2.4Ghz / 5Ghz AP Aironet 1830/Mobility Express

[pdenableetoavit19698]

Hi all,

As we are not using the 2.4Ghz, I was wondering if

-there is any benefits for the system to just disable it and only have the 5Ghz one going?

- any reason coming to mind that we should keep the 2.4Ghz on?

Any other tip welcome!

Thank you!

[marce1000]

          >.... any reason coming to mind that we should keep the 2.4G on?
       Legacy devices not able to use 5Ghz, usually you will stumble on them , 

 M.

[pdenableetoavit19698]

Yes can imagine that, thank you.

Having only the 5g running has any benefits? freeing up air space/channels/RF even if on different freq? freeing up power/speed/load from the AP etc, better performance on the system etc?

[marce1000]

  -  Usually you will have less interference on 5Ghz and cleaner spectrum (indeed) , 

 M.

[Leo Laohoo]

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@pdenableetoavit19698 wrote:
Having only the 5g running has any benefits? 

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Wireless 5G and wireless 5 Ghz are two different things. 

[pdenableetoavit19698]

Yep sorry, not talking about 5G (typo). only discussing here about the WIFI as in the subject and group, 5Ghz/2.4Ghz...thanks to pickit up

[Scott Fella]

The only reason you might need 2.4GHz is for guest access or old devices that are still in your network.  Hospital are a good example as they have old equipment that might only support 2.4GHz and are too expensive to replace.  Also depending on what country, folks might not have newer devices like in other countries.  So know your environment before you do that.  Now you can also disable 2.4GHz on specific access points if you have high density. This way you can lower CCI, but that is up to you.

[Wes Schochet]

We like 5GHz for high density.  Small cells, more available channels.  A 2.4GHz signal is going to travel further.  Good for coverage, but can be subject to more interference.  It really depends on your goals.

Also, as mentioned above, there are a lot of devices that only work on 2.4 GHz.  Not, just old devices, but a lot of current IoT devices are using 2.4GHz.  I am not sure if this is because they use older chipsets or because they find the coverage issues advantageous. 

Lastly, leaving 2.4GHz running is going to add three more channels for you to work with.  They may not be "as good" as the 5GHz channels, but they do work and take up some of that "shared media" slack.

[Leo Laohoo]

I seriously doubt anyone can totally eliminate 2.4 Ghz in a site.  

I have seen in newly-built office building, schools, medical facilities and there will always be one "critical" wireless client that requires 2.4 Ghz.  

[Rich R]

Agreed with @Wes Schochet and @Leo Laohoo - a surprising number of new devices (particularly in the IoT category) have only 2.4GHz.  It seems to be a combination of factors driving that - cheap, old (reliable) technology, power saving only using a single radio and generally better coverage.  So there's a strong possibility you will need 2.4GHz for some time to come still.

[pdenableetoavit19698]

thanks all @Rich R @Leo Laohoo @Wes Schochet @Scott Fella @marce1000 @for feedback.

Agree with all your points, just feels sometimes is so uneffective to keep all AP running on 2,4ghz just for that single device using it.

Looks like it is possible to disable 2,4ghz by AP. So I believe I could leave it on only on the AP where a device is requiring it (2 Ap, and leaving all the other 11 APs without 2,4Ghz)? anybody tried? workin well? issues?

thanks again!

[Arshad Safrulla]

The best option would be not to completely disable 2.4, but to selectively disable it. You can do this if you have access to a good RF planner like Ekahu or hamina. With proper layouts and AP place marking this will give you predictive view of your coverage when you disable 2.4 in certain AP and also it will give you predictive coverage patterns at different power levels.

If you are planning to disable 2.4 then speak to all required stake holders in your organization, make them understand the issues you might have if dual band clients connecting to 2.4, and make a good organization wide policy to indicate that by this date (future date agreed with your management) you are planning to completely move away from 2.4 support in WiFi, so let other dept. who has 2.4 only capable clients check the possibility of upgrading the clients to 5Ghz. In worst case scenario you can possibly enable the 2.4 radio in the APs where these clients are expected to connect after taking in to account it;s roaming requirements.

[pdenableetoavit19698]

thanks @Arshad Safrulla , we are not big, so after picking up the 2 devices that need 2.4, I am thinking to just enable 2.4 on the 2 AP covering those areas, and taking it off from the AP covering areas without 2.4. Looks like it is an option on WLC/Mobility Express. Anybody tried? Feedback? thanks!

[pdenableetoavit19698]

I there, I am considering allowing 2.4ghz  only from a few AP. We have 13 and probably only 2 cover areas with 2.4ghz equipment.

What do you think? Have tested or use this type of setup? thanks!

[Scott Fella]

That is fine, but what if the ap has to roam from one side to the other?  Does the two AP’s provide you with enough coverage?  You might as well enable at least three, since you have 3 non overlapping channels on the 2.4ghz. Also RRM requires a minimum of three AP’s (radio) in order to determine best channels and power.