Band/Spectrum Configuration

Channelization: This option refers to the channel width. Depending on the network characteristics, select the appropriate width for the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands. Wider channels result in faster data rates; however, they are more susceptible to interference, which can decrease network performance. You can also choose the Auto option for automatic selection.

Channel: Selecting the appropriate channel is crucial for avoiding co-channel interference and adjacent-channel interference, which maximizes the available bandwidth. You can manually select a specific channel for the zone, AP Group, or individual AP from the available channel list in the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can choose the Auto option for automatic channel selection.

Allow DFS Channels: Available on the 5 GHz tab only, enabling this feature allows the APs to utilize DFS channels for channel selection, expanding the available options and reducing co-channel and adjacent channel interference. Bear in mind that DFS channels are part of the regulated 5 GHz band spectrum, specifically designated for weather and aviation radars. Enabling these channels near radar installations may result in additional interference and, depending on the regulatory domain, could be a violation of the law.

Allow Channel 144: Available on the 5 GHz tab only, channel 144 was introduced with the IEEE 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard specification. While it offers a wider range of available channels and higher data rates, it is not supported by many older devices. It is recommended to use Channel 144 in high-density areas with IEEE 802.11ac-compatible devices, while considering that older devices may not be able to recognize it.

Allow Indoor Channels: Available on the 5 GHz tab only, you can enable outdoor APs to use indoor channels. This expands the range of available channels, helping to avoid co-channel interference and adjacent channel interference. However, depending on the regulatory domain, these channels may be restricted for outdoor usage and the option will be grayed out.

Auto Cell Sizing: Enables the APs to share information about the interference they observe from each other. This information is used to dynamically adjust the radio transmission power and reception parameters to minimize interference. Enabling this option will disable the manual TX Power Adjustment configuration, as the APs will automatically adjust their settings based on the interference they detect.

Tx Power Adjustment: Allows you to manually configure the transmit power on the different radio bands. By default, the TX power is set to Full. If you choose Full, the transmit power is set to the maximum allowable value according to the AP's capability and the operating country's regulations. This option is not available if Auto Cell Sizing is enabled.

Enable AFC: The AFC function acts as a communication agent between the controller and the AP. RUCKUS APs supporting the 6GHz band require AFC support to switch to Standard Power Mode. The Enable AFC button can be toggled when the country of the zone supports AFC. If AFC is enabled, the AP would send an AFC request to acquire permission to turn to standard power in the 6GHz band. If AFC permission is granted, then the AP could switch to Standard Power mode. Otherwise, indoor APs should remain in Low Power Mode, and outdoor APs will turn off the 6GHz band. For full feature overview, refer Automated Frequency Coordination System.

Protection Mode: Enable this feature to help mitigate interference and improve overall network performance by preventing collisions between different devices transmitting on the same channel. When multiple devices transmit simultaneously, collisions can occur, leading to data loss and reduced network efficiency. There are three options available for protection mode:

• None: This option means that no protection mechanism is enabled. It is suitable for networks where there is no interference from neighboring networks or devices. However, in environments with high interference, choosing this option may result in increased collisions and degraded network performance.
• RTS/CTS (Request to Send/Clear to Send): This option uses a handshake mechanism between devices to reserve the channel before transmitting data. When a device wants to transmit, it sends an RTS frame to the receiving device, requesting permission to transmit. The receiving device responds with a CTS frame, granting permission to transmit.
• CTS Only: This option uses only the CTS frame to reserve the channel before transmitting data. Unlike RTS/CTS, it does not require the transmitting device to send an RTS frame. Instead, it directly sends a CTS frame to reserve the channel.
  Note: These options are only available for the 2.4 GHz radio band. The other radio bands use their own protection mechanisms and cannot be modified.

WLAN Group: When a new zone is created, a default WLAN group is automatically created and assigned to all the AP groups within that zone. Optionally, you can assign different groups of WLANs to each of the radio bands, overriding the AP group or the individual AP configurations.

WLAN Service: This toggle is available only at the AP level configuration. Set the toggle to Off to disable the WLAN services in the selected radio band

Background Scan: Allows the AP radio to scan other channels in the band for accessing channel health and capacity, detecting rogue devices, optimizing mesh links, and discovering AP neighbors. Select the scanning frequency from between 1 and 65535 seconds (about 18 hours). RUCKUS recommends 20 seconds for most features that depend on background scans to work properly.

Auto Channel Selection: Set this toggle to ON to enable one of the two available channel selection options:

• ChannelFly: This is a RUCKUS proprietary channel selection mechanism that utilizes an advanced algorithm to detect, based on channel capacity, the best channel options available throughout the day. This algorithm includes configurable options for channel change frequency and full optimization period.
  • The Channel Change Frequency establishes how often the AP can change the broadcasting channel. You can select in a range from Minimal to Very Often.
    • Using a minimal change frequency, the AP changes channels only when necessary, such as after an AP reboot, any configuration changes, or any service interruption.
    • When Very Often is selected, the AP can dynamically adjust to micro-changes in the RF environment by selecting a new channel in a timely manner.
  • The Full Optimization Period establishes those moments of the day where full optimization is allowed. During this period, channel changes would be more frequent, and hence, more service interruptions might be seen. Select a period or set of periods during which full-service availability is not a main concern so the APs can optimize the channel selection.
    Note:
    • ChannelFly utilizes the IEEE 802.11h protocol to notify connected clients about an upcoming channel change. However, it is important to note that not all client devices support this technology. Thus, client devices that do not support this technology may experience minimal service impact during the channel change.
    • The Background Scan option should be enabled with a frequency of 20 seconds for the best functionality of ChannelFly.
• Background Scanning: This is a widely used technique for automatic channel selection in Wi-Fi networks. During background scanning, the device briefly tunes in to each channel (usually for a few milliseconds) to measure signal strength, noise level, and interference. It does not use IEEE 802.11h for channel change notifications and does not consider the channel capacity for selecting the best channel.
  Note: Consider the distinction between Background Scan and Background Scanning as two separate concepts. Background Scan is a mechanism used to discover and document the RF utilization in the surrounding environment of the AP. This information is then used by other features such as ChannelFly and Auto Cell Sizing to make informed decisions. On the other hand, Background Scanning refers to one of the channel selection mechanisms available which is based on the results obtained from the Background Scan process.

  BSS Min Rate: The BSS Min Rate setting in the 6 GHz radio band configuration allows you to specify the minimum data transmission rate for connections in this radio band. This setting determines the lowest data rate clients can use when connecting to the network.

  The available options are as follows:

  • HE MCS 0: This option refers to the High Efficiency (HE) Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) 0. It represents the lowest data rate available in the HE MCS scheme for the 6 GHz band. HE MCS 0 provides a basic level of data transmission with a lower throughput but better range and reliability. This is the default value.
  • HE MCS 1: This option has a slightly higher data rate compared to HE MCS 0. It offers improved throughput while still maintaining a good balance between range and reliability.
  • HE MCS 2: HE MCS 2 is another step up in data rate from HE MCS 1. It provides even better throughput while still maintaining a reasonable range and reliability.
  • HE MCS 3: This option represents the highest data rate available in the HE MCS scheme for the 6 GHz band. HE MCS 3 offers the highest throughput but may have a shorter range and lower reliability compared to the lower MCS options.
    Note: When OFDM Only is enabled in the WLAN-level configuration, it takes higher priority over the BSS minimum rate settings configured at the AP levels.

Mgmt Tx Rate: Allows you to specify the transmit rate for management frame types, such as beacons and probes, in the 6 GHz radio band configuration. By increasing the minimum allowed data rates for these frame types, you can encourage better connections. This configuration has a similar effect to the BSS Min Rate setting, but is specifically for management frames.

Multicast Rate Limiting: Limiting the Uplink and Downlink traffic rates for multicast in the 6 GHz radio band configuration can positively impact the WLAN performance regarding latency and overall throughput.

Dual-5G Mode: This feature is reserved for tri-band APs. When enabled, the tri-band APs will not operate the 6 GHz radio band; instead, the feature takes advantage of the third radio band to place the Upper and Lower 5 GHz frequencies on separate radio chains. For tri-band APs, the configuration settings defined in the Upper 5 GHz and Lower 5 GHz tabs will conduct the behavior of these APs in the 5 GHz channels. The dual-band AP models in the zone or group will continue to honor the settings found in the regular 5 GHz configuration.