Why channels 1, 6 and 11?
Are you spending money for high-speed Internet and not getting what you expected? Was your Wi-Fi network working fine and now you're suddenly stuck with slow Wi-Fi data rates? Selecting the proper Wi-Fi channel can significantly improve your Wi-Fi coverage and performance.
In the 2.4 GHz band, 1, 6, and 11 are the only non-overlapping channels. Selecting one or more of these channels is an important part of setting up your network correctly. Currently, many wireless routers automatically select the channel for you upon initial setup, where depending on your wireless environment, it could lead to slow Wi-Fi speeds and interference. This article will describe what interference you're dealing with and takes you through the steps to selecting the right channel, so you can understand why you should choose between channel 1, 6, and 11.
The three main causes of Wi-Fi interference
Co-Channel interference isn’t a major problem until there are too many Wi-Fi devices on the same channel. Adjacent-channel interference, on the other hand, is where you run into problems and channel selection becomes critical. Luckily, these channel related interferences can be reduced or eliminated by selecting the proper Wi-Fi channel for your network.
Using a spectrum analyzer like inSSIDer will allow you to see this wireless environment, so you can either select the right channel or mitigate Wi-Fi interference, ultimately improving your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network performance.
Get Reliable Wi-Fi at Home
For professionals working from home, students studying from home, and teachers teaching from home, reliable home Wi-Fi is part of what we need to get through our day.
Signifi Personal tells you what’s wrong and helps you make it right.
Non-Overlapping Channels
Each channel on the 2.4 GHz spectrum is 20 MHz wide. The channel centers are separated by 5 MHz, and the entire spectrum is only 100 MHz wide. This means the 11 channels have to squeeze into the 100 MHz available, and in the end, overlap.
Channels 1, 6, and 11, however, are far enough from each other on the 2.4GHz band that they have sufficient space between their channel centers and do not overlap. While choosing channels 1, 6, or 11 will mean you have to share the channels with other networks (co-channel interference), it's a much better choice than dealing with adjacent-channel interference that occurs with all the other channels.
Armed with the above information, you’ve narrowed your selection down to three channel choices (1, 6 and 11) without using any software! Unfortunately, this doesn't mean neighboring networks aren't using non-standard channels. That's where MetaGeek can help out. Using inSSIDer with MetaGeek Plus, you'll be able to visualize every network within inSSIDer's reach, so you can finalize your decision. For more information about the types of channel interference, check out our Video Tutorials.
The benefit of using inSSIDer is that you can now see what is causing your Wi-Fi problems and fix them fast. inSSIDer will automatically recommend the optimal channel for you, and you don’t need to be a Wi-Fi guru to use it. Just launch inSSIDer, and start out by counting how many networks are active on each channel. The first step is to click the “Channel” header to sort the channels in order. What you are looking for is the channel (out of 1, 6, and 11) that has the fewest networks present.
Notice in the above image that the network called “bba” is running on channel 9, which is overlapping channels 6 and 11. There is only one active network on channel 1, and its signal strength is very low. If you are deciding which channel would be the best for a new access point, channel 1 has the fewest amount of networks and there aren’t any partially overlapping networks. In this example, the best channel to choose is channel 1.
FAQs
Non-Overlapping Channels
This means the 11 channels have to squeeze into the 100 MHz available, and in the end, overlap. Channels 1, 6, and 11, however, are far enough from each other on the 2.4GHz band that they have sufficient space between their channel centers and do not overlap.
When configuring the 2.4 GHz radio only select from channels 1, 6 and 11? ›
On the 2.4 GHz band, which is usually Wireless-N, always choose Channels 1, 11, or 6. Try to pick the emptiest of the three, using the Wi-Fi Analyzer as your guide. Channels other than 1, 11, or 6 will receive more interference. European users can also use Channels 12 and 13 on the 2.4 GHz band.
What is network channel 6? ›
Channels 1, 6, and 11 are special numbers in the wireless world as they are the only channels that do not overlap. In the 2.4GHz band, these channels help to ensure your wireless network is set up and working correctly and will continue to work with ease on 2.4GHz radio band.
What does wireless channel 11 mean? ›
Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the sequence of channels that best allow taking advantage of the 2.4GHz WiFi spectrum, since they allow the coexistence of three networks in the spectrum without overlapping, as long as there is no overlapping with other existing networks or other interferences.
What is channel 11 called? ›
KTTV (channel 11) is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship of the Fox network.
Why has channel 11 disappeared from my TV? ›
There are many reasons why you could be having trouble receiving a certain TV channel. The signal could be affected by different types of interference including but not limited to, communications signals, LTE/Cellular, Microwave feeds, weather conditions, physical obstructions or reflections etc.
What channel is best for 2.4 GHz and 5GHz? ›
When manually assigning channels to APs, remember that it's best to stick with legacy 20MHz-wide channels on 1, 6 or 11 for 2.4GHz, in order to avoid the overlapping channel issue. For 5GHz, try staying with 40MHz channel widths, and avoid the DFS/TPC channels of 52 to 144 even if your APs support them.
Is channel 161 good for 5GHz? ›
In general, 36, 40, 44, and 48 are the best 5G channels WiFi because they are least likely to overlap with other channels. However, if these channels are already congested in your area, you can try using channels 149, 153, 157, and 161 as they are also less likely to overlap with other channels.
What is the best channel width for 5GHz? ›
With 5 GHZ, things get a bit less straightforward. There are valid use cases for multiple different Wi-Fi channel widths. The best bandwidth for 5 Ghz is 40 MHz.
Is it better to connect to 5GHz or 2.4 GHz? ›
2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz: Which frequency should you choose? A 2.4 GHz connection travels farther at lower speeds, while 5 GHz frequencies provide faster speeds at shorter range. Your choice of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz will depend on where and how you use your WiFi connection most.
Channel Bandwidth for 2.4GHz
Since most networks have a 2.4GHz frequency, which bandwidth suits the 2.4GHz frequency the most? There are 20MHz, 40MHz, and 80MHz of channel bandwidth, and for a 2.4GHz frequency, 20MHz bandwidth would be the most beneficial.
What devices should be on 2.4 GHz and 5GHz? ›
For devices that benefit from a faster Wi-Fi connection such as 4K smart TVs that are capable of connecting to 5GHz, this option will provide a seamless experience for all the family. For streaming devices that are further away from the router, it may be a more reliable option to connect them to the 2.4 GHz.
Is channel 11 good for 2.4 GHz? ›
Here is a short summary of some recommendations for each frequency band: 2.4 GHz – Use 20 MHz wide channels only and use channels 1, 6 & 11. 5 GHz – Use 20 MHz wide channels in highly congested networks. If your environment allows, use the widest channel you can without causing contention on your network.
How do I change my Wi-Fi to channel 11? ›
How to Change a Router's Wireless Channel
- Access your router's settings.
- Locate your wireless channel setting. ...
- Use the drop-down list to change the router's wireless channel.
- Channels 1 or 11 are recommended as these channels generally experience the least amount of wireless traffic/interference.
For the wireless mode, it is recommended to select B/G/N on the 2.4 GHz network. A/AC/N is recommended on the 5GHz network.
Why is my TV not picking up all channels? ›
If you are experiencing picture break up or missing channels, your problem might be a reception problem and not due to interference. Therefore, you may just need to manually re-tune your television, this can often solve a number of common problems.
Why will TV not change channels? ›
If any cables are loose or damaged, try reattaching or replacing them. Try the buttons on the TV: If the remote control isn't working, try using the buttons directly on the TV to change channels. This can help determine if the issue is with the remote control itself or with the TV.
Why are some TV channels not available? ›
Finding a specific channel may be difficult if there is ongoing signal construction in a nearby area, or if the digital broadcast signal is weak. This is not an issue with your TV. If the symptom persists, please contact your service provider.
