Wireless Access

Hi,

What roles do the "External Antenna Parameters" play while provisioning the Access Points with external Antenna?

Suppose, I have an antenna with gains of 5dBi and 10 dBi on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios, and if I configure them as 1 dBi each against 2.4 GHz Antenna Gain and 5 GHz antenna gain, then will it matter?

If the antenna's gains are to be inserted with their accurate values, then shall we have to substract the losses of additional component used between AP and Antenna such as an "Antenna Cable"?

For a regulatory domain allowing only 20 dB Tx power, will having an antenna gain of 5dBi, help us get additional Tx power?

Provisioning incorrect antenna gain values can lead to violation of regulatory rules, which can have serious consequences.

HPE Aruba relies on "professional installation" to transfer responsibility for certain aspects of legal operation of the wireless network to the customer/installer.

Since regulatory limits are typically expressed in EIRP power levels, our software adjusts for that when enforcing those limits. Entering a low antenna gain number can result in exceeding the regulatory limits,

The antenna gain numbers should include anything between the antenna connector and the air. For all Aruba antennas, the numbers we specify in the antenna datasheets includes all that (including connector and cabling loss). If the cable is extended, the resulting additional loss should be used to offset the gain number.

Thanks Onno,

I was of the impression that the AP will evaluate the gain of the attached Antenna and the subsequent losses and will accordingly make the decision of adjusting the Tx power to match the regulatory domain.

So if the antenna gains are higher and if we put the lower values while provisioning then we will end up overstepping the regulatory domain allowed Tx power right?

There is no way for the AP to determine (measure?) the antenna gain. It needs to be entered manually.

Yes, if the value entered is lower than the actual gain, we may exceed the regulatory limits (and all power setting/reporting is inaccurate).

Thanks alot Onno for all your valuable responses.

Have one last doubt though.

Excerpt:

Yes, if the value entered is lower than the actual gain, we may exceed the regulatory limits (and all power setting/reporting is inaccurate).

Does this mean if someone have an Antenna Gain of 5dBi on 5 Ghz radio and 2.4 Ghz radios but if accidentally its entered as 1 dBi while provisioning, then the values that we see for EIRP in "show ap radio summary" will be shown lesser by an value of 4 dBi?

Yes, that is what it means.