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Finding a Good WiFi Channel

You can use analiti's WiFi Channels screen (and the WiFi Channels Report in mobile devices) with the steps below to find a good WiFi channel for a new network.

Step 1 - Look for a Spectrum Band

  • Prefer highest frequencies first: 6 GHz, 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz
  • In 6 GHz and 5 GHz also select a sub-band (U-NII-x)

Step 2 - Look for a Channel

  • Prefer a channel with very few or no signals to reduce ACI/OBSS
  • Prefer a channel with low utilization (%)
  • Prefer a channel with few or no beacons to reduce CCI
  • Prefer a channel with fewest STAs (connected devices)
  • Prefer a channel with highest MBR (minimum basic rate)
  • In the 6 GHz band - prefer the PSC channels 5, 21, 37, 53, 69, 85, 101, 117, 133, 149, 165, 181, 197, 213 or 229
  • In the 2.4 GHz band - prefer channels 11, 6 or 1 - and avoid all others

Additional Notes

  • Your router / access point / mesh system MUST support the selected band and sub-band
  • ALL client devices (STAs) that you want to connect to the network MUST support the selected band and sub-band
  • WiFi is unlicensed and anyone can use any channel at any time - your good channel selection today may not be good tomorrow
  • Some newer routers and mesh systems optimize channel selection - they may do a better job than you do
  • If you want to move an existing network to a different channel - subtract its signals and beacons count from the numbers shown in the WiFi Channels screen