How to Find the Best WiFi Channel for Your Router on Any OS
Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity Interface) is a wireless networking technology that enables computers, mobile devices, and other equipment to interface with the network. Wireless routers provide Internet access to any device with a Wi-Fi chip embedded in it. TVs, Laptops, smartphones, smart TV, smart ACs, Wi-Fi technology has brought everything to the tip of our fingers. This has also introduced us to a new technology known as Remote Desktop Connection Manager. If you don’t know what it is. Tap to read more. Whenever you connect to Wi-Fi, you’re connecting to a router that enables your devices to communicate wirelessly.
With so many gadgets connected to Wi-Fi and so many people using Wi-Fi routers, the bandwidth is becoming heavily congested, and your Wi-Fi speeds may decrease. Choosing a unique Wi-Fi channel that no one else is using can give you instant speed improvement. As a result of this, you’ll be able to eliminate interference and improve your Wi-Fi signal speed.
Your router can use one of two Wi-Fi frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or both if your router is dual-band). A major distinction between 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and the 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band is the coverage and speed. Because 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi uses a lower frequency, it may reach further into your home, readily penetrating walls and solid objects. The higher 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, on the other hand, enables substantially quicker rates, allowing you to upload and download things faster for better performance.
Within each Wi-Fi frequency range, Wi-Fi channels are smaller bands. The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band has 11 channels, while the 5 GHz band has 45. However, because some of these channels overlap, they produce greater Wi-Fi interference than others.
As a result of these factors, you may now choose the optimum Wi-Fi channel for your router by following these steps:
- Choose a Wi-Fi frequency band
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi may seem like the obvious choice for improved Wi-Fi coverage, but it’s important to examine the area you’re aiming at. The Wi-Fi will likely perform better at 5 GHz if you have an open floor plan with fewer things and walls in the way.
In addition, most routers today are dual-band, which means they can work in both WiFi frequency bands simultaneously. If your router is one of them, it is recommended that your devices be distributed between the two Wi-Fi bands for maximum performance.
- Check your neighboring access points
The second step is to find the least congested channel in your area. A Wi-Fi network analyzer tool may be required for this stage. The following tools for different operating systems will help you determine which channels are used by nearby networks.
When it comes to Windows, the WifiInfoView program is utilized because it has a simple interface and doesn’t require any installation. To sort by Wi-Fi channel, launch the tool, identify the Channel header, and click it. Wi-Fi Analyzer, a free program for Windows 10 users, is available in the Windows Store. Instead, type Wi-Fianalyser into Cortana’s search bar if you’re not at a PC, and it should display. To download, go to the store page. When you first begin the application, you’ll need to grant the app authorization to operate Bluetooth and your Wi-Fi adapter, as well as inform it of your position. Go to the Analysis tab, and you’ll get a graph of your results. The least congested channel should be visible.
Unbelievably, this feature is truly part of macOS. Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi symbol on the menu bar at the top of your screen to get to it. Choose “Open Wireless Diagnostics” from the menu. Ignore the wizard that appears on the screen. Instead, pick Utilities from the Window menu. Click Scan Now under the Wi-Fi Scan option. The categories “Best 2.4 GHz Channels” and “Best 5 GHz Channels” will suggest the best Wi-Fi channels to use on your router.
You could use the terminal on LINUX. The command is pre-installed on Ubuntu and other popular Linux distributions, so it’s the quickest way to get started. Run the following command in a Terminal: “sudoiwlist wlan0 scan | grep \(Channel.” Take a look at the command’s output to discover which channels are the most congested, and then decide.
Wi-Fi Analyzer is a free ANDROID software that allows you to search for Wi-Fi channels. It has a nice graph, and utilizing your phone gives you the benefit of moving around. Download and use the free software from Google Play. You’ll see a list of all the wireless networks in your vicinity, as well as the channels they use—select Channel rating from the View menu. A list of Wi-Fi channels and a star rating will be displayed in the app, with the most stars being the best option. The tool shows which Wi-Fi channels are optimal for your Wi-Fi network, allowing you to go right to your router’s web interface and choose the best one.
There is no Wi-Fi channel scanner app for iPhone due to restrictions on access to private frameworks.
- Pick a Wi-Fi channel that is not overlapping.
Your router’s Wi-Fi channel can now be selected based on the results from the previous steps. For the 2.4 GHz spectrum, this would be channels 1, 6, or 11. In the 5 GHz frequency, this would be one of the 24 non-overlapping channels. Based on the Wi-Fi frequency range you’ve chosen and the information you’ve gathered about your nearby access points, pick one of these channels. Remember to select an ideal Wi-Fi channel width once you’ve chosen a Wi-Fi channel.
- How to Change Wi-Fi Channels
Changing the channel your router uses should be simple once you’ve discovered the least crowded channel. Log in to your router’s web interface through your web browser first to get started. To change your Wi-Fi channel, go to the Wi-Fi settings page and look for the “Wi-Fi Channel” option. This option could also be found on a page labeled “Advanced Settings.” If other adjacent networks interfere with your signal, consider upgrading to a router that supports 5 GHz (such as a “Dual Band” router). 5 GHz Wi-Fi channels are wider apart and less likely to interfere with one another.
While we’re on the subject of choosing the optimum Wi-Fi channel for your router, it’s worth noting that many modern routers are built to select the best Wi-Fi channel automatically. However, the routers don’t always choose the best Wi-Fi channel available. As an alternative, by following the steps above, you may verify that your router is using a Wi-Fi channel that can give better, if not the maximum attainable, Wi-Fi performance without installing any further Wi-Fi boosting devices.
