WiFi is a wireless technology that allows you to connect to the internet wirelessly. WiFi uses radio waves to send and receive data between your device and the router, which is the device that connects you to the internet network. However, WiFi doesn’t always work smoothly and quickly. Many factors can affect your WiFi performance, such as distance, walls, other devices, and channels.
Channel is the frequency path used by WiFi to communicate. There are many channels available, but not all of them are the same. Some channels may be more congested, and noisy, or overlap with others, which may cause interference, interference, or deceleration. Therefore, choosing the right WiFi channel for your router is one of the important steps to improve the quality and stability of your WiFi connection.
In this article, we will learn:
- What are WiFi channels and why is it important to choose the best one
- How to find out which WiFi channel is used by your router and other devices around you
- How to choose the best WiFi channel for your router based on frequency, bandwidth, and environmental conditions
- How to change the WiFi channel on your router
What are WiFi Channels and Why It’s Important to Choose the Best One
A WiFi channel is a range of frequencies used by WiFi to send and receive data. Frequency is the amount of radio waves passed in one second, measured in units of Hertz (Hz). The higher the frequency, the more data can be transmitted, but the shorter the range.
There are two main frequencies used by WiFi, namely 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz frequency has a wider range but has a lower data capacity. The 5 GHz frequency has a higher data capacity but has a shorter range. The 2.4 GHz frequency is also more susceptible to interference from other devices that use the same frequency, such as microwaves, cordless phones, or Bluetooth.
Each frequency is divided into several channels, each of which has a specific bandwidth. Bandwidth is a measure of the frequency range used by a channel, measured in megahertz (MHz). The wider the bandwidth, the more data can be transmitted, but the more likely it is to overlap with other channels.
Available WiFi channels vary depending on the country and WiFi standard used. WiFi standards are protocols that define how WiFi operates and communicates. There are several different WiFi standards, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax. Newer WiFi standards usually offer better speeds and performance but also require a compatible device.
In Indonesia, the 2.4 GHz frequency has 13 channels available, each of which has a bandwidth of 20 MHz. These channels are channels 1 to 13, which have a frequency range from 2.412 GHz to 2.472 GHz. However, because the bandwidth of each channel is greater than the distance between channels, several channels overlap each other. Channel overlap may cause interference and decreased WiFi performance.
To avoid overlapping, you should choose channels that are not adjacent or have a distance of at least 25 MHz. Non-overlapping channels are referred to as non-overlapping channels. At 2.4 GHz, there are only three non-overlapping channels, namely channels 1, 6, and 11. These channels have a distance of 25 MHz between each other, so there is no interference. Therefore, channels 1, 6, and 11 are the best WiFi channels for the 2.4 GHz frequency.
In Indonesia, the 5 GHz frequency has 19 channels available, each of which has a bandwidth of 20 MHz. These channels are channels 36 to 64, and channels 100 to 140, which have a frequency range from 5.180 GHz to 5.320 GHz, and from 5.500 GHz to 5.700 GHz.
Unlike the 2.4 GHz frequency, the channels in the 5 GHz frequency do not overlap, so there is no interference. However, the 5 GHz frequency has a shorter range and is more easily blocked by walls or solid objects. Therefore, you should consider the distance and environmental conditions when choosing a WiFi channel for the 5 GHz frequency.
Choosing the best WiFi channel for your router can provide several benefits, such as:
- Improve the speed and stability of your WiFi connection
- Reduce interference and interference from other devices using the same frequency
- Optimize the use of the available frequency spectrum
- Improve your browsing, streaming, gaming, or other online experience