Profile Radio Power

Use the Power screen to set one of two power modes (3af or Auto) for the access point profile. When Automatic is selected, the access point safely operates within available power. Once the power configuration is determined, the access point configures its operating power characteristics based on its model and power configuration.

An access point uses a complex programmable logic device (CPLD) to manage power. The CPLD determines proper supply sequencing, the maximum power available and other status information. One of the primary functions of the CPLD is to determine the maximum power budget. When an access point is powered on (or performing a cold reset), the CPLD determines the maximum power provided by the POE device and the budget available to the access point. The CPLD also determines the access point hardware SKU (model) and the number of radios.

If the access point‘s POE resource cannot provide sufficient power to run the access point (with all intended interfaces enabled), some of the following interfaces could be disabled or modified:

The access point‘s transmit and receive algorithms could be negatively impacted
The access point‘s transmit power could be reduced due to insufficient power
The access point‘s WAN port configuration could be changed (either enabled or disabled)

To define an access point‘s power configuration:

Select Configuration → Devices → System Profile → Power from the web UI.

Device Configuration - System Profile - Power Screen
Use the Power Mode drop-down menu to set the Power Mode Configuration on this AP.
Note
Single radio model access points always operate using a full power configuration. The power management configurations described in this section do not apply to single radio access point models.
When an access point is powered on for the first time, it determines the power budget available. Using the Automatic setting, the access point automatically determines the best power configuration based on the available power budget. Automatic is the default setting.
If 802.3af is selected, the access point assumes 12.95 watts are available. If the mode is changed, the access point requires a reset to implement the change. If 802.3at is selected, the access point assumes 23 - 26 watts are available.
Set the access point radio‘s 802.3af Power Mode and the radio‘s 802.3at Power Mode.
Use the drop-down menu for each power mode to define a mode of either Range or Throughput.
Select Throughput to transmit packets at the radio‘s highest defined basic rate (based on the radio‘s current basic rate settings). This option is optimal in environments where the transmission range is secondary to broadcast/multicast transmission performance.

Select Range when range is preferred over performance for broadcast/multicast (group) traffic. The data rates used for range are the lowest defined basic rates. Throughput is the default setting for both 802.3af and 802.3at.
Select OK to save the changes made to the access point power configuration. Select Reset to revert to the last saved configuration.