Wireless channel selection – NETGEAR MA311 User Manual

Page 32

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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.













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