Configuring Radio Profile Parameters

Configuring Radio Profile Parameters

To configure RF Radio Frequency. RF refers to the electromagnetic wave frequencies within a range of 3 kHz to 300 GHz, including the frequencies used for communications or Radar signals. parameters for the 2.4 GHz Gigahertz., 5 GHz, and 6 GHz radio bands Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. on an access point (AP), complete the following steps:

  1. In the WebUI, set the filter to a Microbranch group that contains at least one AP.

    2. The dashboard context for a group is displayed.

  2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.
  3. Click the Config icon.
    The Microbranch group configuration page is displayed.
  4. Click Wireless > Radios.
    The RF Coverage page is displayed.
  5. In the RF Coverage page, perform one of the following steps:
    • To configure existing radio parameters, select a profile from the Radio Profiles table and click the edit icon on the right.

    • Click + Add Profile to configure a new radio profile as described in the following table.

    Table 1: Radio Configuration Parameters

    Data Pane Item

    Description

    Name

    Enter a name for the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz radio profile.

    Under 2.4 GHz Radio, 5 GHz Radio, 6 GHz Radio or both, configure the following parameters:

    Allowed Channels

    Customize the valid channels for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands.

    By default, the AP uses valid channels as defined by the Country Code (regulatory domain). When you click on the default channels from the Allowed Channels field, the following pop-up window is displayed containing a list of valid channels for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz:

    • Allowed Channels - 2.4 GHz:

      1. Select the Allow 40 MHz channel bandwidth check box to allow 40 MHz Megahertz bandwidth for the valid channels listed for 2.4 GHz band.

      2. Click on Channel to allow or disallow the channel.

      3. Click OK.

    • Allowed Channels - 5 GHz and Allowed Channels - 6 GHz:

      1. Specify the bandwidth ranges for the valid channels listed for 5 GHz band or 6 GHz band by selecting 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz from the Minimum and Maximum drop-down lists.

      2. Click on Channel to allow or disallow the channel.

      3. Click OK.

    Allowed Transmit Power

    Specify the minimum and maximum transmission power.

    The value specified indicates the minimum and maximum EIRP Effective Isotropic Radiated Power or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power. EIRP refers to the output power generated when a signal is concentrated into a smaller area by the Antenna. that can range from -51 dBm Decibel-Milliwatts. dBm is a logarithmic measurement (integer) that is typically used in place of mW to represent receive-power level. AMP normalizes all signals to dBm, so that it is easy to evaluate performance between various vendors. to 51 dBm. If the minimum and maximum transmission EIRP setting configured on an AP is not supported by the AP model, this value is reduced to the highest supported power setting.

  6. Click Show advanced settings and configure the following additional parameters as described in the following table:

    Table 2: Advanced Radio Configuration Parameters

    Data Pane Item

    Description

    Advertise 802.11d & 802.11h

    When enabled, the radios advertise their 802.11d 802.11d is a wireless network communications specification for use in countries where systems using other standards in the 802.11 family are not allowed to operate. Configuration can be fine-tuned at the Media Access Control (MAC) layer level to comply with the rules of the country or district in which the network is to be used. Rules are subject to variation and include allowed frequencies, allowed power levels, and allowed signal bandwidth. 802.11d facilitates global roaming. (Country Information) and 802.11h 802.11h is intended to resolve interference issues introduced by the use of 802.11a in some locations, particularly with military Radar systems and medical devices. Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) detects the presence of other devices on a channel and automatically switches the network to another channel if and when such signals are detected. Transmit Power Control (TPC) reduces the radio frequency (RF) output power of each network transmitter to a level that minimizes the risk of interference. (Transmit Power Control) capabilities.

    This option is disabled by default.

    Scan All Channels

    Allows the AP to dynamically scan all 802.11 802.11 is an evolving family of specifications for wireless LANs developed by a working group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 802.11 standards use the Ethernet protocol and Carrier Sense Multiple Access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) for path sharing. channels within its 802.11 regulatory domain at regular intervals. This scanning report includes WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. coverage, interference, and intrusion detection data. This option is enabled by default.

    ARM/WIDS Override

    Select one of the following options from the drop-down list:

    High Noise Backoff Time

    The duration in minutes for not selecting noise prone channel after 2 consecutive high noise detections on a channel. Setting the value to 0 disables the back off window.

    The default value is 720 minutes.

    Radar Backoff Time

    The duration in minutes for not selecting radar prone channel after 2 consecutive radar detections on a channel. Setting the value to 0 disables the back off window.

    The default value is 720 minutes.

    NOTE: This option is not applicable for 5 GHz RADIO.

    Very High Throughput

    Select this check box to enable VHT Very High Throughput. IEEE 802.11ac is an emerging VHT WLAN standard that could achieve physical data rates of close to 7 Gbps for the 5 GHz band. (Very High Throughput) on 802.11ac 802.11ac is a wireless networking standard in the 802.11 family that provides high-throughput WLANs on the 5 GHz band. devices with 5 GHz radio. If VHT is enabled for the 5 GHz radio profile on an AP, it is automatically enabled for all SSIDs Service Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network. configured on a AP.

    By default, VHT is enabled on all SSIDs. If you want the 802.11ac APs to function as 802.11n 802.11n is a wireless networking standard to improve network throughput over the two previous standards, 802.11a and 802.11g. With 802.11n, there will be a significant increase in the maximum raw data rate from 54 Mbps to 600 Mbps with the use of four spatial streams at a channel width of 40 MHz. APs, clear the check box to disable VHT on these devices.

    NOTE: This option is not applicable for 5 GHz RADIO.

    Channel Quality Aware

    Select this check box to enable the Channel Quality Aware. When enabled, ARM Adaptive Radio Management. ARM dynamically monitors and adjusts the network to ensure that all users are allowed ready access. It enables full utilization of the available spectrum to support maximum number of users by intelligently choosing the best RF channel and transmit power for APs in their current RF environment. changes are based upon an internally calculated channel quality metric. When this feature is disabled, ARM initiates channel changes based on thresholds defined in this profile, and chooses the channel based on the calculated interference index value.

    Default setting: Disabled

    Channel Quality Wait Time

    Specifies the time that the channel quality is below the channel quality threshold value to initiate a channel change.

    Range: 1-3600

    Default: 120 Seconds

    Channel Quality Threshold

    Set the Channel Quality Threshold range between 0 to 100%. The channel quality threshold percentage is a parameter below which ARM initiates a channel change.

    Range: 0-100

    Default: 70

    DPP Provisioning

    Select the check box to enable the Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP Device Provisioning Protocol. DPP is a provisioning protocol certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance that allows onboarding IoT devices easily, securely, and on a large scale.) configuration connectivity for the radio band.

    Default: Disabled

    NOTE: This option is not applicable for 6 GHz RADIO.

    RRM IE

    Select the Radio Resource Management Information Element (RRM IE) profiles advertised by an AP from the drop-down list for 6 GHz Band.

    NOTE: This option is not applicable for 6 GHz RADIO.

    Transmit Rates

    Sets the transmit rates for 6 GHz radio. The available values are 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54. Mbps.

    NOTE: This option is not applicable for 6 GHz RADIO.

    Basic Rates

    Selects the basic rates for 6 GHz radio. The available values are 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps.

    NOTE: This option is not applicable for 6 GHz RADIO.

    Beacon Rate

    Configures the beacon rate for 6 GHz radio (For Distributed Antenna System (DAS Distributed Antenna System. DAS is a network of antenna nodes strategically placed around a geographical area or structure for additional cellular coverage. ) only). The available values are 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, default Mbps. The default is the minimum valid rate.

    NOTE: This option is not applicable for 6 GHz RADIO.

    RTS Request to Send. RTS refers to the data transmission and protection mechanism used by the 802.11 wireless networking protocol to prevent frame collision occurrences. See CTS. Mode

    Select a RTS mode based on the network requirement to control RTS frame transmission to the clients. Select one of the following values from the drop-down list:

    Frame Bursting Mode

    Select one of the following values from the drop-down list to control frame bursting if one or more clients are associated to the AP:

    • Enabled: Frame bursting mode is always enabled.

    • Disabled: Frame bursting mode is always disabled.

    • Default: Frame bursting is enabled only when one active client is connected to the AP. Frame bursting is disabled when there is more than one active client.

    In some dense deployments, it is possible for APs to hear other APs on the same channel. This creates co-channel interference where the traffic of an active client could affect the air traffic of neighboring APs within the same channel.

    NOTE: This option is applicable only for 5 GHz RADIO and 6 GHz RADIO.

    Zero Wait DFS Dynamic Frequency Selection. DFS is a mandate for radio systems operating in the 5 GHz band to be equipped with means to identify and avoid interference with Radar systems.

    Select this check box to enable zero wait Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) for seamless change of radio channels and to avoid the period of no transmission. DFS is a mandate for radio systems operating in the 5 GHz band to identify and avoid interference with radar systems that supports zero-wait feature. When an 802.11 radio detects radar, it vacates its channel and switches to another channel. Hence, stations do not lose its connectivity when an AP moves to a DFS channel. Zero wait DFS can be configured for the 5 GHz and secondary 5 GHz radio profiles. This feature is disabled by default.

    Following are the limitations of zero wait DFS feature:

    • Zero-wait DFS is disabled when the home channel is at narrow band on 5 GHz radio. The supported home channels for narrow band are from channel 149 onwards.

    • Zero-wait DFS is enabled only when the home channel is between channel 36 and channel 144.

    • Mesh APs do not support zero wait DFS feature.

    40 MHz Intolerance

    Select this check box to enable 40 MHz intolerance. This parameter decides whether the APs using this radio profile will advertise intolerance of 40 MHz operation. This feature is disabled by default.

    Honor 40 MHz Intolerance

    Select this check box to enable the Honor 40 MHz intolerance. When enabled, the radios will stop using the 40 MHz channels if the 40 MHz intolerance indication is received from another AP or station. This feature is enabled by default.

    Background Spectrum Monitoring

    Turn on the toggle switch to enable background spectrum monitoring of the APs. When enabled, the APs in the access mode continue with their normal access service to clients, while performing additional function of monitoring RF interference (from both neighboring APs and non Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a WLAN network, mainly using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. sources such as, microwaves Electromagnetic energy with a frequency higher than 1 GHz, corresponding to wavelength shorter than 30 centimeters. and cordless phones) on the channel they are currently serving the clients.

    Free Channel Index

    Set the free channel index for the AP. The difference in the interference index between the new channel and current channel must exceed this value for the AP to move to a new channel. The higher the value, the lower the chance an AP will move to the new channel. The recommended value is 25.

    Default: 25

    Range: 10-1000

    NOTE: This option is applicable only for 6 GHz RADIO.

    Set Second Radio Differently

    Select this check box to use the second radio differently than the first radio.

    NOTE: This option is applicable only for 6 GHz RADIO, AP-345 and AP-555 access points.

    Allowed Transmit Power

    Move the sliders to set the minimum and maximum range of power transmitted on the second radio.

    NOTE: This option is applicable only for AP-345 and AP-555 access points.

  7. Click Save.

Configuring External Antenna

HPE Aruba Networking Central now allows you to configure external antennas in a group context.

To configure the external antenna properties for an AP, complete the following steps:

  1. In the WebUI, set the filter to a Microbranch group that contains at least one AP.

    The dashboard context for a group is displayed.

  2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

    A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

  3. Click the Config icon.

    The Microbranch group configuration page is displayed.

  4. In the Wireless card, click Radio Profiles.

    The RF Coverage page is displayed.

  5. Expand the External Antenna accordion and configure the following parameters for 2.4 GHz Antenna Gain and the 5 GHz Antenna Gain:

    Table 3: :External Antenna Configuration Parameters

    Parameters

    Description

    Antenna Gain

    Enter the Antenna Gain values in dBi. The antenna gain is the measure of an antenna's ability to direct radio frequency energy in a particular direction , measured in dBi.

    Antenna Polarization Type

    From the Antenna Polarization Type drop-down list, select any of the following:

    • None—Select this option to disable the polarization of both the transmitting and receiving antennas.
    • Co-polarization—Select this option to set the polarization of both the transmitting and receiving antennas to be the same.
    • Cross-polarization—Select this option to set the polarization of both the transmitting and receiving antennas to be different.

    The integrated antennas of the wireless bridge sends a radio signal that is polarized in a particular direction. The receiving sensitivity of the antenna is also higher for radio signals that have the same polarization. To maximize the performance of the wireless link, both antennas must be set to the same polarization direction.

  6. Click Save.

To configure the external antenna in a device context, see Configuring External Antenna.