NETGEAR ME102 - Wireless Access Point, Reference Manual

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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 2.4Ghz and 2.5Ghz. Neighboring channels are 5Mhz
apart. However, due to spread spectrum effect of the signals, a node sending signals using a particular
channel will utilize frequency spectrum12.5Mhz 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 Frequency Spread
1 2412Mhz 2399.5Mhz – 2424.5Mhz
2 2417Mhz 2404.5Mhz – 2429.5Mhz
3 2422Mhz 2409.5Mhz –2434.5Mhz
4 2427Mhz 2414.5Mhz –2439.5Mhz
5 2432Mhz 2419.5Mhz – 2444.5Mhz
6 2437Mhz 2424.5Mhz –2449.5Mhz
7 2442Mhz 2429.5Mhz –2454.5Mhz
8 2447Mhz 2434.5Mhz – 2459.5Mhz
9 2452Mhz 2439.5Mhz –2464.5Mhz
10 2457Mhz 2444.5Mhz –2469.5Mhz
11 2462Mhz 2449.5Mhz – 2474.5Mhz
12 2467Mhz 2454.5Mhz – 2479.5Mhz
13 2472Mhz 2459.5Mhz – 2484.5Mhz
Note: The available channels supported by the wireless products in various countries are different.
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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