Electronics / Routers
Voice Deployment with Aruba WLAN Infrastructure Best Practices Guide
A comprehensive best practices guide for deploying voice applications on Zebra mobile computers using Aruba WLAN infrastructure, covering device settings, RF characteristics, and network configuration.
Table of contents
Quick guide from the manual
This document provides essential best practices for deploying voice applications on Zebra mobile computers within an Aruba WLAN environment. It covers recommended device settings, network RF requirements, and specific infrastructure configurations to ensure high-quality voice performance.
Supported Devices
This guide applies to the following Zebra mobile computers: TC52, TC52-HC, TC52x, TC52x-HC, TC52ax, TC52ax-HC, TC57, TC57x, TC72, TC77, PC20, MC93, EC30, TC21, TC21-HC, TC26, and TC26-HC.
Device Settings
Proper device configuration is critical for voice performance. Key recommendations include:
- Battery Optimization: Disable Android battery optimization (Doze Mode) for voice applications to prevent communication interruptions.
- MAC Randomization: While supported, it does not affect voice performance; keep enabled unless troubleshooting requires otherwise.
- Band Selection: Use 5 GHz for voice applications.
- Channel Mask: Match the device mask to the network-side operating channels. For 2.4 GHz, use channels 1, 6, and 11. For 5 GHz, use non-DFS channels.
- Fast Roaming: Ensure 802.11r is supported and enabled on the network.
Network Settings and RF Characteristics
To maintain voice quality, the network environment must meet specific criteria:
- Latency: Less than 100 msec end-to-end.
- Packet Loss: Less than 1%.
- Minimum AP Coverage: -65 dBm.
- Minimum SNR: 25 dB.
- Radio Channel Utilization: Less than 50%.
Infrastructure Recommendations
For Aruba infrastructure, the following settings are recommended for voice quality:
- Security: WPA2 or WPA3 with AES encryption.
- Voice WLAN: 5 GHz only.
- DTIM Interval: Set to 1.
- Broadcast Filtering: Set to ARP only.
- Band Steering: Disable.
- 80 MHz Support: Disable.
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
If voice quality issues occur, verify the following:
- Ensure the WLAN infrastructure is not overloaded (check channel utilization).
- Check for high retransmission rates caused by multipath interference.
- If using 1x1 antenna devices, ensure near-ideal WLAN coverage as they are more sensitive to RF conditions than 2x2 devices.
- Consult the latest release notes for Aruba WLC/AP firmware compatibility.
Manufacturer information
Zebra Technologies
Practical help
Common problems
Voice communication interruptions
Disable Android battery optimization (Doze Mode) for voice applications.
Poor voice quality in high-density areas
Ensure 5 GHz band is used and disable 80 MHz support on the infrastructure.
High packet loss or latency
Verify that radio channel utilization is below 50% and SNR is at least 25 dB.
Roaming issues
Ensure 802.11r is enabled on the network and that the device is configured for 5 GHz band preference.
Before use
- Verify that the Zebra mobile computer is on the supported device list.
- Ensure the Aruba infrastructure firmware version is compatible.
- Perform a Voice Grade Site Survey to confirm coverage requirements.
- Configure the network for 5 GHz only for voice traffic.
- Set the DTIM interval to 1 on the Aruba controller.
Specs in practice
- SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio)
- The delta between noise and coverage RSSI; minimum 25 dB required for voice.
- DTIM Interval
- Delivery Traffic Indication Message; must be set to 1 for optimal voice performance.
Model compatibility
- TC21/TC26 devices require the Zebra mDNA license for voice deployment.
- WPA3 support requires specific device models and configuration guidance.
- 1x1 devices require near-ideal WLAN coverage compared to 2x2 devices.
Manual page author
Michael Turner
Technical manual editor
Reviews PDF manuals for structure, safety notes, and practical product details so readers can find the right information quickly.