What can be done when APs share the same channel and are contending for airtime, thus slowing down the network?

When access points (APs) share the same channel and contend for airtime, it can lead to network congestion and slow data throughput. Turning down the transmit power of the APs is a viable solution in this situation. By reducing the transmit power, the coverage area of each AP is decreased, which can help minimize overlapping coverage zones between multiple APs.

This reduction in coverage can lessen the number of devices that are attempting to connect to the same AP, allowing for better performance and less contention on the shared channel. It can also help to enforce a more manageable number of clients per AP, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the network.

On the other hand, increasing transmit power could exacerbate interference issues since it might extend the coverage area, causing even more devices to connect to the same APs, leading to greater competition for resources. Changing the network frequency to 2.4 GHz may not be effective either, as this band is often crowded and operates on limited non-overlapping channels in many regions. Replacing the APs with higher models may provide better technology and features, but it does not directly address the problem of channel contention if the same configurations and conditions are maintained. Thus, reducing transmit power effectively addresses the immediate issue of contention