EDCA Parameters

Enhanced Distributed Channel Access parameters

An Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameter is a wireless channel access configuration that

  • assigns preferential access to voice, video, and other quality of service (QoS) traffic

  • differentiates wireless traffic priority through distinct parameter settings, and

  • enables customization of wireless performance using controller GUI or CLI interfaces.

Configure EDCA parameters (GUI)

Set global EDCA parameters to optimize channel access for voice, video, and quality-of-service traffic on your wireless networks using GUI.

Procedure

Step 1

Choose Configuration > Radio Configurations > Parameters. On this page, you can configure global parameters for 802.11a/n/ac (5 GHz) and 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz) radios.

Note

 

You cannot configure or modify parameters, if the radio network is enabled. Disable the network status in the Configuration > Radio Configurations > Network page before proceeding. To apply the EDCA settings to the WLANs, disable and then re-enable the WLANs.

Step 2

In the EDCA Parameters section, select an EDCA profile from the EDCA Profile drop-down list. Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters provide preferential wireless channel access for voice, video, and other QoS traffic.

Step 3

For 802.11a/n/ac (5 GHZ) radios, in the (DFS 802.11h) section, enter the local power constraint. You cannot configure power constraint if the DTPC Support check box on the Configure > Radio Configurations > Network page is checked. The valid range is 0 dBm to 30 dBm.

Step 4

Check the Channel Switch Announcement Mode check box, if you want the AP to announce when it is switching to a new channel and the new channel number. The default value is disabled.

Step 5

Check the Smart DFS check box to enable Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) and avoid radar signal interference.

Step 6

Click Apply.

Configure EDCA parameters (CLI)

Set EDCA parameters on a wireless controller to optimize Quality of Service (QoS) for different traffic profiles and improve network performance using commands.

Procedure

Step 1

Enter the global configuration mode.

Example:

Device# configure terminal

Step 2

Disable the radio network.

Example:

Device(config)# ap dot11 {5ghz | 24ghz} shutdown

Step 3

Enable specific EDCA parameters for the 802.11a or 802.11b/g network.

Example:

Device(config)# ap dot11 {5ghz | 24ghz} edca-parameters {custom-voice | fastlane | optimized-video-voice | optimized-voice | svp-voice | wmm-default}

Note

 

The custom-voice option is not supported for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller .

  • custom-voice: Enables custom voice parameters for the 802.11a or 802.11b/g network.

  • fastlane: Enables the fastlane parameters for the 802.11a or 802.11b/g network.

  • optimized-video-voice: Enables EDCA voice-optimized and video-optimized parameters for the 802.11a or 802.11b/g network. Choose this option when both voice and video services are deployed on your network.

  • optimized-voice: Enables non-SpectraLink voice-optimized profile parameters for the 802.11a or 802.11b/g network. Choose this option when voice services other than SpectraLink are deployed on your network.

  • svp-voice: Enables SpectraLink voice-priority parameters for the 802.11a or 802.11b/g network. Choose this option if SpectraLink phones are deployed on your network to improve the quality of calls.

  • wmm-default: Enables the Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) default parameters for the 802.11a or 802.11b/g network. This is the default option. Choose this option when voice or video services are not deployed on your network.

Step 4

Re-enables the radio network.

Example:

Device(config)# no ap dot11 {5ghz | 24ghz} shutdown

Step 5

Display the current status of MAC optimization for voice.

Example:

Device# show ap dot11 {5ghz | 24ghz} network