SonicOS 8 Access Points

Settings > Creating/Modifying Provisioning Profiles > 5GHz/2.4GHz Radio Basic Settings for Provisioning Profiles > Radio Settings
Table of Contents

Radio Settings

To configure 5GHz Radio/2.4GHz Radio Basic Settings

  1. Click 5GHz Radio Basic or 2.4GHz Radio Basic.

  2. Select Enable Radio to enable the radio bands automatically on all access points provisioned with this profile. This option is selected by default.

  3. From the Enable Radio drop-down menu, select a schedule for when the radio is on or create a new schedule. The default is Always On.

  4. Select your preferred radio mode from the Mode drop-down menu:

    Radio Mode Choices
    5GHz Radio Basic 2.4GHz Radio Basic Definition
    5GHz 802.11n Only 2.4GHz 802.11n Only Allows only 802.11n clients access to your wireless network. 802.11a/b/g clients are unable to connect under this restricted radio mode.
    5GHz 802.11a Only (SonicPoint NDR default)   Select this mode if only 802.11a clients access your wireless network.
    5GHz 802.11ac Only   Allows only 802.11ac clients access to your wireless network. Other clients are unable to connect under this restricted radio mode.
    5GHz 802.11n/a Mixed 2.4GHz 802.11n/g/b Mixed (SonicPoint AC/NDR default) Supports 802.11a and 802.11n (5GHz Radio) or 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n (2.4GHz Radio) clients simultaneously. If your wireless network comprises multiple types of clients, select this mode.
      2.4GHz 802.11g Only

    If your wireless network consists only of 802.11g clients, you might select this mode for increased 802.11g performance. You might also select this mode if you wish to prevent 802.11b clients from associating.
    5GHz 802.11ac/n/a Mixed (SonicWave and SonicPoint AC default) 2.4GHz 802.11n/g/b Mixed Supports 802.11ac, 802.11a, and 802.11n clients simultaneously. If your wireless network comprises multiple types of clients, select this mode.

    For 802.11n clients only: If you want optimal throughput, SonicWall recommends the 802.11n Only radio mode. Use the 802.11n/b/g Mixed radio mode for multiple wireless client authentication compatibility.
    For optimal throughput for 802.11ac clients, SonicWall recommends the 802.11ac Only radio mode. Use the 802.11ac/n/a Mixed radio mode for multiple wireless client authentication compatibility.

    The available 802.11n 5GHz/2.4GHz Radio Settings options change depending on the mode selected. If the wireless radio is configured for a mode that:

    • Supports 802.11n, the following options are displayed: Radio Band, Primary Channel, Secondary Channel, Enable Short Guard Interval, and Enable Aggregation.

    • Does not support 802.11n, only the Channel option is displayed.

  5. In the SSID field, enter a recognizable string for the SSID of each access point using this profile. This is the name that appears in clients’ lists of available wireless connections.

    If all SonicPoints or SonicWaves in your organization share the same SSID, it is easier for users to maintain their wireless connection when roaming from one access point to another.

  6. Select a radio band from the Radio Band drop-down menu:

    When Mode = 5GHz 802.11a Only, the Radio Band option is not available.

    • Auto - Allows the appliance to automatically detect and set the optimal channel for wireless operation based on signal strength and integrity. If selected for one, both the Primary Channel and Secondary Channel should set to Auto. This is the default setting.

    • Standard - 20MHz Channel—Specifies that the radio uses only the standard 20MHz channel.

    • Wide - 40MHz Channel—Available when any mode except 5GHz 802.11a Only is selected for the Radio Band. It specifies that the radio uses only the wide 40MHz channel.

    • Wide - 80MHz Channel—Available only when 5GHz 802.11ac/n/a Mixed or 5GHz 802.11ac only is selected for the Radio Band, specifies that the 5GHz Radio uses only the wide 80MHz channel. (Not available when the Mode is 5GHz 802.11n Only, 5GHz 802.11n/a Mixed, or 5GHz 802.11a Only.)

  7. For the 5GHz Radio Basic tab, select the channel or channels based on the MODE and Radio Band options chosen:

    Mode Radio Band Standard Channel
    5GHz 802.11n Only Auto

    The Primary Channel and Secondary Channel fields default to Auto.
    Standard - 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide - 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Primary Channel. The Secondary Channel is automatically defined as Auto.
    5GHz 802.11n/a Mixed Auto The Primary Channel and Secondary Channel fields default to Auto.
    Standard - 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide - 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Primary Channel. The Secondary Channel is automatically defined as Auto.
    5GHz 802.11a Only (no option) Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    5GHz 802.11ac/n/a Mixed Auto The Standard Channel field defaults to Auto.
    Standard - 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide - 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide - 80 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Channel drop-down menu.
    5GHz 802.11ac Only Auto The Standard Channel field defaults to Auto.
    Standard 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide 80 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    5GHz 802.11ax Only Auto The Standard Channel field defaults to Auto.
      Standard - 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
      Wide - 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
      Wide - 80 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.

  8. For the 2.4GHz Radio Basic tab, select the channel or channels based on the MODE and Radio Band options chosen:

    Mode Radio Band Standard Channel
    2.4GHz 802.11n Only Auto

    The Primary Channel and Secondary Channel fields default to Auto.
    Standard - 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide - 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Primary Channel. The Secondary Channel is automatically defined as Auto.
    2.4GHz 802.11g Only (no option) Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    2.4GHz 802.11n/g/b Mixed Auto The Standard Channel field defaults to Auto.
      Standard - 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
      Wide - 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Channel drop-down menu.
    2.4GHz 802.11n/g/b Mixed Auto The Standard Channel field defaults to Auto.
    Standard - 20 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels specified in the Standard Channel drop-down menu.
    Wide - 40 MHz Channel Select Auto or one of the radio channels in the Channel drop-down menu.
  9. Select Enable Short Guard Interval to enable it. This allows you to increase the radio data rate by shortening the guard interval. Be sure the wireless client can support this to avoid compatibility issues.

  10. Select Enable Aggregation to enable it. This allows you to increase the radio throughput by sending multiple data frames in a single transmission. Be sure the wireless client can support this to avoid compatibility issues.