Suggested RF Profiles and settings for a now fully capable 802.11ax MR campus

[CHAadmin]

Given several prompts to ChatGPT but wanted to check with the experts here too.

We're a Meraki MR customer since 2013. I just decommissioned my 802.11ac MRs from 2015 (MR32, MR33, MR34, MR42, MR52) for new CW9164I models (40 total) and two CW9166D1 models (for our gymnasium).

My client types are 65% Wi-Fi 5, 15% Wi-Fi 6, and 10% Wi-Fi 6E. The bulk of the WAPs are deployed in standard K12 classrooms. I understand that 5 GHz is my workhorse. Do I now disable 2.4 GHz everywhere? Only enable 6 GHz on those capable WAPs? I also have 19 MR56 WAPs and 4 MR57 WAPs.

[RWelch]

Congrats on phasing out the older model APs and welcome the newer model APs.

I’m sure you will have a mixed response on disabling 2.4GHz.

Being that this deployment is a school environment, I would NOT disable 2.4GHz completely.  I would selectively sprinkle 2.4GHz here/there for those who might not have newer mobile devices to include IoT devices (thermostats, sensors, cameras).  You would likely know and understand what all devices on your network require 2.4GHz better than I.

2.4GHz tends to offers greater range and tends to penetrate more spaces (walls/obstacles).  You might consider taking a few of the MR56s for your dedicated 2.4GHz range depending on how spread out your campus is.

Ideally, a site survey would probably give you a better understanding of the new APs coverage/overlap and if you need to space the APs closer with most of the new APs at the 6 and 6E ranges.

I have no doubt that the 2.4GHz spectrum is likely congested (everywhere) but a school environment would likely have some older devices connecting to your environment - I would think, I could be wrong tho.  Some academic institutions have an IT Policy that states or indicates your mobile devices must be at a min 5GHz or higher to alleviate numerous SSIDs and a heavily congested spectrum.

Just my 2 cents.  Hopefully a few others will share their perspectives.

[cmr]

I agree with @RWelch and regarding 6GHz, I have found it to work reliably for Windows and Apple computers, but not to much for Android phones.  Depending on the distribution of your clients across your SSIDs you might want to enable 6GHz on some and not others.  Bear in mind that 6GHz requires WPA3 and I have found WPA3 only to be okay for the computers mentioned above.  Do not even think of using WPA3-Transition mode, in my experience it doesn't work at all reliably! 

[Brash]

^ These are some great takes.

I personally haven't played too much with 6Ghz.

But I will say that disabling 2.4Ghz will mostly depend on the control you have over the clients.

If the clients are all relatively recent devices which you deploy and manage, then disabling 2.4Ghz makes sense. If however, you have public, BYOD, industrial or other uncontrolled devices connecting to the Wi-Fi, you're better off keeping 2.4Ghz in at least some areas to make your life a bit easier.

[VRB]

Wow, good for you. We still have around 300 plus MR33's in our campus, the rest are MR44 and MR56. We still have not decided to disable the 2.4Ghz since there are still some legacy devices that may need them. I have just adjusted the radio profiles to lower power settings on the 2.4Ghz to keep the congestion and latency lower.