Does SlingStudio use DFS and what are its benefits?

Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is a mechanism that allows wireless devices to share the license-free 5 GHz frequency bands—bands that are normally allocated to radar systems—without causing interference with those radar systems.

When DFS is enabled, a device monitors the frequency it is using for its wireless signals. If radar signals are detected on the frequency that the device is currently using, the device vacates that channel and automatically switches to an alternative channel. DFS enables a device to select a channel with the least congestion and interference.

SlingStudio uses a slightly different logic to select a channel:

1. The SlingStudio hotspot scans the list of valid channels that are configured for use.
2. Each scanned channel is scored based on its current level of congestion, plus interference from adjacent channels.
3. The scores are then used to determine the best channel for the SlingStudio hotspot to broadcast on.

The SlingStudio hotspot is configured to use only channels in the 5GHz band. In addition, the bandwidth of the channels must be 80 MHz.

These six channels (4 DFS and 2 non-DFS) satisfy this criteria:

• 36/80 – non-DFS
• 52/80 – DFS
• 100/80 – DFS
• 116/80 – DFS
• 132/80 – DFS
• 149/80 – non-DFS