Wave MLO - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What effect is there on data transmission if one of the radios is getting heavy interference on its chosen channel to the point that that radio becomes practically unable to pass data reliably?

The Multi-Link Operation (MLO) algorithm's purpose is to seamlessly direct traffic to the radio frequency experiencing the least packet loss. Continuous improvements based on real-world performance data and user feedback are planned to further minimize loss, latency, and jitter.

How exactly does channel puncturing work?

Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) enhances OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), which divides the available spectrum into smaller sub-channels called Resource Units (RUs). A new feature introduced in Wi-Fi 7 is Multiple Resource Units (MRU), which allows a single user to be allocated multiple non-contiguous RUs in a single transmission.

A key enabler of MRU flexibility is preamble puncturing. This technique allows parts of a 80 MHz or wider channel to be intentionally ignored (punctured) during transmission when interference or channel occupancy is detected. With 20 MHz granularity, punctured subchannels are excluded from the transmission, enabling better spectrum reuse and avoiding interference. This allows devices to transmit over non-contiguous chunks of spectrum — boosting efficiency and throughput in congested environments.

What are the limitations of channel puncturing?

Only manual puncturing mode is supported in firmware 2.1.0 and below. Fully automated puncturing will be available in future updates.

Wave MLO5 puncturing is applicable only for bandwidths of 80 MHz or greater, as the minimum puncture size is 20 MHz. The diagram below shows available puncturing patterns.

Why is channel aggregation in the 5 GHz band limited to lower and upper 5 GHz radio separation, restricting aggregation across the entire band?

The Wave MLO5 is a dual-radio device. One 2x2 radio operates in the U-NII-1 and U-NII-2A bands, and the other operates in the U-NII-2C and U-NII-3 bands. When connected to another Wave MLO device, each radio establishes a link. In Multi-Link Operation mode, these links are combined in an MLO link. MLO channel aggregation on a single radio link is not supported.

Within a single radio, specific non-adjacent configuration patterns can be achieved by manually puncturing a wider bandwidth. Please refer to the explanation above for available puncturing modes.

Is it possible to disable one of the radios if there are no free channels available in its corresponding band?

With the release of version 2.1.0, Wave MLO will automatically disable a link if no available channels are within the chosen regulatory domain.

Should MLO be used in case free space is only available in one of the bands?

The option to manually disable MLO is not currently available, but will be included in a future firmware release.

What happens in the case of a DFS event if a DFS channel is chosen, as there is no current setting to declare a channel list or alternate channel?

If a DFS event occurs on a channel, traffic will be rerouted to a different link. Future firmware updates are planned to include "puncturing for DFS", where a wider bandwidth device will attempt to create a puncture in the sub-band affected by radar.

What does the Distance setting on the MLO radio do?

The distance setting feature configures initial connection timings based on a user-defined distance range. Once a connection is established and the system automatically measures the distance, these timings are recalibrated. A future update aims to replace this semi-automatic distance setting with a fully automatic process.

Does Wave MLO support PRISM™ active RF filtering technology?

Wave MLO does not support PRISM™ technology.

What other interference mitigation features does MLO have?

• MLO algorithm inherently mitigates interference by directing traffic to a less congested band.
• Manual puncturing enables fine-grained disabling of sub-bands within broader bands. Fully automated puncturing will be available in future updates.

Outside of channel bonding, higher order modulations, and channel puncturing what other benefits does this product have over Airmax AC or LTU for PtP?

• Hardware acceleration eliminates software bottlenecks, resulting in higher throughput.
• Improved receive (RX) sensitivity.
• The upcoming Wave MLO6 will offer the advantage of the 6 GHz band.
• Benefits of the latest UI / UX

Did Ubiquiti add any customizations to the MAC layer?

Wave MLO products utilize a proprietary mode to achieve high-performance operation across extended distances, including high-density, noisy environments.

Will Wave MLO products offer channel selection with 5 MHz intervals?

Wave MLO helps to navigate through noisy environments by allowing to selectively disable noisy sub-bands using bandwidth puncturing. We do not rule out the possibility of adding more granular channel selection in future releases.