What Is A WiFi Channel? How to Pick the Best For Wireless Network

One of the most effective ways to speed up your wireless network is changing the WiFi channel. So what is a WiFi channel? How can you change it to make your Internet speed faster? Let’s explore this in the article below!

What is a WiFi channel on your router?

What Is A WiFi Channel?

What are WiFi channels? They are smaller WiFi frequency bands that wireless networks use to send and receive data. The WiFi works either in 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency bands. Two main bands include the smaller channel numbers. 

Generally speaking, there are 14 channels in the 2.4 GHz band, 34 channels in the 5 GHz band, and up to 59 channels in the 6 GHz band that are utilized by WiFi networks. 

WiFi channel definition

Every frequency has a unique bandwidth or the maximum quantity of data that may be sent across the channel. Your wireless connection will be speedier the greater the bandwidth. 

For instance, up to 11 Mbps can be supported by the 2.4GHz band, up to 54 Mbps by the 5 GHz band, and up to 240 Mbps by the 6 GHz band.

Related: 

• What is wifi access point?

• What is the meaning of WiFi?

Why Do WiFi Network Channels Matter?

WiFi channels are important since they reduce the likelihood of sluggish Internet. Channel interference is a major concern for sluggish Internet connections. Being on the same channel as your neighbors is often the cause of the interference.

Consider network channels as a type of roadway. There will be a traffic jam if too many vehicles are attempting to use the same one or two lanes. This also applies to efforts made by your router to send and receive data over the same channel.

Why WiFi channels matter

The majority of modem WiFi routers use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands for data broadcasting. Your router most likely utilizes the same 2.4 GHz channel by default. (Related: Best router for 400 Mbps Internet)

To increase the flow, you can go to the 5 GHz channel. You may also look for another unoccupied channel to avoid utilizing the same channels on all of your devices or as your neighbors. 

Excessive activity on a single channel might cause your WiFi connection to lag. It's crucial to investigate other network channels because of this.

How to Choose the Right WiFi Channel?

Knowing whether you should use a 2.4 GHz band or a 5 GHz band can make a massive difference in performance, speed, and reliability. A poor connection or even data loss might result from using the wrong channel, though, since it can cause interference from other nearby wireless networks or devices, including mobile phones or Bluetooth ones. 

2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz

2.4 GHz WiFi Channel 

This frequency band supports the large coverage. It includes 11 channels. Channel 1 works at the center frequency of 2.412 GHz, while channel 11 operates at 2.462 GHz. The slow data transmitting speed is the main drawback of this band. 

When in the 2.4 GHz range, it is usually recommended to utilize the narrower 20 MHz WiFi channel width because this band has a number of overlapping channels—in fact, 8 of the 11 channels overlap. 

2.4 GHz channel band

5 GHz WiFi Channel    

What is the range of 5GHz WiFi? This band provides a smaller range with a shorter distance than 2.4 GHz. It comprises 45 channel numbers. It can transmit data at a higher speed.  

Besides, the 5 GHz frequency band is the ideal range for using wider WiFi channel widths, such as 40 MHz and 80 MHz. Not only are there a lot more WiFi channels in this band, but there are also fewer overlapping channels—24 out of 45 do not overlap.

In fact, both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands feature pros and cons. Thus, you should make a band test to find out the best channel for your WiFi.

2.4 and 5 GHz bands-which should you choose? 

How to Change WiFi Channels?

Thankfully, switching the WiFi channel is typically simple in case you're experiencing problems with the speed or dependability of your connection. 

Depending on the brand and model you have, there are several procedures for changing the WiFi channel, but the basic procedure is as follows: 

• Step 1: Open a web browser like Google Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge and type your router’s IP address into the address bar. 

• Step 2: Hit Enter on your keyboard

• Step 3: Log in using your credentials

• Step 4: Open Wireless Settings in your router and choose your WiFi frequency band

• Step 5: Click Channels to change your WiFi channel

• Step 6: Hit Save or Apply

How to change WiFi channels?