What is RF Tuning? When a Wi-Fi network is installed, it should automatically set access point power and channels. It doesn't always get it right, so for that reason we strongly recommend any new install to undertake an initial RF Tuning activity. 

Poor RF Tuning spells problems for your Wi-Fi network. You'll end up with more interference and co-channel interference - but more importantly, your users will have less throughput, a less reliable Wi-Fi experience and devices won't roam properly.

Let's take a look at what's involved in the process.

What is RF Tuning for?

The purpose of the RF Tuning is to ensure your Wi-Fi network is operating at the optimal power levels. 

Too much RF power and you get interference, poor roaming and too little RF power, you won't have enough coverage and devices drop out.

The purpose of the process of RF Tuning is to ensure the power is managed and appropriate to the type of install and the type of environment. 

Proper RF Tuning helps to reduce interference, as well as greatly improve how clients roam between access points.

If you have issues with dropouts, as well as clients that are 'sticky' to an AP and seem not to want to roam, an RF Tuning exercise is recommended.

Related reading

• Wi-Fi Surveys
• Wi-Fi Phone Dropouts
• Top 8 Secrets to Great Wi-Fi

For a bit of side reading on the most common Wi-Fi issues, take a look at The Top 8 Secrets to Great Wi-Fi.

How is RF Tuning Undertaken?

Firstly, we need to group the access points.

All APs used in a similar use case and environment are typically grouped. For example, we might use a different group for:

• External Access Points
• Lift APs
• High Density APs
• Lecture Theatres
• Plant Rooms, and so on

The allocation of APs to groups should occur before we attend site.

Once onsite though, we will survey a small area of your site and then provide recommendations on the proposed changes. This is typically about setting values in RF profiles, unique to 2.4GHz / 5GHz and 6GHz, for that use case.

Once the changes are complete, we will then re-check the sample area and may suggest further refinements.

RF Tuning is an iterative exercise and RF changes will need to be made whilst our Wireless Engineer is on-site surveying. This allows for the changes to be iterative and optimised to the most appropriate values.

Once the values look good, we can then survey the full site. We now have a Wi-Fi network that is properly tuned.

Related reading

• Cisco Catalyst Center Beginners Guide
• 5 Ways Catalyst Center Solves your Challenges

Our Scope

As discussed above, the pre-requisites are to ensure the APs are in relevant AP Groups and RF Profiles are applied.

Once onsite, we will undertake a number of small RF surveys, working with our client's team to iteratively tune the RF power. Once correct, we survey the whole area.

The deliverables for the RF Tuning service are:

• Feedback to our client on required changes to the RF settings

• Post-Deployment Survey report, detailing the final RF status

Typically, we will undertake a handover workshop at the end of the RF Tuning works.

This is to dive into what we've found and what adjustments we've made - and what improvements in end user experience that you can expect.

We also have an optional SSID Workshop we offer.

If you have more than 4 SSIDs operating in your network, you should very seriously consider consolidating these. We can run a workshop to help determine the best options for your business.

During the course of RF Tuning, we can record details of your SSIDs. An excess number of SSIDs in operation can have a highly detrimental effect on your wireless network.

Related reading

• Wi-Fi Phone Dropouts
• Wi-Fi Channel Power: Not all Channels are the Same 
• ThousandEyes

RF Tuning: FAQs

What Is RF Tuning?

Reviewing and adjusting AP power, channels and RF profiles after installation, so the network performs as designed.

Doesn't Wi-Fi Tune Itself?

RRM sets power and channels automatically, but it doesn't always get it right — for example, small groups of APs can power up too high.

When Should RF Tuning Happen?

After the APs are installed and before the validation survey, so the survey measures the tuned network.

What Are RF Profiles?

Groups of controller settings that define power limits, data rates and channel options for a set of APs, so different areas can be tuned differently.

RF Tuning: Summary

In this blog, we have run through why we undertake RF Tuning.

The issues poor RF Tuning causes are many. It stands to reason to ask: Why would you install a Wi-Fi network and not set it up correctly - it's kind of similar to buying a new car and needing an early service as it starts to run in.

While we are onsite for the RF Tuning, we work with you to set up the access point powers to be the most suitable for your environment.

Incorrect RF power is the biggest single cause of poor Wi-Fi experience, so ensuring we get this right is the most important thing we can do to deliver great Wi-Fi for your team!

If you'd like to talk to us about undertaking RF Tuning for your business, drop us a line on our quote request form: https://info.iptel.com.au/request-a-quote 

Need Help With Your Wi-Fi?

Our Wi-Fi survey and design team designs, surveys and fixes enterprise Wi-Fi across Australia, and the free AP Estimator gives you a first AP count. If that would be useful, get in touch with the IPTel team or email sales@iptel.com.au.