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When deploying wireless access points on dot11b/g, co-channel interference can be minimized by appropriate manual choice of channel numbers across the physical site.

In the US, the same methodology applies for dot11a solutions, where manual frequency selection for an AP is an option.

However, Here in EMEA, with compulsory DFS for dot11a, there appears to be no manual control at all on channel selection.

The default behaviour as I understand it ?¡é?€?¡° is for an AP to pick a random channel during interface initialization, and then if no radar detected, continue to use that channel.

(This has hit us on one solution, where four APs in neighbouring rooms at a client site selected the same channel on startup ?¡é?€?¡° causing significant co-channel interference!)

So how does one avoid co-channel interference on dot11a solutions in EMEA ?

(In the first instance, with Cisco access points)

When they start, the access points will detect what channels are in use and automatically select a free channel.

You have to balance placement and power to minimise convergence and effectively use the channel spacing available.