Summary

Question

Why Do RUCKUS APs Change Channels Frequently?

Customer Environment

Root Cause

Troubleshooting Steps

Troubleshooting Steps

When faced with frequent channel changes, follow these steps:

1. Collect Deployment Details:

   • Obtain floor plan details and any AP deployment images.
   • Gather information about the Wi-Fi environment.

2. Evaluate AP Placement:

   • Check AP distances from other APs.
   • Assess AP density (number of clients per AP).

3. Controller GUI Analysis:

   • Verify if APs are flagged for airtime utilization, latency, connection failures, or total connected clients.
   • Investigate flagged APs to address client disconnection and performance issues.

4. RF Neighbor Details:

   • In the your RUCKUS Controller GUI (based on what product you are using, SZ, RUCKUS One, Unleashed), review RF neighbor details.
   • Identify interfering APs on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with good SNR values.
   • Optimize AP Zone/Venue configuration accordingly.

5. Specific Recommendations:

   • 2.4 GHz Radio:
     • Set channelization to 20 MHz and channels to AUTO.
     • Decrease transmit power based on AP distance.
     • Increase the background interval (default is 3600 seconds) to reduce frequent channel changes due to co-channel interference.
   • 5 GHz Radio:
     • For densely deployed APs with high client counts, set channelization to 20 or 40 MHz and channels to AUTO.
     • Adjust 5 GHz transmit power as needed or enable Auto-cell-sizing.

Resolution

• Varies based on environmental conditions and AP deployment specifics.
• Increasing background scan intervals or using Channelfly can mitigate frequent channel changes.
• Reduce the number of WLANs advertised in dense AP deployments.
• Consider environmental factors when making changes.
• Always review floor maps, site survey reports, and client service requirements before making configuration changes.

Remember: Changing configurations without proper assessment may not resolve issues effectively.

For real-time insights, consider using RUCKUS AI and monitoring client and AP statuses, along with RRM (Radio Resource Management) suggestions.