Blog
Field notes on complex Wi-Fi.
Why More Transmit Power Does Not Mean Better Wi-Fi
I get this question in almost every deployment: why not just run every access point at maximum transmit power?
François Vergès, CWNE #1804 min read
27 posts
Most recent first
5150–5250 MHz: new outdoor & licensing rules
The 5150–5250 MHz band contains channels 36, 40, 44 and 48. It is one of the most used bands in Wi-Fi networks. With the new version of RSS-247 (Issue 4, July 2025), the rules around outdoor use and high power have been clarified by ISED.
François Vergès, CWNE #1804 min read
5850-5895 MHz is now Wi-Fi spectrum in Canada
The 5850–5895 MHz range was not part of Wi-Fi in Canada until recently. It was reserved for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and connected vehicle applications, and standard Wi-Fi devices had no business there. With RSS-247 Issue 4 (July 2025), ISED formally opened this 45 MHz of spectrum for Wi-Fi use.
François Vergès, CWNE #1803 min read
New 5 GHz Wi-Fi Regulations in Canada: What It Means for Wi-Fi Engineers
RSS-247 Issue 4 (July 2025) brings real changes to how Wi-Fi can be deployed in Canada. This post summarizes what you need to do, or stop doing, as a result. It is the closing post of this series and is written as a practical reference for engineers who design, deploy, or audit Wi-Fi networks in Canada.
François Vergès, CWNE #1804 min read
New DFS channels unlocked: 120, 124, 128
For years, channels 120, 124 and 128 were off-limits in Canada. They sit in the 5600–5650 MHz range, right where Environment Canada operates weather radar. Any Wi-Fi signal in that range risked interfering with radar systems used for meteorology and aviation safety. As a result, ISED simply blocked them.
François Vergès, CWNE #1803 min read
The Channel 144 & 169 Trap: When Bonded Channels Span Bands
Two channels in the 5 GHz band deserve special attention: channel 144 and channel 169. Both sit at the boundary between two sub-bands, meaning part of their spectrum falls under one set of rules and part under another. The principle that applies in both cases is simple: the most restrictive rule wins.
François Vergès, CWNE #1804 min read
Updated 5 GHz Wi-Fi Regulations in Canada (RSS-247, July 2025)
In July 2025, ISED published a new version of RSS-247. This document defines how Wi-Fi devices can operate in Canada. The changes are important and they affect how we design, deploy and operate Wi-Fi networks in the 5 GHz band.
François Vergès, CWNE #1803 min read
Why 6 GHz Wi-Fi is Already Improving High Density Networks
Walk into a university lecture hall just before class begins, and the scene is always the same. Students stream in, open laptops, pull out tablets, and connect their phones all at once. Within minutes, the air is thick with competing signals. For the IT staff responsible for keeping everyone connected, it is less about managing people and more about managing airtime.
François Vergès, CWNE #1805 min read
6GHZ Free Space Path Loss
We have wrote about Free Space Path Loss on this blog. Take a look at this article to understand what it is: https://semfionetworks.com/blog/free-space-path-loss-diagrams/In this article, we are going to focus on what Free Space Path Loss will look like on the 6GHz frequency band.
François Vergès, CWNE #1801 min read
6GHz Regulations in Canada
In Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) published a Consultation on the Technical and Policy Framework for Licence-Exempt Use in the 6 GHz Band in November 2020.In May 2021, ISED published the Decision on Technical and Policy Framework for licence-Exempt Use in the 6GHz Band. This document outlines the new 6GHz regulations in Canada.
François Vergès, CWNE #1805 min read
My Wi-Fi Expectations and Wishes for 2019
I am really excited about 2019. The Wi-Fi technology is always evolving, bringing new challenges along the way. And this year is no exception. I am looking forward to the challenges that I will face this year and I am looking forward to the new learning experiences that 2019 will bring.
François Vergès, CWNE #1804 min read
5GHz Regulations in Canada (2018 Update)
UPDATE – July 2025: ISED has updated their radio standards specifications for Wi-Fi equipments operating in the 5GHz frequency band. Check out this article to see what is new: Updated 5 GHz Wi-Fi Regulations in Canada (RSS-247, July 2025)
François Vergès, CWNE #1806 min read
The State of 6GHz in Canada
In may 2020, the FCC officially announced that the 6GHz frequency space will be available for unlicensed use in the US. We have contacted ISED in order to know what was the status for Canada. Here is what they told us:
François Vergès, CWNE #1804 min read