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2.4GHz Wi Fi Network: Best Channels and Planning for Multiple Access Points

2.4GHz Wi-Fi Network: Best Channels and Planning for Multiple Access Points

🧠 Overview

The 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band is commonly used for older devices, IoT gadgets, and long-range connectivity. However, it has only 3 non-overlapping channels, making proper planning essential to avoid interference — especially when using multiple access points (APs).

This guide explains:

  • The basics of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channels
  • The best channels to use
  • How to assign channels when you have 4 APs

📶 2.4GHz Channel Basics

  • There are 14 channels in the 2.4GHz band, but only 11 are legal in the U.S.
  • Each channel is 20 MHz wide, but the actual frequency overlap spans neighboring channels.
  • The only non-overlapping channels in the U.S. (with 20 MHz spacing) are:
Channel Center Frequency
1 2.412 GHz
6 2.437 GHz
11 2.462 GHz

Using channels outside this set (like 3, 4, 8) causes overlap and interference.

✅ Best Practices

  • Use only channels 1, 6, and 11 to avoid overlapping interference.
  • Minimize co-channel interference (two APs on the same channel).
  • Place APs on alternating channels to reduce signal clashes.

🧱 Planning for 4 Access Points (APs)

If you have 4 access points in close range and all are broadcasting 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, you should:

AP Name Recommended Channel
AP #1 Channel 1
AP #2 Channel 6
AP #3 Channel 11
AP #4 Channel 1 (again)

🔁 Since there are only 3 non-overlapping channels, reuse is unavoidable. The key is to physically separate APs that use the same channel.

📌 Notes:

  • AP #4 using Channel 1 is okay if it's not in the same room or close to AP #1.
  • Try to keep at least two walls or 20+ feet between APs sharing the same channel.
  • For example, if APs 1 & 4 are at opposite ends of the house, reuse is acceptable.

🧠 Visual Map Example

[ Channel 1 ]      [ Channel 6 ]
      AP1              AP2

[ Channel 11 ]     [ Channel 1 ]
      AP3              AP4

⚙️ Optional Advanced Tips

  • Lower AP transmit power to reduce overlap range.
  • Use Wi-Fi analyzer tools (like WiFi Analyzer, inSSIDer, or Ubiquiti WiFiman) to map out nearby interference.
  • Disable 2.4GHz on some APs if not needed (e.g., IoT devices only on 1–2 APs).

🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ❌ Using channel 4, 8, or 9 — causes channel overlap.
  • ❌ All APs on the same channel — leads to congestion.
  • ❌ Relying solely on automatic channel selection — often fails in dense environments.

📱 Use Case: IoT Networks

When using APs labeled as IoTs and regular APs (e.g., "IoTs" + "Infected"):

  • Assign IoT APs to channels 1 and 6.
  • Assign Main APs (regular devices) to channels 11 and 1.
  • Physically separate APs of the same channel if possible.