My wifi channel that my router says it's on is different to what it actually is, why is this?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › My wifi channel that my router says it's on is different to what it actually is, why is this?

solaybro

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#139127 28-Jan-2014 19:59

I decided to have a play around with the different channels on my router (Linksys WAG120N) and see how the signal strength is. I have found that my PS4 and my computer says that they are picking up channel 7 when my router says I am on channel 9, whats up with this?

RunningMan

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#976196 28-Jan-2014 20:11

Router is set to use 40MHz wide channels, but your devices are only connecting at 20Mhz narrow channel. The 20MHz only channel will be set as the lower, channel 7.

tdgeek

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#976246 28-Jan-2014 21:16

Speaking of 40Mhz, when I have my TP-Link W8960N on 40, its unstable, is there a setting that will assist that in any way, or is it the nature of the beast? 20mhz is rock solid

RunningMan

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#976253 28-Jan-2014 21:26

Updated firmware perhaps? 40MHz isn't in itself inherently unstable.

tdgeek

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#976271 28-Jan-2014 21:47

Yeah good point. Its been so rock solid I never bothered, will try that

sonyxperiageek

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#976273 28-Jan-2014 21:50

Which one is usually better - 20 or 40?

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RunningMan

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#976276 28-Jan-2014 22:00

40MHz is a wider channel, so in general terms, higher throughput if both the AP and client support it.

It's not uncommon for devices to support only 20MHz (standard) width channels on 2.4GHz, because it's the neighbourly thing to do - a single 40MHz channel can overlap almost every other 2.4GHz channel, causing issues for other nearby networks. Channels are separated more on 5GHz, so not so much of an issue.

Neither is better as such, each has pros and cons.

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tdgeek

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#976280 28-Jan-2014 22:05

sonyxperiageek: Which one is usually better - 20 or 40?

AFAIK 40 is better, channel bonding. But more susceptible to interference on 2.4, and I think only one or two channels dont overlap, limiting the ability to choose a channel that is in low use by neighbours. And I think it needs to be set to N and not b/g/n? Leaving my 15yo daughter out in the cold with her 3GS?

Coil

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#976286 28-Jan-2014 22:17

Careful with Apple devices and 40Mhz, AFAIK they dont support it at all??

sonyxperiageek

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#976289 28-Jan-2014 22:21

tdgeek:
sonyxperiageek: Which one is usually better - 20 or 40?

AFAIK 40 is better, channel bonding. But more susceptible to interference on 2.4, and I think only one or two channels dont overlap, limiting the ability to choose a channel that is in low use by neighbours. And I think it needs to be set to N and not b/g/n? Leaving my 15yo daughter out in the cold with her 3GS?

I guess a dual band router would help?

Sony

tdgeek

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#976319 28-Jan-2014 22:42

sonyxperiageek:
tdgeek:
sonyxperiageek: Which one is usually better - 20 or 40?

AFAIK 40 is better, channel bonding. But more susceptible to interference on 2.4, and I think only one or two channels dont overlap, limiting the ability to choose a channel that is in low use by neighbours. And I think it needs to be set to N and not b/g/n? Leaving my 15yo daughter out in the cold with her 3GS?

I guess a dual band router would help?

TimA is right, they do not support 40Mhz, so you get the added interference possibility/probability and no gain in bandwidth and likely that the interference may cost more than the extra bandwidth, which they cannot even use. From what I read tonight, 2.4 40Mhz seems a bad idea for the most users and/or neighbour devices.

Solution? Easy, get a simultaneous dual band wifi router. iPhone 4S (I think) and up supports 5Ghz at 40Mhz bandwidth. Best of every world??

I'll maybe get an Airport Extreme and turn off the AP on the 8960N

eXDee

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#976338 28-Jan-2014 23:12

TimA: Careful with Apple devices and 40Mhz, AFAIK they dont support it at all??

They don't. However they work just fine on every 40mhz network i've connected to. As all the other devices i've had experience with.
I use 40mhz as theres no wifi congestion here and i can crank up to 18MB/s over 2.4 40mhz. If there was, i wouldn't use it as it would probably make the situation worse, rather than better.

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RunningMan

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#976395 29-Jan-2014 07:31

TimA: Careful with Apple devices and 40Mhz, AFAIK they dont support it at all??

Not correct.

They do not support 40MHz on 2.4GHz in order to reduce interference with neighbouring networks, but do support 40MHz on 5GHz where the radio channels are wider. This has been the case since the first 802.11n Airport Extreme was introduced in Jan 2007. Same applies to Apple desktops / laptops.

The exception is some (mostly earlier) iOS devices that had more limited WiFi, presumably as a cost saving measure, and high speed wasn't required for the sorts of things it was expected you would do with them. In these cases, devices are often limited to 2.4GHz only, which will be 20MHz channels.

raytaylor

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#976839 29-Jan-2014 17:50

tdgeek: Speaking of 40Mhz, when I have my TP-Link W8960N on 40, its unstable, is there a setting that will assist that in any way, or is it the nature of the beast? 20mhz is rock solid

Using a 40mhz wide channel will make you susceptible to more interference.
Another router or device with a 20mhz width could come and occupy part of that 40mhz worth of bandwidth. It is also usually the case that a 40mhz channel has half the output of a 20mhz because the transmit power is spread over a wider bandwidth. So your noise margin - that is the difference between your signal and background noise is less so it wont be as stable.

40mhz should really only be used for high speed + short distance.

Ray Taylor

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