• SonicOS 7
• Wireless Overview
  • Device Support
  • Compliance
  • Considerations for Using Wireless Connections
  • Adjusting the Antennas
  • Wireless Node Count Enforcement
  • About MAC Address Filtering
• Status
  • WLAN Settings
  • WLAN Statistics
  • WLAN Activities
  • Station Status
• Settings
  • Access Point
    • Access Point Wireless Settings
      • 802.11n Wireless Settings
      • 802.11a/b/g Wireless Settings
      • 802.11ac Wireless Settings
    • Wireless Virtual Access Point
  • Wireless WDS Station
  • Access Point & WDS Station
• Security
  • About Authentication
  • Configuring the WEP Settings
  • Configuring WPA3/WPA2/WPA PSK Settings
  • Configuring WPA3/WPA2/WPA EAP Settings
• Advanced
  • Beaconing and SSID Controls
  • Green Access Point
  • Advanced Radio Settings
    • Configurable Antenna Diversity
• MAC Filter List
  • Deployment Considerations
  • Configuring MAC Filter List
• IDS - Wireless Intrusion Detection Service
  • Configuring IDS Settings
  • Discovered Access Points
• Virtual Access Point
  • Wireless Virtual AP Configuration Task List
  • Virtual Access Point Profiles
    • Virtual Access Point Schedule Settings
    • Virtual Access Point Profile Settings
      • WEP Encryption Settings
      • WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK Encryption Settings
      • RADIUS Server Settings
    • ACL Enforcement
  • Virtual Access Point Objects
  • Virtual Access Point Groups
  • Enabling the Virtual Access Point Group
• SonicWall Support
  • About This Document

Configurable Antenna Diversity

The wireless SonicWall security appliances employ dual 5 dBi antennas running in diversity mode. The default implementation of diversity mode means that one antenna acts as a transmitting antenna, and both antennas act as potential receiving antennas. As radio signals arrive at both antennas on the secure wireless appliance, the strength and integrity of the signals are evaluated, and the best received signal is used. The selection process between the two antennas is constant during operation to always provide the best possible signal. To allow for external (higher gain uni-directional) antennas to be used, antenna diversity can be disabled.

The Antenna Rx Diversity setting determines which antenna the wireless security appliance uses to send and receive data. Best is the default setting, and is currently the only option on SonicWall TZ270W, TZ370W, TZ470W and TZ570W. When Best is selected, the wireless security appliance automatically selects the antenna with the strongest, clearest signal.