What is a Channel?

What is a Channel?

A wireless networking channel is a government-assigned frequency that equipment is allowed to use. TV channels, portable phones, and radio stations use a similar scheme to allocate radio frequencies. Frequencies are regulated because every type of device must share the limited radio frequency range that exists in nature.

Channels are used by all countries. Europe and Japan allow more channels for wireless networking than North America does, for example. Europe has channels 12 and 13, which in North America are not used for wireless networking. Using a channel that is not allowed by your country may cause other kinds of equipment that you're not even aware of — potentially causing serious harm. Therefore, it's illegal to use channels not allowed by your country.

Regardless of where you are, some channels are more free of interference. Interference is caused by other devices using the same channel your equipment is using. If a microwave, or a 2.4 GHz phone, or a neighbor's wireless network is turned on, it will affect what channels have the least interference for your use. If your wireless networking equipment's signal strength is low, changing so it all uses a different channel may produce a significant improvement.