rf-mode

interface-config-radio-instance

Configures the radio‘s mode of operation

This command sets the mode to either 2.4 GHz WLAN or 5.0 GHz WLAN support depending on the radio‘s intended client support.

Set the mode to sensor if using the radio for rogue device detection. The radio cannot support rogue detection when one of the other radios is functioning as a WIPS sensor. To set a radio as a detector, disable sensor support on the other access point radios.

Supported in the following platforms:

Syntax

rf-mode [2.4GHz-wlan|5GHz-wlan|scan-ahead|sensor]

Parameters

rf-mode [2.4GHz-wlan|5GHz-wlan|scan-ahead|sensor]
rf-mode Configures the radio‘s mode of operation
Note: For information on the possible modes of operations for AP505 and AP510 radios, see Usage Guidelines.
2.4GHz-wlan Provides WLAN service in the 2.4 GHz bandwidth
5GHz-wlan Provides WLAN service in the 5.0 GHz bandwidth
Note: For AP510 model access point, you can provide 5 GHz WLAN support on both radio 1 and radio 2.
scan-ahead Enables this radio to operate as a scan-ahead mode

A radio functioning in the scan-ahead mode is used for forward scanning only. The radio does not support WLAN or mesh services.

The scan ahead feature is used in DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) aware countries for infrastructure devices, static, and VMMs (vehicular mounted modems). It enables a secondary radio to scan ahead for an active channel for backhaul transmission, in the event of a radar trigger on the primary radio. The device then switches radios allowing transmission to continue. This is required in environments where handoff is required and DFS triggers are common.

With a secondary radio dedicated for forward scanning, the primary radio, in case of radar hit, hands over the CAC (channel availability check) function to the secondary radio. This avoids a break in data communication, which would have resulted if the primary radio was to do CAC itself.

The secondary radio periodically does a scan of the configured channel list, searching for the other available meshpoint roots. When configured on the root meshpoint, the scan-ahead feature also scans for cleaner channels.

Note: rf-mode scan-ahead is not supported on the AP 505i and AP510i model access points.
sensor Operates as a sensor radio. Configures this radio to function as a sensor, providing scanning services on both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands. The radio does not provide WLAN services.
Following is the sensor mode setting for AP505 and AP510:
  • AP505: both radio 1 and radio 2 must configured as sensors. You cannot set one radio as sensor and the other radio for WLAN service.
  • AP510: radio 1 can be set as sensor and radio 2 as 5 GHz WLAN . Note, configuring radio 1 as 5 GHz WLAN and radio 2 as sensor is not allowed.
Note: For information on the possible modes of operations for AP505 and AP510 radios, see Usage Guidelines.

Usage Guidelines

Table 1. AP510 Radio 1 and Radio 2: Possible Modes of Operation
Option 1 Radio 1: Set to 2.4 GHz WLAN, Channels 1 - 11 in the 20 MHz /40 MHz bandwidths
Radio 2: Set to 5 GHz WLAN, Channels 36 - 165 in the 20 MHz /40 MHz /80 MHz /160 MHz
Option 2 Radio 1: Set to 5 GHz, Channels 36 - 64 in the 20 MHz /40 MHz /80 MHz /160 MHz bandwidths
Radio 2: Set to 5 GHz, Channels 100 - 165 in the 20 MHz /40 MHz /80 MHz /160 MHz bandwidths
Option 3 Radio 1: Set to Sensor
Radio 2: Set to 5 GHz WLAN, Channels 36 - 165 in the 20 MHz /40 MHz /80 MHz /160 MHz
Table 2. AP505 Radio 1 and Radio 2: Possible Modes of Operation
Option 1 Radio 1: Set to 2.4 GHz WLAN, Channels 1 - 11 in the 20 MHz /40 MHz bandwidths
Radio 2: Set to 5 GHz WLAN, Channels 36 - 165 in the 20 MHz /40 MHz /80 MHz /160 MHz
Option 2 Radio 1: Set to Sensor.
Radio 2: Set to Sensor.

Example

nx9500-6C8809(config-profile-510TestProfile-if-radio1)#rf-mode sensor

nx9500-6C8809(config-profile-510TestProfile-if-radio1)#show context
 interface radio1
  rf-mode sensor
  placement outdoor
  mesh client
  off-channel-scan channel-list 2.4GHz 1
  guard-interval long
  aggregation ampdu tx-only
  aeroscout forward
  ekahau forward ip 172.16.10.1 port 3
  non-unicast tx-rate bss 1 dynamic-all
  --More--
nx9500-6C8809(config-profile-510TestProfile-if-radio1)#
ap505-134006(config-device-94-9B-2C-13-40-06-if-radio1)#rf-mode 2.4GHz-wlan
ap505-134006(config-device-94-9B-2C-13-40-06-if-radio2)#rf-mode 5GHZ-Wlan
ap505-13403B(config-device-94-9B-2C-13-40-38-if-radio1)#wlan wlan123 bss 1 primary
ap505-13403B(config-device-94-9B-2C-13-40-38-if-radio2)#wlan wlan123 bss 1 primary
ap505-134006(config-device-94-9B-2C-13-40-06)#show cont
ap505 94-9B-2C-13-40-06
use profile default-ap505
use rf-domain default
hostname ap505-134006
interface radio1
  channel 1
  wlan wlan123 bss 1 primary
interface radio2
  channel 36
  wlan wlan123 bss 1 primary
no adoption-mode
ap505-134006(config-device-94-9B-2C-13-40-06)#..
ap505-134006(config)#commit wr mem
[OK]
ap505-134006(config)#show wi rad
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RADIO              RADIO-MAC             RF-MODE    STATE   CHANNEL   POWER  #CLIENT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ap505-134006:R1    94-9B-2C-0E-88-80 2.4GHz-wlan     On   1 (    1)  14 (smt)  1
ap505-134006:R2    94-9B-2C-0E-88-90   5GHz-wlan     On   36 (   36) 16 (smt)  1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total number of radios displayed: 2
ap505-134006(config)#

Related Commands

no (radio-interface-config-command) Resets the radio‘s mode of operation
data-rates Configures the 802.11 data rates on this radio