To edit an access point's radio settings:
| Description | Provide or edit a description (1 to 64 characters in length) for the radio that helps differentiate it from others with similar configurations |
| Admin Status | Select Enable to define this radio as active to the profile it supports. Select Disable to deactivate this radio configuration within the profile. It can be activated at any future time when needed |
| RF Mode | The radio can be configured to provide WLAN service for 2.4 GHz
and 5 GHz enabled clients. You can also set the radio to provide
sensor support, scan-ahead support, or function as a client
bridge. Set the mode to either 2.4 GHz WLAN or 5 GHz WLAN depending on the radio's intended client support requirement Set the mode to Sensor if using the radio for rogue device detection. To set a radio as a detector, deactivate Sensor support on the other access point radio |
| Lock RF Mode | Select Lock RF Mode to lock Smart RF for this radio |
| LDPC | Select this option to activate low-density parity-check for the selected radio |
| RIFS Mode | Set the RIFS mode for the selected radio |
| Radio Placement | Use the drop-down list box to specify whether the radio is located Indoors or Outdoors. The placement should depend on the country of operation and its regulatory domain requirements for radio emissions |
| Channel | Use the drop-down list box to select the channel of operation for the radio. Only a trained installation professional should define the radio channel. Select Smart for the radio to scan non-overlapping channels listening for beacons from other access points. After channels are scanned, the radio selects the channel with the fewest access points. In the case of multiple access points on the same channel, it selects the channel with the lowest average power level. The default value is Smart. Channels with a “w” appended to them are unique to the 40 MHz band. Channels with a “ww” appended to them are 802.11ac specific, and are unique to the 80 MHz band |
| Fallback Channel | Use the drop-down list box to select a fallback channel if the main channel doesn't work |
| Transmit Power | Select Smart to automate the transmit power
for the radio Select Transmit Power and assign a value between 1 to 30 dBm |
| Client Power | Select Client Power and assign a value between 1 to 20 dBm |
| Max Clients | Use the spinner control or type a maximum permissible number of clients to connect with this radio. The available range is between 1 to 512 clients. The default value is 512 |
| Dynamic Chain Selection | Select this option for the radio to dynamically change the number of transmit chains |
| Rate Selection Method | Specify a radio selection method for the radio. The selection methods are: Standard: standard monotonic radio selection method will be used. Opportunistic: sets opportunistic radio link adaptation as the radio selection method. This mode uses opportunistic data rate selection to provide the best throughput |
| Radio QoS Policy | Use the drop-down list box to specify an existing QoS policy to apply to the access point radio in respect to its intended radio traffic |
| Association ACL | Use the drop-down list box to specify an existing Association ACL policy to apply to the access point radio. An Association ACL is a policy-based ACL that either prevents or allows wireless clients from connecting to an access point radio. An ACL is a sequential collection of permit and deny conditions that apply to packets. When a packet is received on an interface, its compared against applied ACLs to verify the packet has the required permissions to be forwarded. If a packet does not meet any of the criteria specified in the ACL, the packet is dropped |
| Data Rates | Once the radio band is provided, the Data
Rates drop-down list box populates with rate options
depending on the 2.4 or 5.0 GHz band selected. If the radio band is
set to Sensor or Detector, the Data Rates drop-down list box is not
activated, as the rates are fixed and not user configurable. If 2.4
GHz is selected as the radio band, select separate 802.11b, 802.11g
and 802.11n rates and define how they are used in combination. If 5
GHz is selected as the radio band, select separate 802.11a and 802.11n
rates then define how they are used together. When using 802.11n (in
either the 2.4 or 5 GHz band), Set a MCS (modulation and coding
scheme) in respect to the radio's channel width and guard interval. A
MCS defines (based on RF channel conditions) an optimal combination of
8 data rates, bonded channels, multiple spatial streams, different
guard intervals and modulation types. Clients can associate as long as
they support basic MCS (as well as non-11n basic rates). If dedicating the radio to either 2.4 or 5.0 GHz support, a Custom Rates option is available to set a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) in respect to the radio's channel width and guard interval. A MCS defines (based on RF channel conditions) an optimal combination of rates, bonded channels, multiple spatial streams, different guard intervals and modulation types. Clients can associate as long as they support basic MCS (as well as non-11n basic rates). If Basic is selected within the 802.11n Rates field, the MCS0-7 option is auto selected as a Supported rate and that option is grayed out. If Basic is not selected, any combination of MCS0-7, MCS8-15 and MCS16-23 can be supported, including a case where MCS0-7 and MCS16-23 are selected and not MCS8-15. The MCS0-7 and MCS8-15 options are available to each support access point. |
| Beacon Interval | Set the interval between radio beacons in milliseconds (either 50, 100, or 200). A beacon is a packet broadcast by adopted radios to keep the network synchronized. The beacon includes the WLAN service area, radio address, broadcast destination addresses, time stamp and indicators about traffic and delivery such as a DTIM. Increase the DTIM/beacon settings (lengthening the time) to let nodes sleep longer and preserve battery life. Decrease these settings (shortening the time) to support streaming-multicast audio and video applications that are jitter-sensitive. The default value is 100 milliseconds |
| Guard Interval | Use the drop-down list box to specify a Long orAny guard interval. The guard interval is the space between the packets being transmitted. The guard interval is there to eliminate inter-symbol interference (ISI). ISI occurs when echoes or reflections from one transmission interfere with another. Adding time between transmissions allows echo's and reflections to settle before the next packet is transmitted. A shorter guard interval results in a shorter times which reduces overhead and increases data rates by up to 10%.The default value is Long |
| RTS Threshold | Specify a Request To Send (RTS) threshold (between 1
to 65,536 bytes) for use by the WLAN's adopted access point radios.
RTS is a transmitting station's signal that requests a Clear To
Send (CTS) response from a receiving client. This RTS/CTS
procedure clears the air where clients are contending for transmission
time. Benefits include fewer data collisions and better communication
with nodes that are hard to find (or hidden) because of other active
nodes in the transmission path. Control RTS/CTS by setting an RTS threshold. This setting initiates an RTS/CTS exchange for data frames larger than the threshold, and sends (without RTS/CTS) any data frames smaller than the threshold. Consider the trade-offs when setting an appropriate RTS threshold for the WLAN's access point radios. A lower RTS threshold causes more frequent RTS/CTS exchanges. This consumes more bandwidth because of additional latency (RTS/CTS exchanges) before transmissions can commence. A disadvantage is the reduction in data-frame throughput. An advantage is quicker system recovery from electromagnetic interference and data collisions. Environments with more wireless traffic and contention for transmission make the best use of a lower RTS threshold. A higher RTS threshold minimizes RTS/CTS exchanges, consuming less bandwidth for data transmissions. A disadvantage is less help to nodes that encounter interference and collisions. An advantage is faster data-frame throughput. Environments with less wireless traffic and contention for transmission make the best use of a higher RTS threshold. |
| Probe Response Rate | Use the drop-down list box to specify the data transmission rate used for the transmission of probe responses. Options include, highest-basic, lowest-basic and follow-probe-request (default setting) |
| Probe Response Retry | Select Probe Response Retry to retry probe responses if they are not acknowledged by the target wireless client |
| Short Preamble | If using an 802.11bg radio, select this checkbox for the radio to transmit using a short preamble. Short preambles improve throughput. However, some devices (SpectraLink or Polycomm phones) require long preambles |
| DTIM Interval BSSID |
Set a DTIM Interval to specify a period for Delivery Traffic Indication Messages (DTIM). A DTIM is periodically included in a beacon frame transmitted from adopted radios. The DTIM period determines how often the beacon contains a DTIM, for example, 1 DTIM for every 10 beacons. The DTIM indicates broadcast and multicast frames (buffered at the access point) are soon to arrive. These are simple data frames that require no acknowledgment, so nodes sometimes miss them. Increase the DTIM/ beacon settings (lengthening the time) to let nodes sleep longer and preserve their battery life. Decrease these settings (shortening the time) to support streaming multicast audio and video applications that are jitter-sensitive |
Select Add to create a new WLAN/BSS Mapping for the selected radio.
| BSSID | The BSSID is automatically assigned to the radio |
| Wireless | Select a WLAN from the drop-down list box |
Select Add to create new Mesh Mapping setting for the selected radio.
| BSSID | The BSSID is automatically assigned when creating a new MCX mesh mapping |
| Meshpoint | Select a meshpoint from the drop-down list box |
| Gain | Set the antenna between 0.0 to 14.5 dBi. The access point's Power Management Antenna Configuration File (PMACF) automatically configures the access point's radio transmit power based on the antenna type, its antenna gain (provided here) and the deployed country's regulatory domain restrictions. Once provided, the access point calculates the power range. Antenna gain relates the intensity of an antenna in a given direction to the intensity that would be produced ideally by an antenna that radiates equally in all directions (isotropically), and has no losses. Although the gain of an antenna is directly related to its directivity, its gain is a measure that takes into account the efficiency of the antenna as well as its directional capabilities. Only a professional installer must set the antenna gain. The default value is 0 |
| Mode | Set the number of transmit and receive antennas on the access point. 1×1 is used for transmissions over just the single "A" antenna, 1×3 is used for transmissions over the "A" antenna and all three antennas for receiving. 2×2 is used for transmissions and receipts over two antennas for dual antenna models. 3×3×3 is used for transmissions and receipts over three antennas models. The default setting is dynamic based on the access point model deployed and its transmit power settings |
| Diversity | Select to activate antenna diversity on supported antennas. Antenna diversity uses two or more antennas to increase signal quality and strength |
| A-MSDU Modes | Use the drop-down list box to define the A-MSDU mode supported.
Options include:
|
| A-MPDU Modes | Use the drop-down list box to define the A-MPDU mode supported. Options include Transmit Only, Receive Only, Transmit and Receive and None. The default value is Transmit and Receive. Using the default value, long frames can be both sent and received (up to 64 KB). When enabled, define either a transmit or receive limit or both |
| Receive A-MPDU Frame Size Limit | If the A-MPDU mode is set to Receive Only or
Transmit and
Receive, use this option to define an advertised maximum limit
for received A-MPDU aggregated frame size. The options include:
|
| Minimum Gap Between A-MPDU Frames | Use the drop-down list box to define, in microseconds, the minimum
gap between consecutive A-MPDU frames. The options include:
|
| Transmit A-MPDU Frame Size Limit | If the A-MPDU mode is set to Transmit Only or
Transmit and
Receive, use the spinner control to set limit on transmitted
A-MPDU aggregated frame size. The range depends on the AP type and the radio selected. For 802.11ac capable APs, the range is
as follows:
|
| Enable | Select Enable to scan across all channels using this radio. Channel scans use access point resources and can be time consuming, so only enable when your sure the radio can afford the bandwidth be directed towards to the channel scan and does not negatively impact client support. |
| 2.4 GHz Channels | Define a list of channels for off channel scans using the 2.4 GHz access point radio. Restricting off channel scans to specific channels frees bandwidth otherwise utilized for scanning across all the channels in the 2.4 GHz radio band. |
| 5 GHz Channels | Define a list of channels for off channel scans using the 5 GHz access point radio. Restricting off channel scans to specific channels frees bandwidth otherwise utilized for scanning across all the channels in the 5 GHz radio band. |
| Max Multicast | Set the maximum number from 0 to 100 of multicast or broadcast messages used to perform off channel scanning. The default setting is four |
| Scan Interval | Set the interval from 2 to 100 dtims off channel scans occur. The default setting is 20 dtims |
| Sniffer Redirect Host | Specify the IP address of the host to which captured off channel scan packets are redirected. |
| Forwarding Host | Specify the Aeroscout engine‘s IP address. When specified, the AP forwards Aeroscout beacons directly to the Aeroscout locationing engine without proxying through the controller or RF Domain manager |
| Forwarding Port | Set the port on which the Aeroscout or Ekahau engine is reachable. The range is between 0 to 65,535 |
| MAC Address to be Forwarded | Specify the MAC address |