The latest firmware (EU version) supports the DFS channel, but the US version doesn't support DFS channel. So I guess it should be related to the law.

The US regulations for DFS channels are very similar to the EU regs.  It should be a trivial matter to meet them and also a simple matter to enable them.  They would be very useful to have. 

I have some neighbors that are using them now with their hardware from other manufacturers and I can see them via a WiFi analyser application.

TP Link.  I very much like your line of hardware and recommend it to friends, neighbors and coworkers but I cannot further do this when other providers are offering these channels in the US market.  I know that is still a not a lot of sales in the scheme of things.  Your business WiFi platform is great.  I will be happy to start recommending again once you enable these channels.  

Is a firmware in the works to give us access to them?

Hi @T0ddly ,

EAP225-Outdoor (US) doesn't support DFS channel now, but we will consider your suggestions and consult it with our colleagues.

Thank you for your feedback.

@wifiprosz 

Yes you are right. 

Actually, in the US region, we can use band1, band2 and band3 and ban4. But band2 and band3 are DFS channels. When client devices work in DFS channels, they may meet disconnection issue. Considering this factor, we do not add DFS cahnnels on the firmware. Band1 and band4 should be enough for customers to use.

@forrest 

Thanks for responding.

I am confused what is band 4? I thought UNIII2 and UNII2-Extended are the DFS channels. See below for the list. Disconnects only happens when AP changes the channel due to detecting radar and this would happen in a minute so won't be very noticeable to clients. Rest I understand if you are near or within a mile radius of the airport or station then this is something you should worry about otherwise not every other person would fire up a radar at their home for amusement :) Add 802.11h Channel Announcement for DFS. It should be a customer option to enable or not to enable DFS channels not the vendor as TPLINK should offer minimum features if not all.

802.11 stations, before transmitting in a DFS channel, must validate (by first listening for 60 seconds) that there is no radar activity on it.  And, if an 802.11 radio should detect radar while using the DFS channel, it must vacate that channel quickly.  Thus, if a radio should detect radar in its serving channel, then switch to another DFS channel, this will impose (at least) a one-minute outage.

When an access point (AP) uses a DFS channel and a radar signal is detected, the AP will behave as follow: 

• Stops transmission of data frames on that channel
• Broadcasts an 802.11h channel-switch announcement.
• Disassociates clients
• Selects a different channel from the DCA (Dynamic Channel Assignment) list
  • If the selected channel is not DFS then AP enables beacons and accepts client associations
  • If the AP selects a DFS-required channel, it scans the new channel for radar signals for 60 seconds. If there are no radar signals on the new channel, the AP enables beacons and accepts client associations. If a radar signal is detected, the AP selects a different channel

This is not the valid and true reason, that makes all other big and small vendors crazy or have less knowledge then tp-link? Please do not impose what is good and not good for customers as we your reasons don;t make sense and this is someone everyone offers in the industry. 

Stop doing false advertisement about wave 2 ac eap when you only opening up 9 channels, how will you bond 80mhz channel when you have more then 2 APs. I do not see any road block or convincing reason not to open or allow DFS channels on your APs. If tjhis is something you guys can't offer something so bare minimum then provide refunds for false advertising of youir products and branding it as enterprise level or even mid busniness or big home level where more then 2 APs are deployed. Thanks!

• UNII-1
  • 36, 40, 44, 48

• UNII-2a
  • 52, 56, 60, 64

• UNII-2c Extended
  • 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144

• UNII-3
  • 149, 153, 157, 161, 165

@R1D2 

Thanks for responding, and sharing details. It sounded like I am in the plane and about ot take off and flight attendant is like please place your devices on airplane mode :)

Since you are not familar let me share with you FCC has allowed UNII2 and UNII2-E channels few years back later they also opened up Canadian radar channel 120, 124, and 128 under DFS channels.

That's the TP-Link faq where there is no where indicated that in US we will not going to provide or offer DFS channels:

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/763/

This is outside link to validate my claim:

https://wifibond.com/2016/10/26/wlan-operating-channels-and-frequencies/

See the cahrt below what is were aloowed before and what is now.

I know you are just defending and supporting your product but this is a basic feature that everyone offers and without those channels it's not possible to have 80MHz wide channel or 40 MHz when you are deploying 5+. I run a consultansy service with deployments and choosing TP-Link was staright a coset effective solution but this limititation will effect our solution in terms of performance to clients. Plus the coverage is wider when you use UNII3 band and next down is DFS UNII2/E channels due to transmit power allowed unlike UNII1. I have read that on the UK/EURO side these channels are available recently so as a workaround if I change the controller from US to UK or Euro then would I get the options to select those channels and will these US APs able to join/provision with the OC200 controller? 

Unfortunately and sadly, I have been batteling with finding beamforming option for these EAP245 V3 APs and now this channel limitation inclining me towards Ubiquiti solution as they off DFS channenls and other enterprise level features along with Deep Packet Inspection with addon USG device. I purchased 6 APs for testing with OC200 I am thinking to return it as it's still within 30 days and go to Ubiquiti setup/solution which will cost me $300 dollars more for the same setup plus I have to install and offer the small WiFi solution to smalll businesses and large size homes. 

If this is something not in the pipeline to open up channels which are allowed in US by FCC then it's sone and deal breaker for me and others.

Thankns for all your support. 

T0ddly wrote

When can we expect access to using DFS channels for the US version of EAP225-V3?

 

Enabling these DFS channels could be very useful to me.

 

Thanks!

 

Todd

Actually, no. The law indicates they are free for use (both commercially and publicly), but need to "back off" when transmission is detected (for a brief period of time). After the transmission is no longer detected, the channel may resume normal function.