I’ve been encountering an issue with the 5GHz radio on Cambium Access Point. Most of the time, the performance of the 5GHz radio appears poor, which significantly impacts the overall network efficiency.
I’m reaching out to this community to seek expert advice and recommendations on how to mitigate this issue effectively.
Specifically, I’d like to know:
Best practices for configuring Cambium AP parameters to optimize 5GHz performance.
Any known common issues or factors that might lead to poor 5GHz radio performance in Cambium APs.
The question really is what metrics makes the RF quality bar go lower… Can be anything really… If we look at RF quality separate from the RF quality bar you looking at, channel utilization is a factor, if one client start downloading a huge file this already could impact your RF quality for a short period of time.
I know that the connecting client’s SNR is a metric, for example if that one client there is connected have with an SNR of 19 or alteast under 25 it will show poor. You can test this by not connecting anything. Its also not clear over what time span this RF bar is measuring and showing result.
So there are many factors and you need to go through all, but starting with knowing which metrics are effecting the RF quality bar in cambium AP’. I like to hear this from Cambium or see some documentation about it…
Anyhow I can give you some tips in general optimizing your 5GHz radio:
Conduct a Wireless Site Survey:
Before deployment, perform a detailed wireless site survey to assess the RF environment. Identify areas of high interference, dead zones, and potential sources of RF noise (e.g., non WiFi devices that use the same frequentie, radar systems, etc.).
Channel planning:
Use a non-overlapping channel plan, especially in environments with multiple APs.
Avoid 40MHz channel widths in enterprise or multi-tenant buildings as this increases co-channel interference. Stick with 20MHz channels for better coexistence and reliability.
Neighbor analysis:
Check the Monitor > Radio 2 tab for neighboring SSIDs that overlap your selected channels (e.g., channels 149, 153, 157). Adjust your AP’s channel to avoid these overlaps.
The list go on and on…
Common Issues to watch for:
Co-Channel Interference (CCI): Too many APs on the same channel in close proximity can degrade performance. This is common in dense deployments.
Adjacent Channel Interference (ACI): Overlapping channels (e.g., 36 and 40 with 40MHz or 80MHz widths) can cause interference.
Non-Wi-Fi Interference: Sources like Bluetooth, cordless phones, or legacy 2.4GHz equipment may inadvertently impact 5GHz performance.
Incorrect channel widths: Using wide channels (40MHz/80MHz) in crowded environments can lead to significant performance degradation.
If you’re looking for deeper insights, consider pursuing a CWDP certification to gain expertise in wireless deployment and design, or hire me
