MeshLinx MWI-5000 User Guide
MESHLINX CONFIDENTIAL
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required. The result of engaging protection mode is that the performance of 11G stations
is substantially reduced. See the discussion of self-CTS for more information.
Select 11BG mode when the BSS needs to support both 11B and 11G stations.
7.1.2.3
11G Mode
11G mode selects the 2.4 GHz band (channels 1 through 11) in “pure G” mode. The 2.4
GHz band is considerably more congested than the 5 GHz band and is limited to data
rates up to 54 Mbps.
Note that “pure G” mode assumes there are no 11B stations operating in the BSS and that
protection mode (self-CTS) is not required. This allows the interface to operate at optimal
efficiency, achieving throughput similar to 11A mode in the 5 GHz band. This of course
will depend on local interference in the selected channel.
Select 11G when the BSS needs to support only 11G stations and not 11B stations.
7.1.3 Channel
Selection of a particular mode results in selection of a default channel for that mode.
Depending on interference and congestion in that default channel, it may or may not yield
optimal performance. Manually selecting a new channel is experimental at best. You can
simply try another channel and see if your throughput improves. Avoiding channel 6 in
the 2.4 GHz band is a good idea, since many access points default to that channel and it
tends to be congested.
If the Learn feature is enabled, the process of channel selection is continuous
and fully automatic. The MWI-5000 monitors for interference in all channels and either
stays on the current channel or switches channels if overall performance would benefit
from the switch. Needless to say, enabling Learn is recommended over manual
channel selection.
7.1.4 Self-CTS (11G Protection Mode)
11G Protection Mode is automatically enabled whenever both 11G and 11B stations
interoperate within a BSS. The 802.11g standard requires that this be fully automatic.
Turning 11G Protection Mode off is an option for 11G (“pure G”) mode if the user
wishes to completely eliminate the possibility that use of self-CTS is adversely affecting
11G throughput (for benchmarking, etc).
There is no need for a user to change this parameter. It is entirely optional and probably
better avoided.
