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*** The issue I am describing in this post applicable only if you have deployed 3700, 2600, 2700, 3600,1700 series APs, in -Z and -T regulatory domains or in below countries. Refer this document for regulatory domain details.***
Australia (-Z)
New Zealand (-Z)
Brazil (–Z/-T)
Taiwan (-T)
I have deployed 500+ APs (3702I) recently and expected 5GHz clients exceed 2.4GHz in these area as network was pretty much designed for 5GHz and 1/3 of 2.4GHz radios turned off. Still I could not see it becomes a reality.
. 
Then I saw this post in CSC forum & check if this could be the reason for above behavior.
Low Tx power levels on Cisco 3702i AP
My WLC is running on 8.1.131.0 code and “show advanced 802.11 txpower” output verify my APs are affected by this. Most of the 5GHz radios do not get power level beyond 8 dBm which is a serverity 2 bug (CSCux23003)of the current WLC code releases
(XXX-WLC) >show advanced 802.11a txpower Leader Automatic Transmit Power Assignment Transmit Power Assignment Mode................. AUTO Transmit Power Update Interval................. 600 seconds Transmit Power Threshold....................... -70 dBm Transmit Power Neighbor Count.................. 3 APs Min Transmit Power............................. 8 dBm Max Transmit Power............................. 17 dBm Update Contribution Noise........................................ Enable Interference................................. Enable Load......................................... Disable Device Aware................................. Disable Transmit Power Assignment Leader............... XXX-WC01 Last Run....................................... 132 seconds ago Last Run Time.................................. 1 seconds TPC Mode....................................... Version 1 TPCv2 Target RSSI.............................. -67 dBm TPCv2 VoWLAN Guide RSSI........................ -67.0 dBm TPCv2 SOP...................................... -85.0 dBm TPCv2 Default Client Ant Gain.................. 0.0 dBi TPCv2 Path Loss Decay Factor................... 3.6 TPCv2 Search Intensity......................... 10 Iterations AP Name Channel TxPower Allowed Power Levels ----------------------- ---------- ------------- ------------------------ AP05-L2APT62 *(36,40) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP08-L2APT18 *(149,153) *5/8 (11 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] AP04-L3APT59 *(36,40) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP04-L2APT11 *(161,157) *3/8 (17 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] AP02-L3APT54 *(52,56) *1/5 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] AP06-L3APT26 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP01-L1APT01 *(149,153) *3/8 (17 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] AP01-L2APT53 *(149,153) *3/8 (17 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] AP08-L1APT08 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP03-L2APT32 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP05-L1APT05 *(149,153) *3/8 (17 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] AP05-L3APT36 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP01-L3APT21 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP08-L1APT08 *(52,56) *1/6 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/1/1/1] AP04-L3APT50 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP06-L1APT06 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 9 dBm) [9/6/3/3/3/3/3/3] AP03-L3APT17 *(64,60) *1/6 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/1/1/1] AP02-L3APT16 *(44,48) *1/3 ( 9 dBm) [9/6/3/3/3/3/3/3] AP05-L1APT60 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP01-L1APT30 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP02-L2APT09 *(161,157) *3/8 (17 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] AP05-L3APT51 *(60,64) *2/5 (13 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] AP07-L2APT14 *(52,56) *1/5 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] AP06-L2APT13 *(64,60) *1/5 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] AP02-L1R0131 *(44,48) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP05-L2R0206 *(60,64) *3/5 (10 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] AP05-L2APT12 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 9 dBm) [9/6/3/3/3/3/3/3] AP01-L3APT53 *(60,64) *1/5 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] AP07-L1APT07 *(64,60) *1/6 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/1/1/1] AP02-L3APT47 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2]
As you can see all my AP 5GHz Radios operate in UNII-1 band (CH 36,40,44,48) has maximum power of 8/9dBm. Typically this power level is below the typical client power level (so AP’s 5GHz coverage will be very less)
All APs operate in UNII-2 (CH 52,56,60,64) has maximum power level 16dBm.
Then I checked this on WLCs operate in 8.0.120.0 code & problem remain same.
(YYY-WC01) >show ap summary AP Name Slots AP Model ------------------ ----- -------------------- YYY-L3R0360R00-AP028 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L1R0G06R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYYYYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP04 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP02 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP03 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP02 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP03 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP05 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP04 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L1RPORTR01-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 APc464.13b4.4af8 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 APc464.13b4.2179 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 APc464.13b4.20d6 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 APc464.13b4.1d93 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L1RC126R00-AP01 2 AIR-LAP1252AG-N-K9 YYY-L3R0316R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L3R0305R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2R0221R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2R0212R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2R0233R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2R0225R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2R0215R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2R0230R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L2R0CLTR00-AP26 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L3R0325R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L3R0346R01-AP013 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L3R0341R01-AP018 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L2RCOMMS-AP27 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L4R0413R00-AP01 2 AIR-CAP3602I-N-K9 YYY-L3R346aR01-AP020 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L3R0346R01-AP015 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L3R0339R00-AP027 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L3R0352R01-AP012 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 YYY-L2R0CLTR00-AP13 2 AIR-CAP3702I-Z-K9 (YYY-WC01) >show advanced 802.11a txpower Leader Automatic Transmit Power Assignment Transmit Power Assignment Mode................. AUTO Transmit Power Update Interval................. 600 seconds Transmit Power Threshold....................... -70 dBm Transmit Power Neighbor Count.................. 3 APs Min Transmit Power............................. -10 dBm Max Transmit Power............................. 30 dBm Update Contribution Noise........................................ Enable Interference................................. Enable Load......................................... Disable Device Aware................................. Disable Transmit Power Assignment Leader............... YYY-WC01 Last Run....................................... 248 seconds ago Last Run Time.................................. 0 seconds TPC Mode....................................... Version 1 TPCv2 Target RSSI.............................. -67 dBm TPCv2 VoWLAN Guide RSSI........................ -67.0 dBm TPCv2 SOP...................................... -85.0 dBm TPCv2 Default Client Ant Gain.................. 0.0 dBi TPCv2 Path Loss Decay Factor................... 3.6 TPCv2 Search Intensity......................... 10 Iterations AP Name Channel TxPower Allowed Power Levels ------------------------- ---------- ------------- ------------------------ YYY-L3R0360R00-AP028 *(36,40) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L1R0G06R00-AP01 *(40,36) *1/5 (14 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP01 *(161,157) *3/8 (17 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP04 *(153,149) *4/8 (14 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP02 *(157,161) *4/8 (14 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L1R0OUTR00-AP03 *(40,36) *3/5 ( 8 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP02 *(48,44) *3/3 ( 2 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP03 *(36,40) *3/3 ( 2 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP05 *(161,157) *8/8 ( 2 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP04 *(64,60) *5/5 ( 4 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] YYY-LBASEMENTR00-AP01 *(149,153) *8/8 ( 2 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L1RPORTR01-AP01 *(36,40) *1/5 (14 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] APc464.13b4.4af8 *(36,40) *3/5 ( 8 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] APc464.13b4.2179 *(149,153) *5/8 (11 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] APc464.13b4.20d6 *(64,60) *2/5 (11 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] APc464.13b4.1d93 *(36,40) *1/5 (14 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L2-AP01 *(48,44) *1/5 (14 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L1RC126R00-AP01 *(149,153) *1/7 (17 dBm) [17/14/11/8/5/2/-1/0] YYY-L3R0316R00-AP01 *(36,40) *2/5 (11 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L3R0305R00-AP01 *(64,60) *2/5 (11 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L2R0221R00-AP01 *(64,60) *2/5 (11 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L2R0212R00-AP01 *(36,40) *1/5 (14 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L2R0233R00-AP01 *(149,153) *6/8 ( 8 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L2R0225R00-AP01 *(161,157) *7/8 ( 5 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L2R0215R00-AP01 *(149,153) *5/8 (11 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L2R0230R00-AP01 *(48,44) *4/5 ( 5 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L2R0CLTR00-AP26 *(36,40) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L3R0325R00-AP01 *(56,52) *2/5 (11 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L3R0346R01-AP013 *(36,40) *3/3 ( 2 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L3R0341R01-AP018 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L2RCOMMS-AP27 *(36,40) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L4R0413R00-AP01 *(64,60) *1/5 (14 dBm) [14/11/8/5/2/2/2/2] YYY-L3R346aR01-AP020 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L3R0346R01-AP015 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L3R0339R00-AP027 *(149,153) *7/8 ( 5 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L3R0352R01-AP012 *(149,153) *5/8 (11 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L2R0CLTR00-AP13 *(161,157) *5/8 (11 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L3R0319R00-AP01 *(161,157) *5/8 (11 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L3R0354R01-AP016 *(161,157) *5/8 (11 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2] YYY-L1R1.21R00-AP27 *(48,44) *2/3 ( 5 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] YYY-L1R0149R00-AP17 *(161,157) *7/8 ( 5 dBm) [23/20/17/14/11/8/5/2]
This bug is not fixed in the 8.0MR3 (8.0.132.0) code which is released very recently. Here is the release note of that code.
As per the bug details only 8.0.134.7, 8.1.131.17,8.2.100.7 & 8.3.15.79 are the code versions this issue has been fixed. None of them are public releases 😯
Therefore I have to go with another engineering release for sometime.
If you have wireless deployment in these countries, please be aware of this issue.
Update @ 16th May
I have upgraded most of my WLCs to 8.1.131.18 which had the fix for this. One WLC upgraded to 8.0.134.14 (8.0MR4 beta) as some legacy AP to be supported. As you can see below issue has been fixed with this code upgrade for me.
with 8.1.131.0 AP Name Channel TxPower Allowed Power Levels ----------------------- ---------- ------------- ------ AP05-L2APT62 *(36,40) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP04-L3APT59 *(36,40) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP06-L3APT26 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP08-L1APT08 *(40,36) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] AP03-L2APT32 *(48,44) *1/3 ( 8 dBm) [8/5/2/2/2/2/2/2] with 8.1.131.18 AP Name Channel TxPower Allowed Power Levels -------------------- ---------- ------------- ------------ AP05-L2APT62 *(36,40) *1/5 (15 dBm) [15/12/9/6/3/3/3/3] AP04-L3APT59 *(52,56) *1/5 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/4/4/4] AP06-L3APT26 *(40,36) *1/5 (15 dBm) [15/12/9/6/3/3/3/3] AP08-L1APT08 *(52,56) *1/6 (16 dBm) [16/13/10/7/4/1/1/1] AP03-L2APT32 *(48,44) *1/5 (15 dBm) [15/12/9/6/3/3/3/3]
References
1. 802.11 EIRP Limitations in Australia
2. AU-Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000
mrn-cciew 
Great advice
Hi Nayarasi,
Thanks again for a wonderful post. More ever due to regulatory domain restriction coming into picture, most of the times, the APs don’t even transmit at power level reflected in datasheet.
For instant for -M or -E regulatory domain, the max tx power on a 3700 is 18 dBm on 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz radio however datasheet promises for 23 dBm and 23 dBm. Is there a way out to to get what the datasheet promises by bypassing the regulatory domain?
Great write-up! Not really a workaround, but things might be better for your clients if you switch from 40MHz mode to 20MHz mode. When you are operating in 40MHz mode, that power is spread over twice the spectrum. Second, make sure BandSelect is enabled on all non-voice Wlans to keep clients on 5GHz. Lastly, if you want to see some even more fascinating tx-power info, enable SSH or telnet on an AP and do a “show controller dot11 N” command. If you wade through that, you’ll find a table with the real output power at different speeds/MCS/modulations/beamforming/etc.
When someone asks what output power level an AP is running at, the real answer is unbelievably complicated as you will see!
Thanks for your suggestion Steve, I hope Cisco will provide a bug fixed code soon for me
Those power values mentioned in the WLC cli, is that actually TX power or EIRP?
Apparently this bug doesn’t affect APs managed by a virtual WLC. I am running code 8.1.131.0 and the 2700s (-T) are using 23dBm tx power.
Thanks for the information & good to know that.
Anyway permanent fix will be available in below codes
8.0MR4
https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/13014826/80mr4-beta-availability
8.2MR2 (refer comments section of below thread)
https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/13011171/82mr1-beta-availability
HTH
Rasika
Thanks a lot for the information Rasika. Great write up!!!
I am seeing this bug impacting only 3700 series.
I have tested this on 3602I and can see 14 dBm while operating on channel 36 and 40 MHz channel bonding.
Also, had a good read on the EIRP limit for Australia region.
Cisco AIR-WLC2106-K9 can connect to Cisco 3700 series for Lightweight AP (LWAPP CAPWAP) to Autonomous Standalone Conversion .
3700 series won’t supported in 2106 as 2100 series supported upto AireOS 7.0.x code only. 3700 series require 7.6.x onward.
HTH
Rasika
Thanks for the information .
i want to conversion from Lightweight to Autonomous at 3700 series . how to do that, Many thx!
Try to mode button , putty and TFTP servier method to conversion from Lightweight to Autonomous in 3500 series is OK, but in 3700 series ,it show error message
(%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/ap3g2-k9w7-tar.default (no such file or directory)ap:
please help!
Your right ups are on point!
I noticed that many of your (apparently) adjacent ap’s are on the same channels (36,40). I have noticed that my controllers seem to jam adjacent ap’s into the same channels to often to make me comfortable with RRM choices, when there are 12 others to choose. (only use uni1 and 3)
Its my contention that RRM doesn’t play well in dense ap environments.
I would love to hear your opinion.
There’s a bug affecting regarding channel 36 issue –> CSCuq36196