Wireless Network 5GHZ channels

2.4 and 5 GHz Comparison

2.4 GHz	5 GHz
802.11b/g/n	802.11a/n/ac
Greater Range (~300 ft)	Lower Indoor Range (~90 ft)
Universal Compatibility	Limited Compatibility (a/n/ac devices only)
3 non-overlapping channels	24 non-overlapping channels
Congested with WiFi	Little WiFi congestion
Plagued by non-WiFi interference	Very little non-WiFi interference

2.4 GHz has three non-overlapping channels to work with, while 5 GHz has twenty-four. We don’t always get to use all of the 5 GHz channels, but overall it has a lot more space.

Channel Capacity

Many of us are familiar with an ethernet cable, which has multiple twisted pairs of copper wires in one cable. This allows for bi-directional or full-duplex communication. Network devices on either end of the cable can talk at the same time, which like a two-lane highway.

Only One Device at a Time

WiFi is half-duplex, which means that on any channel, only one device can talk at a time. If two devices try to talk at the same time, they would interrupt each other. WiFi is more like a one-lane highway, traffic can only flow in one direction at a time.

Since WiFi is half duplex, only one WiFi device can transmit on a channel at a time. The more WiFi devices we add to a channel, the smaller and smaller everyone’s transmit opportunities get. This is known as co-channel interference.

Since only one device can talk on a channel at a time, we need to limit the amount of devices on each channel, so it isn’t too crowded, with the goal of reducing co-channel interference.

Devices transmit data at different data rates depending on how new they are (N devices can talk faster than B devices, for example), how close they are to the access point, and how noisy the RF environment is.

Slow devices take longer the transmit the same amount of data. We need to keep our data rates fast to force clients to talk faster and save time, which also reduces co-channel interference.

We can reduce co-channel interference by:

Disabling slower data rates like 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 mbps
Creating smaller coverage cells, so less devices have to share the channel
Creating effective coverage cells where devices are able to always talk quickly
Offering both 2.4 and 5 GHz support, effectively doubling potential available throughput
Performing effective channel planning, to keep cells from having to take turns

2.4 GHz

To eliminate adjacent-channel (overlapping) interference, we only use channels 1, 6, and 11 (1, 5, 9, and 13 in some parts of the world).

To minimize co-channel interference, same-channel access points will be placed as far away from each other as possible. This divides the coverage area into smaller cells. Each small cell has only a few clients, and same-channel cells won’t have to take turns with other cells.

Same-channel cells are as far away from each other as possible.

5 GHz

In the 5 GHz band, no 20 MHz channels partially overlap. In addition to this, there are 24 non-overlapping channels to work with, so making sure that no same-channel cells touch is much easier.

With 24 non-overlapping channels to choose from, it is much easier to keep same-channel cells touching.

Dual-Band Network Design Checklist

Action	Result
Dual-band AP’s deployed	Doubled potential wireless bandwidth b/g/n devices get compatibility a/n/ac devices get better performance
All 2.4 GHz radios on 1, 6, and 11	Adjacent-channel interference eliminated
2.4 GHz channels planned	Co-channel interference minimized
5 GHz channels planned
2.4 GHz power turned down to match 5 GHz coverage area	Even 2.4 and 5 GHz coverage