What if all the channels on the zone are not free?

[smiths22]

Hello guys, if this has been asked before please don't kick my $"#" i'm newbie.

I have a question regarding to gateway channels.
From this range [1-11] what if at least one gateway is using one channel in my neighbourhood (not true right now but who knows in the near future). Which channel should i use?

This is the map of my neighbourhood right now, im CHAFIRO.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Well they say try not to use a channel within 6 from another in use. Personally, I don't think it is a big deal, but if you run into interference or other problems, change it.

Just don't use the channel you know to be in use.

 

[smiths22]

A lot of interference today, i've been using this software for windows 7 inSSIDer and all my neighbourhood's connections have been dropped down at the same time during certain intervals during the day. I noticed that my old channel 11 was being used by other two persons too, right now im using channel 3 nobody is in that channel, i've been told that channel 11 is better, please comment, thanks.

 

[Jonathan_King]

What channel you are on makes very little difference, if any at all. The most important thing is avoiding interference.

I suppose at lower frequencies you might get better range and better signal around objects, but at the differences we are talking those are not even worth mentioning.

Concentrate on finding a free channel, and you will be set.

 

[smiths22]

Thanks for your anwer Jonathan but what do you tell me about channels being overlapped?

How to chose the right WiFi channel

 

[Jonathan_King]

Go ahead and pick a channel as far away from a known used channel as you can. Chances are, you will not have any problems, but if you do, simply change the channel.

 

[smiths22]

Well that would be channel 1... however right now channel 3 is working fine, hope that doesn't change. thanks.

 

[FuturDreamz]

My DSL/WLAN router has a feature where it will automatically find the emptiest channel and I'm pretty sure some other routers are the same, so I expect that it doesn't really matter as long as it is unused.

 

[smiths22]

BTW i downloaded this useful tool called wifi inspector.
Xirrus: Switching Without Wires - Advanced IT Wi-Fi Networking Tools
It allows me to see all my neighbours channels and to pick one that its not in use yet.

 

[smiths22]

Hi people what if all the channels in my neighbourhood are in use? what can i do to avoid overlapping?

only 11 available channels for 30 houses....its a mess.

 

[FuturDreamz]

aside from wrapping your house in tin foil?
Does the n network operate at the same frequency band? some routers eta claim to be able to go to channel 14.

 

[smiths22]

aside from wrapping your house in tin foil?
Does the n network operate at the same frequency band? some routers eta claim to be able to go to channel 14.

tin foil? that would be nice...

the n network works at 5ghz. my gateway works (2.4Gh 1-11 channels).

 

[Jonathan_King]

Tell you what, just pick any arbitrary channel and use it. If you get interference, or it seems to be going very slow, try changing it.