channels

I am completely new to networking and have managed to set up a Belkin
wireless router wired to my desktop and wireless to my laptop. It
works, though not consistently. I'm using channel 13, I don't know why.
Do the channels vary in strength or reliability?
--
Trevor Wright


Trevor Wright

"Trevor Wright" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:SHAVsLHRH$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I am completely new to networking and have managed to set up a Belkin
>wireless router wired to my desktop and wireless to my laptop. It works,
>though not consistently. I'm using channel 13, I don't know why. Do the
>channels vary in strength or reliability?
> --
> Trevor Wright

I am no expert, but I think that each channel operates at a slightly
different frequency. The reason for the multiple channels is to avoid
interference with other devices (such as cordless phones, neighbours
wireless network, video senders etc...) which also operate at 2.4ghz. If
you do suffer from interference from other such devices, then changing
should improve the performace as the interference is reduced (ie. increase
the signal/noise ratio.

I played around with the channels in my home network till I got the best
performace.

Freeware such as Net Stumbler is great to give you a measure of the
signal/noise ratio.

Credit for this info goes to other very helpful members who contributed in
the recent past.

Hope that helps.

Rohit

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 18:58:41 +0100, Trevor Wright
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Do the channels vary in strength or reliability?

I favour channel 1 because it has the lowest frequency which means it
goes further in free space for a given signal loss.

It also avoid 6 and 11 which seem to be popular default channels on
wireless kit. "as shipped"

11 overlaps onto 13 so if you have a nearby unit on 11 it may be part
of your problem.

Give 1 a go :-)

Phil
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