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MikroTik RouterOS Docs

Wireless

Wireless

Section titled “Wireless”

RouterOS provides comprehensive wireless capabilities for MikroTik devices, supporting a wide range of wireless deployment scenarios from simple home networks to complex service provider installations.

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

The wireless documentation covers all aspects of wireless networking in RouterOS, including:

  • Access Point (AP) configurations for creating wireless networks
  • Station mode for connecting to existing wireless networks
  • CAPsMAN for centralized wireless management
  • Wireless security profiles and encryption
  • WDS (Wireless Distribution System) for bridging
  • Mesh networking for extended coverage
  • HotSpot captive portal for guest access and authentication

60 GHz Wireless (W60G)

Section titled “60 GHz Wireless (W60G)”

RouterOS includes comprehensive support for 802.11ad (W60G) wireless technology, enabling gigabit-speed wireless connections over 60 GHz links:

  • W60G - Complete documentation for 60 GHz wireless implementation
  • Point-to-Point links up to 200+ meters
  • Point-to-MultiPoint configurations for multiple clients
  • Automatic beamforming for directional transmission
  • AES-encrypted wireless bridges
  • License-dependent client limits

Key Capabilities

Section titled “Key Capabilities”
  • Support for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 60 GHz frequency bands
  • Multiple virtual APs per radio interface
  • WPA2/WPA3 security with various encryption options
  • CAPsMAN for managing multiple APs from a single controller
  • Built-in HotSpot captive portal functionality
  • Advanced features like NV2 proprietary protocol, DFS, and airMAX compatibility

Channel Planning

Section titled “Channel Planning”

2.4 GHz Non-Overlapping Channels

Section titled “2.4 GHz Non-Overlapping Channels”

When deploying 2.4 GHz wireless networks, use non-overlapping channels to minimize interference:

ChannelCenter FrequencyPrimary Frequencies
12412 MHz2401-2423 MHz
62437 MHz2426-2448 MHz
112462 MHz2451-2473 MHz

These three channels (1, 6, and 11) are the only non-overlapping channels in the 2.4 GHz band. For minimal interference:

  • Space APs at least 5 channels apart (e.g., 1 and 6, or 6 and 11)
  • Avoid adjacent channel deployment (e.g., 1 and 2 will cause more interference than 1 and 6)
  • Consider 20 MHz channel width for 2.4 GHz to reduce congestion

5 GHz Channel Selection

Section titled “5 GHz Channel Selection”

The 5 GHz band offers many more non-overlapping channels:

  • UNII-1 (5150-5250 MHz): Channels 36, 40, 44, 48
  • UNII-2 (5250-5330 MHz): Channels 52, 56, 60, 64 (DFS required)
  • UNII-2 Extended (5470-5725 MHz): Channels 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140 (DFS required)
  • UNII-3 (5725-5850 MHz): Channels 149, 153, 157, 161, 165

For 5 GHz deployments, use 80 MHz or 160 MHz channel widths for maximum throughput when channel availability permits.

DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection)

Section titled “DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection)”

When operating in 5 GHz DFS channels (52-64, 100-144), the router must detect and avoid radar interference:

Radar Detection Behavior

Section titled “Radar Detection Behavior”

When radar is detected on a DFS channel:

  1. Immediate Channel Switch - The AP immediately vacates the affected channel
  2. Non-Occupancy Period - The channel is blocked for 30 minutes after radar detection (per FCC/ETSI regulations)
  3. Channel Availability Check - After the non-occupancy period, the AP may resume operation on that channel

Configuring DFS

Section titled “Configuring DFS”
Terminal window
/interface wireless
set wlan1 dfs-mode=static
set wlan1 skip-dfs-channels=no
  • dfs-mode=static - Use fixed DFS configuration
  • skip-dfs-channels=yes - Skip DFS channels entirely (not recommended for compliance)

Troubleshooting DFS Issues

Section titled “Troubleshooting DFS Issues”

Common DFS-related problems:

  • “radar detected” messages in logs - Indicates DFS radar detection, channel will switch
  • Unexpected channel changes - Normal DFS behavior when radar is detected
  • Long downtime on DFS channels - 30-minute non-occupancy period is expected

To monitor DFS events:

Terminal window
/interface wireless monitor wlan1 once

Signal Strength Reference

Section titled “Signal Strength Reference”

dBm to Quality Mapping

Section titled “dBm to Quality Mapping”
Signal Strength (dBm)QualityDescription
-30 to -50ExcellentOptimal signal, maximum throughput
-50 to -60GoodStrong signal, reliable connection
-60 to -70FairAcceptable signal, may experience occasional issues
-70 to -80PoorMarginal connection, expect packet loss
-80 to -90Very PoorUnusable connection, reconnects frequent
Below -90No SignalConnection not possible

Viewing Signal Strength

Section titled “Viewing Signal Strength”
Terminal window
/interface wireless registration-table print

The signal-strength column shows the current signal in dBm. For 802.11n/ac/ax, also check signal-to-noise ratio for interference analysis.

Section titled “Recommended Signal Levels”
ApplicationMinimum Signal
VoIP/Video Call-65 dBm
Streaming Video-70 dBm
Web Browsing-75 dBm
Basic Connectivity-80 dBm

Documentation Structure

Section titled “Documentation Structure”

Wireless Interface

Section titled “Wireless Interface”

The core wireless interface documentation covers:

Fast Roaming

Section titled “Fast Roaming”

Centralized Management

Section titled “Centralized Management”

Case Studies

Section titled “Case Studies”

HotSpot

Section titled “HotSpot”
Section titled “Related Topics”