3) What are the WiFi design best practices for dense venues?

• Prefer 5/6 GHz; minimize 2.4 GHz.

  2.4 GHz has only three non-overlapping channels; vendor guides recommend prioritizing 5 GHz/6 GHz and avoiding 40 MHz on 2.4 GHz.

• Right-size AP count and client load.

  Plan many small cells (lower TX power) rather than a few loud APs. Aruba VHD uses planning figures like ~150 associations/radio (300/AP) with headroom; practical designs target far fewer active clients per AP for quality.

• Raise minimum data rates & limit SSIDs.

  Increasing the minimum basic rate (e.g., ≥12–18–24 Mbps) reduces airtime waste; too many SSIDs add beacon overhead—keep them to the minimum needed.

• Directional antennas & thoughtful placement.

  LPV/stadium designs rely on directional/sector antennas (and sometimes under-seat placements) to improve SNR and channel reuse.

• Modern features.

  Enable band-steering, client balancing, fast roaming where appropriate (Meraki/Catalyst docs).