radio then broadcast the dedicated SSID only on the 2.4Ghz radio of the FortiAP profile.
6. If the device is known to work well on 5Ghz Radio then broadcast the SSID only on 5Ghz of the FortiAP profile.
7. Ensure the Wi-Fi network is using a security protocol compatible with the legacy devices. Older devices might not support newer protocols like WPA3. Consider using WPA2 or WPA-PSK.
8. Check if the device works well with open SSID or needs some specific encryption like WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES, or CCMP.
9. Consider configuring the device with Static IP for a more  reliable connection  without having to keep track of changing IP addresses
10. Configure  QoS Settings to Prioritize traffic from the legacy devices to ensure they receive adequate bandwidth.
11. Try using a narrower channel width (20 MHz) instead of 40 MHz or 80 MHz, as older devices may have difficulties with wider channels.
12. Upgrade the device drivers and firmware on the client device.

If the connectivity issues persist then open a TAC case with wireless station logs and a FortiGate configuration file.

• Station log: Technical Tip: Collecting station log for a wireless client when there is a VDOM Configured
• Other Wi-Fi logs: Technical Tip: How to collect logs and config to assist TAC in debugging issues on FortiAP WiFi