WhatsApp calls on iPhone dropped when roaming between Cisco APs

[y2kandy3]

Hello,

Good day!

We are experiencing WhatsApp calls on iPhone dropped when the phone roaming between Cisco APs in the office; remember there is settings on WLC to rectify the short period of WiFi disconnection when Apple device roaming under one AP to another.  Please share if anyone knows it or if there is other solutions to rectify this issue.

Thanks a lot in advance!!

[JPavonM · Accepted solution]

Is it your WLAN profile configured for 1-band only? Remember that roaming between bands create a short disruption always
Do you have enabled on the WLAN profile FT Adaptive and 802.11k/v? These Fast Roaming protocols help to reduce significantly the time to re-auth when roaming.
Have you validated a seamless deployment is in place? PErforming a Passive/Active Survey should be a must before going production, and Secondary Signal strength of -68dBm is a best practice to support seamless roaming for Voice deployments.

[marce1000]

             - What is the WLC model and software version being used ?

 M.

[Leo Laohoo]

Compare the result between calls/video made using WhatsApp against FaceTime Video (video calls preferred).

[JPavonM]

@Leo Laohoo said, WhatsApp is not an enterprise solution for voice/viceo which to relay on and the way it deals with short disconection maybe not the best. Check any other application such as Google Meet, Facetime, Teams, Zoom to validate the configuration.

[y2kandy3]

Thanks a lot guys for your advice! WLAN profile FT Adaptive and 802.11k/v enabled and issue solved. 

[RDreyer]

Hello y2kandy3,

We are having similar intermittent issue with iphone drops across all models. We have already set Fast Transition = Enabled per Cisco's known issue (see link below). Can I ask where in WLC console do you enable 802.11 k/v? 

Thanks in advance!
-Rod

Cisco Known Issue, URL: https://bst.cloudapps.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCwe43515 

[Rich R]

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/17-9/config-guide/b_wl_17_9_cg/m_assisted_roam_9800.html
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/guide-c07-743627.html#Enable80211kforoptimalroaming
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/guide-c07-743627.html#Optimizedroaming