At Drew we very recently moved away from multiple SSIDs for this purpose, but we had 'drew' on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and '5drew' on just the 5GHz range. I don't remember exactly, but when we initially set it up some devices would connect in alphabetical order and preferred the 5drew network for that reason. Having the 'drew' SSID on both ranges gave the clients a few more options and let the APs do band steering. We've also noticed that clients have definitely been improving.
It worked and there were definitely some people who loved it, but it was always a small portion of our wireless users that would be connected to 5drew. With improved AP density and better client-side decisions, we ended up dropping it. <http://www.drew.edu/?utm_source=OneAndAll_Email_Footer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OneAndAll%2BFooter> *Christopher Stave <http://www.drew.edu/directory/?q=email:cstave&utm_source=FIL_Email_Footer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FIL%2BEmail%2BFooter>* Network Administrator | University Technology <http://www.drew.edu/ut?utm_source=FIL_Email_Footer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FIL%2BEmail%2BFooter> Drew University | 36 Madison Ave | Madison, NJ 07940 (973) 408-3814 | drew.edu <http://www.drew.edu/?utm_source=OneAndAll_Email_Footer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OneAndAll%2BFooter> <http://www.drew.edu/oneandall/?utm_sourceOneAndAllL_Email_Footer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OneAndAll%2BFooter> On Wed, Aug 12, 2015 at 12:41 PM, Stephen Oglesby <stephen.ogle...@aims.edu> wrote: > Paul, > > We're an Aruba shop and, as Bruce of Liberty mentioned, for dense > deployments we turn 2.4 ghz radios off on every other AP (typically edge of > building APs). Our main performance issues were due to interference and > channel utilization on the 2.4 ghz spectrum. We attempted reducing 2.4 ghz > (20 mhz channel) transmit power but still had issues. > > I also agree with keeping to the simplicity of a single SSID if at all > possible. I can't imagine the number of issues that would be reported to > me simply because the user exited the ideal range for 5ghz spectrum. Our > student and staff networks support a wide range of client wireless cards, > antenna configurations, and spectrum compatibility (many are including > 2.4ghz only). Having users manually switch networks as needed may cause > HelpDesk to become very popular. > > Good Luck, > > Stephen Oglesby > Network and Telecommunications Architect > Aims Community College > 5401 W. 20th Street > Greeley, CO 80634 > 970.339.6350 (Office) > stephen.ogle...@aims.edu > > > > *IT staff will never ask you for your username and password. Always decline > to provide the information and report such attempts to the help desk (x6380).* > > > On Wed, Aug 12, 2015 at 8:24 AM, Philippe Hanset <phan...@anyroam.net> > wrote: > >> Paul, >> >> Dorm design is an animal of itself and each school has its own set of >> challenges based on >> locations and policies. As much as I agree that 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz >> shouldn’t be on separate SSIDs for main campus, >> I have really changed my mind for dormitories. Those buildings are really >> micro houses stacked on top of each other >> with people bringing anything and everything they want which is quite >> different than academic buildings. We all spend our summers designing >> the best coverage that we can for those residential areas, and as soon as >> students move in, the interference in 2.4 GHz makes our entire effort look >> pointless in the eyes of the complaining student who is actually partly >> responsible for the problem. >> So, in dormitories only, I would have the regular set of SSIDs that the >> campus provides plus and extra 5 GHz only called something like >> "residential-preferred". >> But I wouldn’t use “fast” or “5GHz” in the SSID name. >> >> Best, >> >> Philippe >> >> >> Philippe Hanset >> www.eduroam.us >> >> >> >> On Aug 11, 2015, at 4:22 PM, Paul Sedy <rps...@masters.edu> wrote: >> >> Hello everyone, >> >> We are a Cisco shop and have, up until now, employed a single SSID for >> students, supporting both 2.4 Ghz and 5Ghz connections. During this >> summer, we have been working to develop sufficient AP density to ensure >> good 5Ghz cells throughout our dorms. In the past, we have seen numerous >> instances of poorer performance on the 2.4 Ghz spectrum, but up to this >> point, have relied on the client to make the decision between these two >> options. >> >> We are thinking of deploying two separate SSIDs, a 5Ghz network and a 2.4 >> Ghz network, that are exclusive in order to promote a better experience for >> the students with devices capable of 5Ghz connectivity. We would probably >> use the original SSID name with an appended (5 Ghz) or (2.4 Ghz). >> >> Are any of you currently employing this type of configuration and how >> well has it worked for you? >> >> We would appreciate any insights that anyone might have. >> >> Paul Sedy >> The Master’s College >> Director of IT Operations >> 21726 Placerita Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91321 >> 661.362.2340 | rps...@masters.edu >> ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE >> Constituent Group discussion list can be found at >> http://www.educause.edu/groups/. >> >> >> ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE >> Constituent Group discussion list can be found at >> http://www.educause.edu/groups/. >> >> > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE > Constituent Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
