Channel Utilization Discrepancy

[JDavie]

Our MR56 AP's are reporting acceptable channel utilization (usually ~2%, up to 10%). However, devices on the ground show much higher utilization with 3-5 SSID's per channel. The AP's are mounted to the ceiling 20 feet high. 

Should we manually assign channels based upon what the devices are showing, or leave the AP's in auto selection mode? Should we trust the AP's are devices more? Our channel width is set to 20MHz and using 5 GHz. 

In the manual settings for the channel, there is an option for dual 5GHz mode, however am unsure how to enable this. Selecting a different channel changes the active channel, and will not allow us to select two, even in separate lo and hi channels with the 2.4GHz radio turned off.

[PhilipDAth · Accepted solution]

Are the clients actually experiencing any issue, or is this just a technically observed issue?

I would leave the auto-channel selection on.  Then the system can respond to dynamic changes in your environment.

Both devices could be reporting the channel utilization correctly.  It is quite possible interferers may be visible to one device and not another.

Could you lower the APs (perhaps put them on poles)?

Otherwise, you may need to increase the density of the APs.

[JDavie]

We have had some issues with the clients connecting, but it appears to be unrelated. While looking into the issue, it was technically observed.

I would imagine more sources of interference would be visible to the MR56's rather than smartphone.