--- title: "SSID Overhead Calculator: Beacon Airtime | IPTel" description: "Free SSID overhead calculator: see how much Wi-Fi airtime your SSIDs' beacons use in 2.4, 5 or 6 GHz, by SSID count, APs per channel and minimum data rate." image: https://iptel.com.au/hubfs/Website%20Images/Banners/banner-heatmap.jpg --- [![IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500 (1)](https://iptel.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500%20(1).png?width=200&height=59&name=IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500%20(1).png "IPTellogo-byline-2020-dark-v2-pnd-optimised-500 (1)")](https://iptel.com.au?hsLang=en-au) - [Home](https://iptel.com.au/?hsLang=en-au) - [Solutions](https://iptel.com.au/solutions?hsLang=en-au) Technologies - [Cisco Access Manager](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-access-manager?hsLang=en-au) - [Cisco Catalyst Center](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-catalyst-center?hsLang=en-au) - [Cisco Meraki](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-meraki?hsLang=en-au) - 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Free, instant and private. ## How to Use the SSID Overhead Calculator Every SSID on every access point sends a beacon about ten times a second, at the lowest basic data rate. In 6 GHz, access points normally use Multiple BSSID instead: one beacon lists all the SSIDs. Choose the band, then enter how many SSIDs you broadcast, how many access points a client can hear on the same channel, and your minimum basic rate. The calculator shows how much channel airtime goes on beacons before any user data is sent. ### SSID Overhead Calculator Band 2.4 GHz5 GHz6 GHz Number of SSIDs APs on same channel Minimum basic rate Beacon mode One beacon per SSIDMultiple BSSID Beacon size (bytes) Beacon interval (TU)   Airtime = SSIDs × APs × beacons per second × time to send one beacon. With Multiple BSSID (the norm in 6 GHz), each AP sends one beacon for all its SSIDs, about 40 bytes bigger for each extra SSID. At the same data rate a beacon takes about the same time in every band: the band changes which rates you can use (the slow 802.11b rates exist only in 2.4 GHz) and whether Multiple BSSID is normal. Each beacon's time includes the inter-frame space (DIFS), the PHY preamble and header, and the MAC header and payload at the chosen rate. One TU is 1.024 ms. Collisions and retries aren't modelled, so real overhead is a little higher. Beacon size is the MAC header plus payload; a packet capture gives the exact figure for your network. The calculation runs in your browser. Overhead bands: under 10% low, 10–20% medium, 20–50% high, over 50% very high. Aim to stay in the low band. ## Why Too Many SSIDs Slow Wi-Fi Down Each SSID behaves like a separate network with its own beacons, and beacons are sent at the slowest basic rate so every client can hear them. At 1 Mbps in 2.4 GHz a single beacon can take over 3 milliseconds. Multiply that by several SSIDs and every access point a client can hear on the channel, and a large share of airtime disappears before anyone sends data. We recommend no more than four to five SSIDs, using dynamic VLANs, identity PSK or identity-based policy such as Cisco ISE to separate users instead. Read [why too many SSIDs are bad for your Wi-Fi](https://blog.iptel.com.au/why-too-many-ssids-are-bad-for-your-wi-fi?hsLang=en-au) for the detail. ## SSID Overhead Calculator: FAQs ### How Many SSIDs Should an Access Point Broadcast? No more than four to five for enterprise Wi-Fi. Use 802.1X with dynamic VLAN assignment, or identity PSK, to give different users different access on one SSID instead of adding more networks. ### Does Raising the Minimum Data Rate Help? Yes. Beacons are sent at the lowest basic rate, so disabling 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps and starting at 12 Mbps or higher cuts beacon airtime sharply. Check first that no legacy 802.11b devices still need the low rates. ### Is 5 GHz or 6 GHz Affected Too? Yes, but less. These bands use OFDM rates from 6 Mbps upwards, so each beacon is much shorter. Many SSIDs still add overhead, especially with many access points on the same channel. In 6 GHz, access points that support Multiple BSSID can advertise several SSIDs in a single beacon, which cuts the overhead further. ### What Counts as an AP Heard on the Same Channel? Any access point, yours or a neighbour's, that a client can hear on its channel strongly enough to defer to. Each one's beacons for every SSID use shared airtime, which is why channel planning and power settings matter as much as SSID count. Wi-Fi Slower Than It Should Be? Our Wi-Fi Assurance Review checks SSIDs, data rates, channels and power against how your network is actually used, then gives you a prioritised fix list. Our Ekahau-certified engineers work across Australia. 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Use 802.1X with dynamic VLAN assignment, or identity PSK, to give different users different access on one SSID instead of adding more networks." }, "name" : "How many SSIDs should an access point broadcast?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Yes. Beacons are sent at the lowest basic rate, so disabling 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps and starting at 12 Mbps or higher cuts beacon airtime sharply. Check first that no legacy 802.11b devices still need the low rates." }, "name" : "Does raising the minimum data rate help?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Yes, but less. These bands use OFDM rates from 6 Mbps upwards, so each beacon is much shorter. In 6 GHz, access points that support Multiple BSSID can advertise several SSIDs in a single beacon, which cuts the overhead further." }, "name" : "Is 5 GHz or 6 GHz affected too?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Any access point, yours or a neighbour's, that a client can hear on its channel strongly enough to defer to. Each one's beacons for every SSID use shared airtime, which is why channel planning and power settings matter as much as SSID count." }, "name" : "What counts as an AP heard on the same channel?" } ] } ```