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Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Aironet Access Points
OL-29225-01
Chapter 6 Configuring Radio Settings
Configuring the Beacon Period and the DTIM
Configuring the Beacon Period and the DTIM
The beacon period is the amount of time between access point beacons in Kilomicroseconds. One Kµsec
equals 1,024 microseconds. The Data Beacon Rate, always a multiple of the beacon period, determines
how often the beacon contains a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM). The DTIM tells power-save
client devices that a packet is waiting for them.
For example, if the beacon period is set at 100, its default setting, and the data beacon rate is set at 2, its
default setting, then the wireless device sends a beacon containing a DTIM every 200 Kµsecs. One Kµsec
equals 1,024 microseconds.
The default beacon period is 100, and the default DTIM is 2. Beginning in privileged EXEC mode,
follow these steps to configure the beacon period and the DTIM:
Configure RTS Threshold and Retries
The RTS threshold determines the packet size at which the wireless device issues a request to send (RTS)
before sending the packet. A low RTS Threshold setting can be useful in areas where many client devices
are associating with the wireless device, or in areas where the clients are far apart and can detect only
the wireless device and not each other. You can enter a setting ranging from 0 to 2347 bytes.
Maximum RTS retries is the maximum number of times the wireless device issues an RTS before
stopping the attempt to send the packet over the radio. Enter a value from 1 to 128.
The default RTS threshold is 2347 for all access points and bridges, and the default maximum RTS
retries setting is 32. Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure the RTS
threshold and maximum RTS retries:
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
interface dot11radio {0 | 1} Enter interface configuration mode for the radio interface.
The 2.4-GHz radio and the 802.11n 2.4-GHz radio is 0.
The 5-GHz radio and the 802.11n 5-GHz radio is 1.
Step 3
beacon period value Set the beacon period. Enter a value in Kilomicroseconds.
Step 4
beacon dtim-period value Set the DTIM. Enter a value in Kilomicroseconds.
Step 5
end Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 6
copy running-config startup-config (Optional) Save your entries in the configuration file.
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
interface dot11radio {0 | 1} Enter interface configuration mode for the radio interface.
The 2.4-GHz radio and the 2.4-GHz 802.11n radio is 0.
The 5-GHz radio and the 5-GHz 802.11n radio is 1.
Step 3
rts threshold value Set the RTS threshold. Enter an RTS threshold from 0 to 2347.
Step 4
rts retries value Set the maximum RTS retries. Enter a setting from 1 to 128.