Selecting Best Wireless channel / Choosing Best
Wi-FI channel for Wireless Routers or (How to improve Wireless
Network performance)
Below are some valuable advices on Wireless Access Point initial
install and configuration to better off your Wireless connection.
It's worthy to note that the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal range is divided
into a number of smaller bands or "channels," similar to television
channels. I decided to run my wireless on channel 12 since this
there was no other wireless routers operating on that frequency,
though most routers are preconfigured to spread it's signal on
channel 6. There is a difference in channels available for setup
for 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networks in the United States and
the European Union. In the USA the wireless channels available are
from (1 to 11) whether in the EU it's in the range of (1-13). Each
of the Wireless channels run on a different frequency. The lower
the number of the channel is the lowest the radiating frequence
band on which data is transmitted . Subsequently, increasing the
channel increases the frequency slightly. Therefore the higher the
channel you select on your AP the lesser the overlap with other
devices running on the same channel and thus the lesser the
possibility to overlap and interference. It's quite likely that you
experience problems, if you use the default wireless channel which
is 6. If that's the case it's recommended to use either channel 1
or channel 11. In case of interference, i.e. overlap with other
wireless networks, cellphones etc., there are 2 possible ways to
approach the situation. In case of smaller interference, any change
in channel on which there is no wireless device running could fix
it up. The second way is to cho ose a wireless channel for your
router in between 1,6 or 11 in (The USA) or 1,7,13 in Europe. Up to
3 networks can run on the same space with m inimum interference,
therefore it would be a wise idea to check the list of wireless
routers in your and check if there are others running on t he same
frequency. As I mentioned in the beginning of the post I initially
started running my wireless on channel 12, however after I
discovered it is recommended to run your wireless router either on
channel 1 7 or 13 in Europe I switched my D-Link DI-524 wireless
router to transmit it's signal on Channel 13. I should testify that
after changing the wireless channel, there was quite an improvement
in my wireless connection. For instance before I change to Channel
13 (when my wireless internet was still streamed on channel 12) my
wireless had constantly issues with disconnects because of low
wireless signal. Back then My wireless located phisically in like
35 meters away set in another room, I can see my wireless router
hardly connected on like 35%, changing to channel 13 enhanced my
connection to the current 60% wireless router availability. It's
also an interesting fact that Opened Wireless networks had better
network thoroughput, so if you're living in a house with a
neighbors a bit distant from your place then you might consider it
as a good idea to completely wipe out Wireless Router security
encryption and abandon the use of WEP or WPA network encryption. In
case if all of the above is not working for you, you might consider
take a close look at your Wireless Wireless LAN pc card and see if
there are no any kind of bumps there. Another really interesting
fact to know is that many people here in Bulgaria tend to configure
there Wireless Access Points on channels either 1,6 or 11 which is
quite inadequate considering that we're in the EU and we should use
a wireless channel between 1, 7 or 13 as prescribed for EU
citizens. Another thing not to forget is to place your wireless in
a good way and prevent it from interferences with other computer
equipment. For example keep the router at least few meters away
from PC equipment, printers, scanners, cellphones, microwaves. Also
try to put your wireless router on some kind of central place in
your home, if you want to have the wireless signal all around your
place. At my place I have a microwave in the Kitchen which is
sometimes an obstacle for the Wireless signal to flow properly to
my notebook, fortunately this kind of interference happens rare
(only when the Microwove is used to warm-up food etc.).Upgrading
802.11b wireless card / router to a better one as 802.11g is a wise
idea too. 802.11g are said to be like 5 times faster than 802.11b.
You can expect 802.11b wireless network to transfer maximum between
2-5 Mbp/s whether 802.11g is claimed to transfer at approximately
(12 to 23 Mbp/s). If even though the above prescriptions there is
no wireless signal at some remote place at your home, you might
consider adding a wireless repeater or change the AP router
antenna. By default wireless Routers are designed to be
omni-directional (in other terms they broadcast the wireless signal
all around the place. Thus is quite unhandy if you intend to use
your Wireless net only in certain room or location at your place.
If that's the case for you, you might consider upgrading to a
hi-gain antenna that will focus the wireless signal to an exact
direction. Let me close this article with a small diagram taken
from the net which illustrates a good router placement that will
enable you to have a wwireless connection all over your
place.