An apparatus, method, and computer-readable recording medium perform optimized data collection in a wireless network. The wireless network communicatively interconnects a gateway device having a network controller, one or more wireless extenders, and one or more client devices. The gateway device receives polling responses from the one or more wireless extenders and periodically monitors station metrics data for the one or more client devices based on the polling responses. The gateway device determines which of the one or more client devices is an immobile device based on the station metrics data, and transmits an instruction to at least one wireless extender for modifying collection or reporting of the station metrics data for any client device determined to be an immobile device.