Cisco – WLC – How to disable 2.4Ghz

ciscoieee 802.11wirelesswlc

Is there any way I can disable the 2.4Ghz and just leave 5.0Ghz channel enabled on a per WLAN (SSID) basis? Or the only way is to disable the AP's radio and leave 5Ghz enabled?

Best Answer

Assuming a Cisco WLC... Go to "WLAN > Select the WLAN Profile > General Tab > Radio Policy"

Updating my answer to clarify a few things...

  • 802.11a operates at a maximum of 54Mbps, only in the 5GHz bands
  • 802.11b operates at a maximum of 11Mbps, only in the 2.4GHz bands
  • 802.11g operates at a maximum of 54Mbps, only in the 2.4GHz bands

Keep in mind that wireless operates in unlicensed frequency spectrum, so it is a bit like the wild west... Many corporate networks choose to marginalize support for 802.11b/g where possible, due to the rampant use of the 2.4GHz frequency spectrum by consumer devices... today, 5GHz (and thus, 802.11a) tends to have much lower background noise levels, so it is more suitable for business voice and data services... however it also doesn't propagate as well due to the smaller wavelength in 5GHz signals. Use care when you disable 802.11b/g... it might be worth checking for coverage holes, if most of the traffic formerly used 2.4G...