RF Profile

RF refers to the electromagnetic wave frequencies within a range of 3 kHz to 300 GHz, including the frequencies used for communications or Radar signals.

Note:

Manual assignment of channel and transmit power for each radio band can only be done at the device level.

Creating a RF Profile

To create a RF profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. In the left navigation menu, select one of the following options:

    • Library—This is the default selection. If you create profiles in the Library, then you must assign scope and device functions to the profiles. For more information, see Assigning Scope to a RF Profile.

    • Global—If you create profiles at the Global level, then the profiles have Global scope assigned by default.

    • Site Collections—If you create profiles at the Site Collections level, then the profiles have site collection scope assigned by default.

    • Sites—If you create profiles at the Site level, then the profiles have site scope assigned by default.

    • Devices—If you create profiles at the Device level, then the profiles have device scope assigned by default.

    • Device Groups—If you create profiles at the Device Group level, then the profiles have device group scope assigned by default.

    Note:

    • To create profiles at the Global level, select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list before step 4.
    • To create profiles at the Sites, Devices, and Device Group level, complete the following steps before step 4:
      1. Select Site Collection, Site, Device, or Device Group in the left navigation menu.
      2. Select a Site Collection, Site, Device, or Device Group from the list view depending on the level where you are creating the profile.
      3. Select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list.

  3. On the Wireless card, click RF.

    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Wireless card, click Manage.

    2. On the RF card, click Manage.

    The RF list view is displayed.

  4. Click Create Profile.
    The Create Profile side panel is displayed.

  5. Enter the following RF profile parameters:

    • Create as a local profile—Select this option if you want to configure this profile as local.

      Note:

      The Create as a local profile option is available at the Global, Site Collections, Sites, Devices, and Device Groups levels; it is not available at the Library level.

    • Name—Enter a name for the RF profile.

    • Description—Enter the description for the RF profile.

    • Access Point Installation Type—Select the installation type from the drop-down list:

      • Automatic—This is the default installation type.
      • Indoor—Select this option to change the installation type to the indoor mode.
      • Outdoor—Select this option to change the installation type to the outdoor mode.

      The options in the Installation Type drop-down are listed based on the AP model.

    • UTB Filter Block—Select one of the following options:

      • 5 GHz
      • 6 GHz
    • Under Dual / Flex Radio Configuration, configure the following parameters:
      • 1st Radio—Configures a flexible dual radio band mode on specific access point models. Select one of the following options for each of the AP series:
        • 2.4 GHz
        • 5 GHz
          • 5 GHz 4x4—This option is available only for AP-763 / AP-765.
          • 6 GHz 4x4—This option is available only for AP-763 / AP-765.
        • Automatic—Automatically sets the operating bands of 1st Radio and 2nd Radio to 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz respectively. This is the default mode.
      • 2nd Radio—Configures the radios of the AP to operate in the selected mode. Select one of the following options for each of the AP series:
        • 5 GHz
          • 5 GHz 8x8—This option is available only for AP-555.
          • 5 GHz 4x4 / 5 GHz 4x4 (Split)—This option is available only for AP-555.
        • 6 GHz
        • Automatic—Automatically splits the radios of the AP to operate in the tri-radio mode respectively. This is the default mode.
        • Not Equipped—This option is available if 1st Radio uses all radio connections.
      • 3rd Radio—Configures the radios of the AP to operate in the selected mode. Select one of the following options for each of the AP series:
        • 6 GHz
        • Automatic—Automatically splits the radios of the AP to operate in the tri-radio mode respectively. This is the default mode.
    Note:

      • Options displayed in the 1st Radio, 2nd Radio and 3rd Radio drop-down list vary based on the AP series.

      • On the AP-763/AP-765, when 1st Radio is set to 4x4 mode, 2nd Radio and 3rd Radio will display Not Equipped. If 2nd Radio is manually configured to Not Equipped, then 1st Radio will operate in 5 GHz 4x4 mode only.
  6. Click Next.

  7. Under 2.4 GHz Radio, 5 GHz Radio, 6 GHz Radio or both, configure the following parameters:

    • Enable—This option is enabled by default for all the radio bands. Clear the check box to disable the option.

    • Radio Mode—Select one mode out of Access, Monitor, or Spectrum from the drop-down list.

    • Channel Bandwidth—Toggle to allow 20-40 MHz bandwidth for 2.4 GHz band, 20-160 MHz bandwidth for 5 GHz band, or 20-320 MHz bandwidth for 6 GHz band.

    • Allowed Transmit Power—Specify the minimum and maximum transmission power. The value specified indicates the minimum and maximum EIRP that can range from -51 dBm to 51 dBm.

    • Allowed Channels—Allows you to customize valid channels for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. Clicking the edit icon from the Allowed Channels field displays the Channel and Bandwidth page.

      1. Use Non-DFS Only—This check box only appears for 5 GHz band. You can enable the non-dynamic frequency selection check box based on your profile requirements.

      2. Allowed Channels—Click the channel boxes to allow or disallow the channel.

      3. Click Allow.

    • Allowed Transmit Power—Specify the minimum and maximum transmission power. The value specified indicates the minimum and maximum EIRP that can range from -51 dBm to 51 dBm.

    • Set second Radio Differently—This option is only applicable for 5 GHz radio. Select this check box to use the second radio differently than the first radio.

    • Advanced—Enable the checkbox to activate advanced settings and configure the additional parameters.

      • Advertise 802.11d & 802.11h—Select the check box to enable the radios advertise their 802.11d (Country Information) and 802.11h (Transmit Power Control) capabilities. This option is disabled by default for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio frequencies, and is enabled by default for 6 GHz radio frequency.

      • Background Spectrum Monitoring—Select the check box to enable background spectrum monitoring of the APs. When enabled, the APs in the access mode continue with their normal access service to clients, while performing additional function of monitoring RF interference (from both neighboring APs and non Wi-Fi sources such as, microwaves and cordless phones) on the channel they are currently serving the clients.

      • DPP Provisioning—Select the check box to enable the Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP), which securely simplifies onboarding of DPP devices.

      • Advertise 40 MHz Intolerance—Select the check box to enable 40 MHz intolerance. This parameter decides whether the APs using this radio profile will advertise intolerance of 40 MHz operation.

      • Honor 40 MHz Intolerance—Select the check box to enable the Honor 40 MHz intolerance. On enabling, the radios stops using the 40 MHz channels.

      • Zero Wait DFS—Select the check box to enable zero wait Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) for seamless change of radio channels and to avoid the period of no transmission. DFS is a mandate for radio systems operating in the 5 GHz band to identify and avoid interference with radar systems that supports zero-wait feature. When an 802.11 radio detects radar, it vacates its channel and switches to another channel. Hence, stations do not lose its connectivity when an AP moves to a DFS channel. This option is only applicable for 5 GHz radio.

      • Wi-Fi 5—Select the check box to enable the Wi-FI-5 for 5 GHz bands.

      • Transmit Rates—Sets the transmit rates for 6 GHz radio. The available values are 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54. Mbps. This option is only applicable for 6 GHz radio.

      • Basic Rates—Selects the basic rates for 6 GHz radio. The available values are 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps. This option is only applicable for 6 GHz radio.

  8. Click Next.

  9. Configure the Channel Assignment and Transmit Power Assignment parameters for 2.4 GHz Radio, 5 GHz Radio, and 6 GHz Radio bands manually at the device level.

    The channel and transmit power assignment for each radio band is set to Automatic by default.

  10. If you choose the manual mode for configuring channel and transmit power assignment, then complete the following steps:

    1. Select the Static Channel from the drop-down list for each radio band.

    2. Adjust the Power slider to set the transmit power assignment for each radio band.

  11. Click Next.

  12. Configure the External Antenna parameters as described in the below table.

    Table 1: External Antenna Parameters

    Parameter

    Description

    Enable External Antennas

    Select this option to enable external antennas. If you select this check box, the following parameters are displayed:

    • Antenna Type

    • Additional RF Connectors or Loss

    • Antenna Gain and Effective Gain for 2.4 GHz , 5 GHz, and 6 GHz antenna.

    Antenna Type

    Select a specific antenna type or Custom from the drop-down list. Based on your selected antenna type, Antenna Gain and Effective Gain values are auto-populated for each radio band.

    Note: If you select Custom in the drop-down list, then enter the Antenna Gain for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz Antenna.

    Additional RF Connectors or Loss

    Select this option to populate Additional Loss value for each radio band.

  13. Click Finish.

  14. To edit a profile, complete the following steps:

    1. Click anywhere on the row of the profile in the list view.
      The profile edit view is displayed in the side panel.

    2. Edit the required parameters.

    3. Click Update.

  15. To delete a RF profile, hover on the profile name, and click the delete icon.

  16. To search for a profile, type the profile name in the search bar.
    The search bar displays dynamic results as soon as you start typing.

Assigning Scope to a RF Profile

For profiles created under Library, you must assign a scope and device function to be able to use its features and functionality.

To assign scope to a profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. Ensure that the default option Library is selected in the left navigation menu.

  3. On the Wireless card, click RF.

    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Wireless card, click Manage.

    2. On the RF card, click Manage.

    The RF list view is displayed.

  4. Hover on the profile to which you want to assign a scope and click the ellipsis icon.

  5. Select Assign.

    The Assign Profile side panel is displayed.

  6. Select the device types from Device Function list.

  7. To add a scope, click the Add icon on the Scopes table.

  8. Select a scope from the following Scope Level options in the drop-down list.

    • Global—Selecting this option assigns the scope at the Global level.

    • Site Collections—Select the site collections from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Sites—Select the sites from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Devices—Select the devices from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Device Groups—Select the device groups from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

  9. Click Add.

    The Scopes table displays the newly added scopes.

  10. Click Assign.

    The RF list displays the device functions and number of scopes assigned to the profile.

  11. To unassign a scope from a profile, complete the following steps:

    1. Hover on the profile name and click the ellipsis icon.

    2. Select Unassign.

    3. Select the required scope and click Unassign.

  12. To customize the RF profile list, click the Customize Columns icon . For more information, see Customizing List.