Configure RF for a Site

RF management for access points (APs) is configured at the site level. A site is automatically created with default RF settings to simplify the complex task of RF management. Additional configuration is optional.

Note

For more information about the RF management options, see RF Management Options.

To configure RF:

Select Configure > Sites from the menu.
The Sites list displays.
From the Sites list, select siteName > Configure Site, or select Add to add a new site.
Select the RF Management tab.

(Optional - ExtremeWireless WiNG APs Only) Enable SMART RF by editing the following fields.

Smart RF Sensitivity

Specify the Smart RF sensitivity, which in turn affects the Interference recovery value as follows:

Low	When specifying low, the Interference Recovery value is set to Aggressive. Smart RF will only enable compensation from neighboring radios if the signal to noise ratio for a wireless client, as seen by the access point, exceeds the value specified for Interference Recovery. If a client‘s signal to noise value is above the threshold, the transmit power is increased until the signal to noise rate falls below this threshold.
Medium	When specifying medium, Interference Recovery value is set as a value between Conservative and Aggressive. This is the default value.
High	When specifying high, Interference Recovery value is set to Conservative.

Interference Recovery

Enables compensation from neighboring radios when radio interference is detected. When interference is detected, Smart RF first determines the power increase needed based on the signal to noise ratio for a client (as seen by the access point radio). If a client‘s signal-to-noise value is above the threshold, the transmit power is increased until the signal to noise rate falls below the threshold. Default: Enabled

Coverage Hole Recovery

Enables coverage compensation from neighboring radios when a radio coverage hole is detected within the Smart-RF supported radio coverage area. When coverage hole is detected, Smart RF first determines the power increase needed based on the signal to noise ratio for a client as seen by the access point radio. If a client‘s signal to noise value is above the threshold, the transmit power is increased until the signal to noise rate falls below the threshold. Default: Enabled

Neighbor Recovery

Enables automatic recovery by instructing neighboring access points to increase their transmit power to compensate for the coverage loss. Default: Enabled

Off-Channel Scan

Forces Smart RF to scan all channels once per day during off-peak hours. If you are enabling the WIDS option (on the Advanced Settings page), then enabling Off-Channel Scan when disabling Smart RF causes the AP to scan other channels for threats. If WIDS is enabled and Smart RF is enabled, then the AP detection will piggyback on the off-channel scan under the control of Smart RF.

(Optional - For ExtremeWireless WiNG Only) Configure the radio settings. The settings apply to all AP radios at the site only if you configure each device to use the site-level RF settings for the 5GHz band, 2.4 GHz band, or both bands.

Radio Settings for ExtremeWireless WiNG APs

Client Aware Scanning

A client awareness count (number of clients 1 - 255) for off-channel scans of either the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz band. Channel scanning is avoided when the number of clients associated with the AP radio is greater than or equal to the value configured here.

Voice Aware Scanning

Specify how voice aware recognition is configured for Smart RF. Dynamic disables smart monitoring when buffered data exists at the radio for a voice client. Disable specifies that the Voice Aware Scanning option will not be used at all. Default: Dynamic (for both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands)

Channel Width

Channel width helps to improve the effective throughput of the wireless LAN. Pick the channel mode that best suits the density of the deployment to avoid co-channel interference.

20 MHz	Recommended for larger density deployments of greater than 10 APs.
40 MHz	Recommended for deployments of 5 - 10 APs.
80 MHz	Channel bonding is enabled. Recommended for deployments of less than five APs.

Note

The 160 MHz channel width is not supported for AP505 and AP510.

Auto	Automatically switches between 20 MHz and 40 MHz, depending on how busy the extension channel is.

Min Tx Power (dBm)

Specify the minimum power level for the radio. Use the lowest supported value in order to not limit the potential transmission (Tx) power level range that can be used. The Min Tx Power setting cannot be set higher than the Max Tx Power setting.

Max Tx Power

Specify the maximum transmission power. The values are in dBm and vary by AP. The Max Tx Power should be set at a higher power level than the Min Tx Power.

(Optional - For ExtremeWireless Only) Configure the settings for the radios. The settings apply to all AP radios at the site only if you configure each device to use the site-level Smart RF settings for the 5GHz band, 2.4 GHz band, or both bands.

DCS Noise Threshold (dBm)	Define the noise interference limit, measured in dBm. If the noise interface exceeds this threshold, Automatic Channel Scan (ACS) scans for a new operating channel for the AP.
DCS Channel Occupancy Threshold	Define the channel utilization level, measured as a percentage. If the threshold is exceeded, ACS scans for a new operating channel for the AP.
DCS Update Period (Minutes)	Define a period of time, in minutes, where the average values for DCS Noise and Channel Occupancy are measured. If the average value for either setting exceeds the defined threshold for that setting, then the AP triggers ACS.
Interference Wait Time (Seconds)	Specify the length of the delay (in seconds) before logging an alarm. Default: 10 seconds
Min Tx Power (dBm)	Specify the minimum power level for the radio. Use the lowest supported value in order to not limit the potential transmission (Tx) power level range that can be used. The Min Tx Power setting cannot be set higher than the Max Tx Power setting.
Max Tx Power	Specify the maximum transmission power. The values are in dBm and vary by AP. The Max Tx Power should be set at a higher power level than the Min Tx Power.

(Optional - For All AP Types) Select View to configure the Channel Plan options. The options that display depend on the radio's band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

Channel Plan

If Smart RF is enabled on either radio, you can define a channel plan for the AP that limits which channels are available for use during an Smart RF scan. For example, you may want to avoid using specific channels because of low power, regulatory requirements, or radar interference.

All Channels	(5.0 GHz radios only) Scans all channels for an operating channel. Returns Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels and non-DFS channels, if available.
Custom Channels	When this option is selected, the Configure button displays for configuring individual channels from which the Smart RF selects an operating channel.
All Channels by Country (Non-DFS)	(5.0 GHz radios only) Scans all non-DFS channels by country for an operating channel. This selection is always available, but if there are no DFS channels available, the list is the same as the All Channels list.
All Channel by Country	(5.0 GHz radios only) Scans all channels by country for an operating channel. Returns DFS and non-DFS channels, if available.
3 Channel Plan	(2.4 GHz radios only) Scans the following channels: 1, 6, and 11 in North America, and 1, 7, and 13 in most other parts of the world.
4 Channel Plan	(2.4 GHz radios only) Scans the following channels: 1, 4, 7, and 11 in North America, and 1, 5, 9, and 13 in most other parts of the world. Applicable to 2.4 GHz radios only.
Auto	Scans the default channel plan channels: 1, 6, and 11 in North America, and 1, 5, 9, and 13 in most other parts of the world.