In this article, we share some of our foolproof tips on how to properly configure your Wi-Fi network and get better performance from your wireless network using FortiAP: Access Point by Fortinet
Summary
High-density environments always demand special attention. For FortiAPs from FortinetI share the following points and recommendations:
- CPU utilization due to high layer 2 traffic
- Tx power settings
- Avoid interference between channels
- Split usage of 2.4 GHz (30%) and 5 GHz (70%)
- Avoid low transmission rates (802.11b)
- Activate the LLDP
- Use the VLAN pool when available
- Every client and access point on the same channel competes for time to talk
- All clients and access points on overlapping channels talk to each other
- Non Devices 802.11 compete for medium access
![7 Tips for setting up your FortiAP 1 Channel Allocation -2.4GHz](https://forti1.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/image-6-1024x227-1.jpg)
Designing the 2.4 GHz band is always a challenge, problems such as co-channel and high channel utilization are common.
Today, access point power control is managed by the FortiGateWhen you set up FortiAP profiles, you get the following Radio Configuration screen:
Best 5ghz Channel
Adjusting Channel Distribution - 5GHz in FortiAP
![7 Tips for setting up your FortiAP 2 5GHz Wireless Network](https://forti1.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/image-8-1024x377-1.jpg)
The 5GHz channel design is easier if you use the 20MHz channel width.
Common Problems
Common Wireless Channel Interference Problems
![7 Tips for setting up your FortiAP 3 Interference between WiFi channels](https://forti1.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/image-9.jpg)
The interference zone can be twice the radius of the signal and the signal at its edge can be -67dBm.
Reducing Co-channel Interference on your Fortinet FortiAP
For best results, use a 'honeycomb' pattern as a deployment strategy. The idea is to stagger the repeated channels further apart from each other to avoid interference.
TXPower - Less is More (better quality)
![7 Tips for setting up your FortiAP 4 asymmetric wireless power](https://forti1.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/image-10.jpg)
- Don't abuse high energy levels, only for specific cases like PtP is it recommended.
- Try using the automatic power control for 2.4 GHz between 4 and 7 dBm and for 5 GHz between 12 and 20 dBm.
- Use more power in 5GHz channels, compared to 2.4Ghz channels. Otherwise, Band Steering may not work as expected.
A large portion of users are still connected to 2.4GHz networks and never connect to 5GHz. - Remember that the wavelength of 2.4 GHz is twice as long as 5 GHz. - 10dBm of 2.4GHz is not equal to 10dBm of 5Ghz - maybe 3 times more!
TX Power Control - Auto or Manual in AP
![7 Tips for setting up your FortiAP 5 WiFi 2.4 GHz Power Control Tip](https://forti1.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/image-3.jpg)
- Auto - You can set the range for minimum and maximum dBm power.
- Manual - Choose what percentage of power you would like to use. Now the AP will use the static power output.
Power output: TIP: 2.4GHz - 4dBm to 7dBm 5GHz - 12dBm to 15dBm.
Disable the 802.11b protocol
Disable lower data rates for 802.11a, g, n
Why Optimize DARRP?
- By default, done every 30 minutes (1800s)
- In large networks with many radios and stations, it may cause long computation, and also, it may cause multiple channel changes throughout the day (while the Rogue APs roam)
Important hint: Statically set compute times during low-traffic periods
config wireless-controller timers set darrp-optimize 0
set darrp-day sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
set darrp-time "22:00" "06:00"
end
The 2.4 GHz band is largely "over-utilized."
- Enabling frequency handoff encourages customers to use 5GHz
- Faster transfer rate
- No Interference
Broadcast Suppression
- Broadcast suppression prevents local network interfaces from being interrupted by broadcast storm.
- Broadcast storm occurs when broadcast or multicast packets flood the subnet, creating excessive traffic and hurting network performance.
- Enabling Broadcast suppression will help prevent ARP or DHCP broadcast messages from being carried to other access points with the same SSID.
- Mistakes in protocol-stack implementation or network configuration can also cause broadcast storm.
![7 Tips for setting up your FortiAP 6 FortiAP Fortinet](https://forti1.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FortiAP-Fortinet-FortiOne.png)