Wireless channel selection – NETGEAR MA311 User Manual
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Wireless Channel Selection
IEEE 802.11 wireless nodes communicate with each other using radio frequency signals in the ISM
(Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz. Neighboring channels are
5 MHz apart. However, due to spread spectrum effect of the signals, a node sending signals using a
particular channel will utilize
frequency spectrum
12.5 MHz above and below the center channel
frequency. As a result, two separate wireless networks using neighboring channels (for example,
channel 1 and channel 2) in the same general vicinity will interfere with each other. Applying two
channels that allow the maximum channel separation will decrease the amount of channel
crosstalk, and provide a noticeable performance increase over networks with minimal channel
separation.
Channel
Center
Frequency
Frequency Spread
1
2412 MHz
2399.5 MHz – 2424.5 MHz
2
2417 MHz
2404.5 MHz – 2429.5 MHz
3
2422 MHz
2409.5 MHz –2434.5 MHz
4
2427 MHz
2414.5 MHz –2439.5 MHz
5
2432 MHz
2419.5 MHz – 2444.5 MHz
6
2437 MHz
2424.5 MHz –2449.5 MHz
7
2442 MHz
2429.5 MHz –2454.5 MHz
8
2447 MHz
2434.5 MHz – 2459.5 MHz
9
2452 MHz
2439.5 MHz –2464.5 MHz
10
2457 MHz
2444.5 MHz –2469.5 MHz
11
2462 MHz
2449.5 MHz – 2474.5 MHz
12
2467 MHz
2454.5 MHz – 2479.5 MHz
13
2472 MHz
2459.5 MHz – 2484.5 MHz
Note: The available channels supported by the wireless products in various countries
are different. For example, Channel 1 to 11 are supported in the U.S. and Canada,
and Channel 1 to 13 are supported in Europe and Australia.
The preferred channel separation between the channels in neighboring wireless networks is 25
MHz (5 channels). This means that you can apply up to three different channels within your wireless
network. There are only 11 usable wireless channels in the United States. It is recommended that
you start using Channel 1, and grow to use Channel 6 and 11 when necessary.