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Several months ago I did a packet capture while troubleshooting a wireless problem and noticed that enabling either CTS to self or RTS/CTS on the Access Point seemed to actually increase the retransmissions on the network. This was a SOHO network with a hand full of wireless devices running off a single ap with semi directional AP. As you would imagine this was primarily used for internet type activity with 2 of the devices being wireless printers. There may not be enough info here but what would cause protection to actually increase retransmission?

Thanks,
Mike W.

It could be due to the fact that a station away from the access point doesn't hear the CTS -to-Self and can't reserve the medium. Then in turn causing a collision and retransmission?

I understand this network likely has some hidden node issues depending on who fires up what wireless device and where. However if a station cannot hear the CTS-to-Self from the access point how is it even associated?

Retransmissions are due to interference in one form or another. If retransmission are increasing with protection mechanism, and given the SOHO environment, I would bet that not everyone is obeying the rules. I see medical devices that do not follow the rules so it wouldn't surprise me if a SOHO device/AP is doing the same. Try removing one device/device type at a time and see if one device or device type is a culprit.

Jon,

Thanks that would make sense to me even though the training kool-aid is protection fixes this issue. Devices not following the standard or heck non 802.11 interference could be playing a role. The environment was not particularly noisy from what I recall using wi-spy. I will investigate further when I get a chance.