In one embodiment, a supervisory device in a network forms a virtual access point (VAP) for a node in the network. A plurality of access points (APs) in the network are mapped to the VAP as part of a VAP mapping and the node treats the APs in the VAP mapping as a single AP for purposes of communicating with the network. The supervisory device determines a traffic type of traffic associated with the node. The supervisory device assigns the node to a selected wireless channel based in part on the traffic type of the traffic associated with the node. The supervisory device controls the VAP to use the channel assigned to the node.