Users Guide

Dell PowerConnect W-Series ArubaOS 6.1 | User Guide Spectrum Analysis | 607
Chapter 33
Spectrum Analysis
Wireless networks operate in environments with electrical and radio frequency devices that can interfere with
network communications. Microwave ovens, cordless phones, and even adjacent Wi-Fi networks are all potential
sources of continuous or intermittent interference. The spectrum analysis software modules on APs that support
this feature are able to examine the radio frequency (RF) environment in which the Wi-Fi network is operating,
identify interference and classify its sources. An analysis of the results can then be used to quickly isolate issues
with packet transmission, channel quality, and traffic congestion caused by contention with other devices
operating in the same band or channel.
AP radios that gather spectrum data but do not service clients are called spectrum monitors, or SMs. Each SM
will scan and analyze the spectrum band used by the SM's radio (2.4Ghz or 5Ghz). An AP radio in hybrid AP
mode will continue to serve clients as an access point while it analyzes spectrum analysis data for the channel the
radio uses to serve clients. You can record data for both types of spectrum analysis devices, save that data, and
then play it back for later analysis.
This chapter describes the following topics:
 “Overview” on page607
 “Creating Spectrum Monitors and Hybrid APs” on page611
 “Connecting Spectrum Devices to the Spectrum Analysis Client” on page615
 “Configuring the Spectrum Analysis Dashboards” on page618
 “Customizing Spectrum Analysis Graphs” on page621
 “Recording Spectrum Analysis Data” on page644
 “Spectrum Analysis Session Log” on page647
 “Spectrum Analysis Troubleshooting Tips” on page649
Overview
The table below lists the AP models that support the spectrum analysis feature. Note that only radios on the
W-AP130 Series and can be configured as hybrid APs.
Table 124 Device support for spectrum analysis
Device
Configurable as a
Spectrum Monitor?
Configurable as a
Hybrid AP?
W-AP105 Yes No
W-AP92 Yes No
W-AP93 Yes No
W-AP120 Series Yes No
W-AP130 Series Yes Yes
W-AP175 Yes No