Centralized OFDMA Enablement at Site Settings
Hello,
It would be beneficial to allow OFDMA to be enabled centrally at the site level, similar to Airtime Fairness. This would ensure all APs adopt the same setting automatically, simplifying management and reducing errors.
In hotspots or guest networks, combining OFDMA with Airtime Fairness improves overall capacity and user experience, allowing Wi‑Fi 6 devices to transmit efficiently in parallel while older devices are treated fairly.
A default configuration for guest access with OFDMA and Airtime Fairness enabled is recommended.
Questions:
- Why is OFDMA not enabled by default? Are there technical or compatibility reasons for this?
- And why is the setting currently managed on an AP-by-AP basis instead of centrally?
BR Tim
Hi @TW_EPC
Thanks for posting here.
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) is not always enabled by default on Wi-Fi routers and access points due to several technical, compatibility, and practical considerations:
1. Compatibility with Older Devices
- Many legacy Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and older devices do not support OFDMA, as it was introduced with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).
- If OFDMA is enabled, some older clients may experience connectivity issues, reduced performance, or even fail to connect.
- Manufacturers often prioritize backward compatibility to ensure a smooth user experience.
2. Performance Trade-offs in Certain Scenarios
- OFDMA excels in high-density environments (many devices sharing the network), but in low-density or single-device scenarios, it may not provide a significant advantage over traditional OFDM.
- Some implementations of OFDMA can introduce minor latency overhead due to scheduling, which may not be ideal for latency-sensitive applications (e.g., gaming, VoIP).
3. Dynamic Adjustment Requirements
- OFDMA works best when the router can dynamically allocate resources (subcarriers) based on real-time traffic demands.
- Poorly optimized firmware or low-end hardware may struggle to efficiently manage OFDMA scheduling, leading to inconsistent performance.
4. Interference and Channel Conditions
- In environments with high interference or poor signal quality, OFDMA may not perform optimally because it relies on precise subcarrier allocation.
- Some routers disable OFDMA by default to avoid potential instability in suboptimal RF conditions.
In summary, OFDMA is not enabled by default primarily due to backward compatibility concerns and potential performance trade-offs in certain scenarios. However, in modern networks with mostly Wi-Fi 6 devices, enabling OFDMA can significantly improve efficiency and throughput. Users should test its impact on their specific network before keeping it permanently enabled.
Did you try the batch config action? With this feature, you can enable/disable OFDMA on all the selected EAPs.
Hi @TW_EPC
Thanks for posting here.
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) is not always enabled by default on Wi-Fi routers and access points due to several technical, compatibility, and practical considerations:
1. Compatibility with Older Devices
- Many legacy Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and older devices do not support OFDMA, as it was introduced with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).
- If OFDMA is enabled, some older clients may experience connectivity issues, reduced performance, or even fail to connect.
- Manufacturers often prioritize backward compatibility to ensure a smooth user experience.
2. Performance Trade-offs in Certain Scenarios
- OFDMA excels in high-density environments (many devices sharing the network), but in low-density or single-device scenarios, it may not provide a significant advantage over traditional OFDM.
- Some implementations of OFDMA can introduce minor latency overhead due to scheduling, which may not be ideal for latency-sensitive applications (e.g., gaming, VoIP).
3. Dynamic Adjustment Requirements
- OFDMA works best when the router can dynamically allocate resources (subcarriers) based on real-time traffic demands.
- Poorly optimized firmware or low-end hardware may struggle to efficiently manage OFDMA scheduling, leading to inconsistent performance.
4. Interference and Channel Conditions
- In environments with high interference or poor signal quality, OFDMA may not perform optimally because it relies on precise subcarrier allocation.
- Some routers disable OFDMA by default to avoid potential instability in suboptimal RF conditions.
In summary, OFDMA is not enabled by default primarily due to backward compatibility concerns and potential performance trade-offs in certain scenarios. However, in modern networks with mostly Wi-Fi 6 devices, enabling OFDMA can significantly improve efficiency and throughput. Users should test its impact on their specific network before keeping it permanently enabled.
Did you try the batch config action? With this feature, you can enable/disable OFDMA on all the selected EAPs.
