Wireless Channel Selection - NETGEAR MA521 User Manual

Wireless Channel Selection

802.11b
IEEE 802.11b 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 cross talk, and provide a noticeable performance increase
over networks with minimal channel separation.
Channel Center Frequency
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Note: The available channels supported by the wireless products in various countries are
different. For example, Channels 1 to 11 are supported in the U.S. and Canada, and Channels
1 to 13 are supported in Europe and Australia.
20
2412 MHz
2417 MHz
2422 MHz
2427 MHz
2432 MHz
2437 MHz
2442 MHz
2447 MHz
2452 MHz
2457 MHz
2462 MHz
2467 MHz
2472 MHz
Frequency Spread
2399.5 MHz – 2424.5 MHz
2404.5 MHz –2429.5 MHz
2409.5 MHz –2434.5 MHz
2414.5 MHz –2439.5 MHz
2419.5 MHz – 2444.5 MHz
2424.5 MHz –2449.5 MHz
2429.5 MHz –2454.5 MHz
2434.5 MHz – 2459.5 MHz
2439.5 MHz –2464.5 MHz
2444.5 MHz –2469.5 MHz
2449.5 MHz – 2474.5 MHz
2454.5 MHz – 2479.5 MHz
2459.5 MHz – 2484.5 MHz