It can be said that there is no time when users of Wi-Fi networks, both home and organization, do not think about improving the quality of their home or workplace Wi-Fi network. Optimization means increasing the speed and quality of its communication. Among all optimization methods and methods, choosing the most suitable communication channel is the most important option. In this blog post, we’ll explain what Wi-Fi channels are, how to find the best Wi-Fi channel for your router, and how to change them in your router’s settings to find the best Wi-Fi channel.
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ToggleThe WiFi network works in certain frequency bands, these bands are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and each has different features and characteristics.
The 2.4 GHz band is the most widely used Wi-Fi frequency, Provides wider coverage and is more compatible with older devices. But its popularity has led to increased congestion, which increases the likelihood of interference and reduced performance.
The 5 GHz band is less common than the 2.4 GHz band, but they have much more bandwidth and less interference, which makes this frequency band more suitable for uses such as HD video streaming, online gaming, and other similar activities.
A WiFi channel is a small portion of the frequency through which our wireless networks can send and receive data. Two frequencies are available for Wi-Fi networks, 2.4 GHz with 14 channels and 5 GHz with 25 channels (but only 8 channels are defined for indoor routers).
2.4GHz and 5GHz Channels
Wi-Fi routers operate in two frequency bands, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, each band has a number of channels that can be used by routers and devices to send and receive data. However, not all channels are equal in terms of technical specifications and capabilities. Some channels may have more interference or overlap with other channels, which can reduce your Wi-Fi speed and quality.
Wi-Fi interference is any signal that does not belong to your Wi-Fi router(s) and degrades the overall performance of your Wi-Fi network by slowing down, high latency, frequent disconnections and reconnects, and even the inability to connect to the Wi-Fi network at all.
You need to understand the Wi-Fi landscape in your environment, To determine the optimal channel for a router. For this purpose we can use analyzer or scanner apps to scan the surrounding environment and provide a graphical representation of occupied channels. Then you have a graphical represent of all networks around you, then you can quickly and accurately identify sources of interference.
Technically, there are two types of Wi-Fi interference, co-channel interference and adjacent channel interference
Identifying Interference Sources: A Wi-Fi Analyzer’s Perspective
Now that you are familiar with the concepts of interference and channel, you can use an Analyzer tool to find the proper channel for your router. Dont worry, It’s very simple and doesn’t take much of your time, just check the interference around your router and select a non-overlapping or least overlapping channel for your router, that’s it.
Distance from the router, the type and number of connected devices , the layout of your home, the presence of nearby networks or potential sources of interference are several factors of the best channel.
The best channels available on 2.4 GHz are channels 1, 6 and 11. In fact, the reason for choosing these channels is that they are non-overlapping, in the sense that they do not interfere with each other.
In the 5 GHz band, the number of optimal channels is more. Channels like 36, 40, 44, 48 and 149 have much less interference and higher bandwidth potential.
To find the best Wi-Fi channel for your router, you can use a Wi-Fi Scanner tool. As mentioned, these apps analyze the wireless signals around you and show you which channels are the busiest. Most of these programs have an option to recommend the best channel based on interference level.
Wi-Fi Analyzer Guiding You to The Best WiFi Channel
Alternatively, you can test each channel manually by changing it in your router settings and running a speed test to see how it affects your WiFi speed and quality. You may need to repeat this process several times to find the optimal channel for your router.
You can manually test each channel by changing it in your router settings and running a speed test, Then check that channel and see how using that channel affects the speed and quality of your network. To find a proper channel, you may need to repeat this process several times.
There are many incorrect belief about WiFi channels. Let’s take a look at some of the more common ones:
For those looking to get the most out of their WiFi network, here are some advanced tips:
Use Mesh Networking
Mesh networks use multiple nodes in your home or office network to create a seamless, integrated Wi-Fi system. This type of network eliminates dead zones and ensures consistent performance throughout your space.
Implement Quality of Service (QoS)
QoS settings are very useful, allowing you to give certain types of traffic such as gaming or streaming a higher priority to ensure they get the bandwidth they need even during peak usage.
Regularly Monitor and Adjust Settings
WiFi environments can constantly change, so regularly use a WiFi analyzer to check your network’s performance and make adjustments as needed. This proactive approach helps maintain optimal performance.
Upgrade Your Router’s Antennas
If your router has an external antenna, upgrade to higher gain antennas to increase signal strength and coverage.
Beamforming is a very sophisticated yet practical technology that helps improve WiFi signal strength and reliability by focusing the signal towards your device instead of spreading it in all directions. Read More: What is Beamforming.
How Beamforming Works
Usually, routers spread the waves in the same way and in all directions, this causes the waves that are radiated to the points without users to be wasted. With the advancement of technology in the field of wireless networks, a very interesting technology called beamforming was introduced, which could detect the location of users’ devices and send waves to those points. This increases the quality and strength of the received signal.
Benefits of Beamforming
Does Your Router Support Beamforming?
Definitely not. This technology increases the price of the router, so it cannot be expected to be available on all routers. To check if your router has this feature, refer to the product specifications or the router’s admin panel. Many modern routers, especially those with WiFi 5 (802.11ac) or WiFi 6 (802.11ax), have beamforming capabilities.
Enabling Beamforming on Your Router
Usually, the beamforming option is enabled by default in routers that support it. But if you want to check and adjust that, logging into the router’s admin panel and follow these steps:
Choosing an inappropriate WiFi channel can lead to various problems that will significantly reduce the overall quality of your internet. Here are some examples of the effects of choosing the wrong WiFi channel and how it can affect your network.
Increased Interference
As you can see, WiFi networks operate in crowded frequency bands, especially the 2.4 GHz band. This band is also used by many other devices such as cordless phones, microwaves and Bluetooth devices. This means that if you select a channel that overlaps with other networks or devices, it can lead to significant frequency interference. This interference can make your network slow, drop connections, and become unreliable.
Reduced Network Speed
One of the most common effects of choosing the wrong channel is reducing the network speed. When your router is on a busy channel, it has to compete with other networks for media access. This constant competition can slow down your internet speed and make it difficult to stream videos, play online games or even browse the web effectively.
Higher Latency
As the name suggests, delay or lag means a delay in receiving and sending data packets. To put it simply, every data packet in wireless networks must be sent and received in a certain time, if this time becomes longer than usual, in activities such as online gaming or video conferencing, where real-time communication is necessary It creates a serious problem. An inappropriate communication channel can increase latency due to constant interference and packet loss, resulting in a poor user experience.
Frequent Disconnections
Choosing a a too busy channel, or a channel with high-overlapped channel can cause frequent outages. This is because your router and devices must constantly negotiate through all kinds of interference to get a clear wifi signal. These sudden outages can disrupt work, online classes, video conferencing, or any other activity that relies on a stable Internet connection.
Wi-Fi Amplifiers (Repeaters/Extenders) are great tools for improving coverage in larger homes or offices, but optimizing their performance depends on careful channel selection. Here, I will introduce you to the working method of these devices and also introduce methods that you can use to optimize the performance of these devices in the network. Read this blog post to learn more about types of WiFi Network Amplifiers.
Understanding WiFi Amplifiers
In general, Wi-Fi amplifiers (Repeater, Extender) work by amplifying the existing Wi-Fi signal they receive from your router. These devices increase the received signal power to cover more areas. While these devices are useful, incorrect channel settings can lead to performance problems. Here’s how to optimize your WiFi channels when using these devices.
If you are using a repeater to amplify WiFi signals, make sure its channel is set to the same channel as your main router. This synchronization is necessary for the communication of devices.
When setting up multiple extenders, avoid using overlapping channels. For instance, if your main router operates on channel 1, set your first extender to channel 6 as well, but if you need another extender, place it on channel 11 to avoid interference.
If possible, use dual-band amplifier (Repeater,Extender) that can operate on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands simultaneously. These settings allow you to distribute the network traffic load more effectively. For example, you can connect your main devices to the 5GHz band for faster speeds while using the 2.4GHz band for less important devices.
The placement of the extender/repeater is very important, you should place it halfway between the router and the area you need coverage. Otherwise, the developer can receive a strong signal for amplification and avoid areas with high interference.
Conclusion
Finding a suitable communication channel in Wi-Fi networks is a very important and precise process. If you find a suitable channel for your router, you can achieve the maximum capability of your wireless network. By understanding the available bands, familiarizing yourself with Wi-Fi Analyzer applications, and implementing general optimization strategies, you can enjoy a trouble-free and reliable Wi-Fi experience whether you’re working, streaming videos, or gaming.