94
When verifying automatic channel assignment or manually setting them, it’s a good idea to get out
the floor plan maps that have the AP locations identified. That way you can visualize the AP
locations and write down the channel assignments. If you have more than three APs, you’ll have to
reuse the channels 1, 6 and 11. But try to make it so APs set to the same channel are as far away
from each other as possible. For instance, if you have six APs spread out equally going down a long
hallway, you set the AP channels in order: 1, 6, 11, 1, 6, 11. Don’t forget about any other levels of
the buildings Try to minimize setting APs with the same channels on top of each other, too.
Utilizing low data rates
APs have control over what data rates are supported for the connections to Wi-Fi clients. When APs
are supporting the lowest data rates that means they’ll accept slow/poor connections. Though APs
that don’t support he lowest data rates will drop Wi-Fi clients quicker, that’s typically what you
want. You don’t want Wi-Fi clients staying connected to APs when the connection gets too slow,
because it will slow the overall performance of the network. If a Wi-Fi network is properly
designed with good coverage, you want the Wi-Fi clients to roam to the best AP as quick as
possible, not stick to an AP that provides a slower connection.
MO?
Most enterprise-level APs provide control over the exact data rates that are enabled. If possible,
consider disabling the lowest data rates: 1 – 12 Mbps. If you have a high-density network with great
coverage, consider disabling further rates, maybe even up to 54 Mbps.
