What happens when enabling spectrum analysis mode on a RUCKUS AP?

When spectrum analysis is enabled on a RUCKUS AP, the selected radio (e.g., the 5 GHz radio) is taken offline from its normal client-serving duties. The radio dedicates its resources entirely to scanning the RF environment to detect and classify sources of interference. This is a service-impacting operation. As the radio is no longer broadcasting SSIDs or listening for association requests, existing clients on that band will be disconnected, and new clients will be unable to connect to the AP until the spectrum analysis session is terminated.

B. The results are shown in a real-time FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) plot, a spectrogram (waterfall chart), and a duty cycle chart, not a histogram.

C. The AP radio must sweep or hop across different channels to scan the entire 5 GHz band; it cannot capture the whole spectrum in a single, instantaneous scan.

D. Spectrum analysis is performed on a per-radio basis. You must choose to run it on either the 2.4 GHz radio or the 5 GHz radio, not both at the same time with a single operation.

1. RUCKUS SmartZone 5.2.1 Administrator Guide: In the section "Running Spectrum Analysis," the guide states, "When you run Spectrum Analysis on an AP, the AP radio stops serving clients and dedicates itself to scanning the RF environment to detect potential interference." (Page 629)

2. RUCKUS Unleashed 200.7 User Guide: The section "Performing Spectrum Analysis" explains the process and its impact: "When you run Spectrum Analysis on an AP, the AP radio stops serving clients and dedicates itself to scanning the RF environment..." This confirms the service interruption. The guide also shows the graphical output, which includes FFT and spectrogram plots. (Page 203)

3. RUCKUS ZoneDirector 10.1.0 User Guide: In Chapter 12, "Troubleshooting," the section on Spectrum Analysis notes: "Performing spectrum analysis is a service-affecting task. When you perform spectrum analysis on an AP, the AP's radio will be dedicated to scanning the RF environment and will not be able to serve clients." (Page 368)