Measure quality, not bars

Check retries, channel use, noise, latency and loss during a real call.

Reduce radio contention

Channel planning and sensible widths often help more than adding power or another access point.

Walk the route users take

Test the call while moving between work areas. A stationary speed test will not expose a poor handover.

Official technical sources

These sources support the technical explanation. The right fix still depends on the environment where the problem appears.

  1. Troubleshoot Wireless Speed IssuesCisco
  2. Wireless High Client Density Design GuideCisco
  3. Voice Over Wireless LAN Troubleshooting GuideCisco