What is a Dual Band Radio?
Dual Band Radio is a radio which can operate in two bands (either 2.4/5 GHz or 2.4/6 GHz or 5/6 GHz). These radios offer the flexibility of deploying an additional radio in a particular band as per the requirement. For example, CW 9176 has a dual band radio wherein slot 0 can operate in 2.4/5 GHz mode. This provides an additional 5 GHz radio which can help distribute the client count on slot 1 which is default 5 GHz as majority clients in customer environments are 5 GHz capable.
Dual Band Radios operation
Cisco WI-Fi 7 offering- CW 9176 (High Performance deployments)
- Slot 0- 2.4/5 GHz dual band radio– This offers two 5 GHz radios or one 2.4/5 GHz radio each combination. Slot 0 when operating in 5 GHz mode can operate in UNII-1 and UNII-2 channels while slot 1 can operate in UNII-2 extended and UNII-3 channels.
- Slot 1- Dedicated 5 GHz radio. Can operate in all 5 GHz channels when slot 0 in 2.4 GHz mode but can operate only in UNII-2 and UNII-3 channels when slot 0 in 5 GHz mode
- Slot 2- Dedicated 6 GHz radio
Cisco Wi-Fi 7 offering- CW 9174 (Moderate to high density deployments)
- Slot 0- Dedicated 2.4 GHz radio. Can operate in all available channels when slot 2 in 6 GHz mode but will be disabled when slot 2 is in 2.4 GHz mode.
- Slot 1- Dedicated 5 GHz radio.
- Slot 2- 2.4/6 GHz dual band radio. Can operate in either 2.4 GHz mode or 6 GHz mode. Slot 0 is disabled if slot 2 operates in 2.4 GHz mode.
Cisco Wi-Fi 7 offering- CW 9171 (Low density environments)
- Slot 0- Dedicated 2.4 GHz radio.
- Slot 1- 5/6 GHz dual band radio- This radio can operate in either 5 or 6 GHz mode.
Quad Radio operation
Cisco Wi-Fi 7 Offering- CW 9178 and CW 9179F (Outdoor AP) (Ultra high performance deployments)
- Slot 0- Dedicated 2.4 GHz radio.
- Slot 1- Dedicated 5 GHz radio which operates in UNII-2 extended and UNII-3.
- Slot 2- Dedicated 5 GHz radio which operates in UNII-1 and UNII-2.
- Slot 3- Dedicated 6 GHz radio.
Dedicated 3 Slot Radio Operation
Cisco Wi-Fi 7 Offering- CW 9172 (Medium and wall plate offering)
- Slot 0- Dedicated 2.4 GHz radio
- Slot 1- Dedicated 5 GHz radio
- Slot 2- Dedicated 6 GHz radio
| AP Model | Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| CW 9178 | 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | 5 GHz | 6 GHz |
| CW 9179 | 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | 5 GHz | 6 GHz |
| CW 9176 | 2.4/5 GHz | 5 GHz | 6 GHz | NA |
| CW 9174 | 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | 2.4/6 GHz | NA |
| CW 9172 | 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | 6 GHz | NA |
| CW 9171 | 2.4 GHz | 5/6 GHz | NA | NA |
Note: In all the above scenarios scanning radio always scans all bands irrespective of what bands the dual band radios are operating in.
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