Overview

 

High channel utilization refers to a situation where the channel utilization rate of the AP's operating channel remains at a consistently high level (greater than 70%) for an extended period. High channel utilization refers to a situation where the channel utilization rate of the AP's operating channel remains at a consistently high level (greater than 70%) for an extended period. Like the 2.4GHz in the following picture:

 

This Article applies to:

 

All Omada EAPs.

 

Possible Causes

 

1. High uplink/downlink traffic on the AP's own radio  
2. Excessive number of VAPs (Virtual APs)  
3. Weak signal strength or low negotiated rates on certain client devices, yet with persistent traffic.

 

 

Troubleshooting Steps

 

Step 1: Check the proportion of Tx data and Rx data in channel utilization.

 

Go to the Site view, go to Device page, select the AP to view the proportion of Tx Frames and Rx Frames:

 

 

 

1. If Tx utilization is high: This strongly suggests either a high-traffic client or a low-rate client is persistently generating traffic. You may investigate further in Step 2 and Step 3 respectively.

2. If Rx utilization is high: This could be related to high-traffic clients, low-rate clients, or other air interface data exchanges. Proceed with systematic troubleshooting. Please troubleshoot one by one.

 

Note: Some EAP models don't support displaying rx frames and tx frames separately.

 

 

Step 2: Check clients' traffic

 

1. Choose Site view, go to Client list, and check if any client devices are generating excessive traffic.

 

 

2. Navigate to Clients → Config → Enable Rate Limit, and apply appropriate bandwidth restrictions based on your specific service requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Check if there are any redundant WLAN broadcasts

 

Broadcasting too many SSIDs can cause unnecessary interference for EAPs. Every EAP within a site will broadcast all SSIDs configured in the default WLAN group. However, in many cases, it’s unnecessary for every EAP to broadcast every SSID. For example, if you created a dedicated SSID for guest rooms, bedroom EAPs don’t need to broadcast it.

Here are the recommendations:

1. Disable unused SSIDs temporarily and enable them only when needed (Settings > Wired & Wireless Networks > WLAN);

2. Create separate WLAN groups to assign different SSIDs to specific EAPs (e.g., guest SSIDs only on lobby EAPs). Below is a guide on how to do this.

How to configure the WLAN Group function on the SDN Controller(New UI)

 

 

Step 4: Check if any weak-signal or low-rate clients persistently generating traffic.

 

In standard office environments, the signal strength should not fall below -70dBm to ensure reliable connectivity. Weak signals (e.g., below -70dBm) can lead to low data rates, increased latency, and higher airtime usage, degrading overall network performance. We can check the clients' signal strengthen from the following page:

 

 

Recommendations:

1. Adjust the TX power of the AP:

Determine whether the transmit power of the remote AP currently connected to the client is too high. If so, you can enter the remote AP view to fine-tune the transmit power. The specific adjustment amount requires actual testing - you can try to reduce it as much as possible while still maintaining coverage. When making adjustments, it is recommended to synchronously adjust nearby APs according to the situation.

 

 

 

2. Configure the forced disconnection feature for low-RSSI users:

The threshold setting needs to be appropriately adjusted according to the network coverage situation. For example, In areas with dense AP deployment, a higher threshold is recommended. Conversely, in other areas, a lower threshold is suggested. (Devices > Config > Advanced > Enable RSSI Threshold)

 

 

 

Recommended Threads:

 

How to optimize wireless performance of EAP products

 

What Should I Do If My Wireless Clients Have Roaming Issues?

 

 

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Thank you in advance for your valuable feedback!

 

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