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Forum Discussion
dmoh009
Oct 07, 2015Aspirant
Channel Interference 1+5 etc...
Hi All, Wondering if someone can clarify how the dual channel feature works with Netgear Access points, I am currently controlling my AP's through a Wireless Prosafe controller. Now ive noticed t...
- Oct 13, 2015
Hi dmoh009,
You're welcome! Now for the "load balancing wireless" thing, when you're doing the mode where it splits the channel so it can send data faster, it is simultaneously listening and transmitting on both channels. There are APs that are 2x2 which has 2 antennas to do multi-channel to send and recieve, 3x3 - 3 channels and 4x4 - 4 channels. The client needs to also be 2x2 so it can send and recieve data on both channels. I believe what you are seeing on the analyzer is the client is locked to channel 1 but is also trying to use channel 5, probably a 2x2 client. I can't really explain much further on how these things happens since there are a lot of factors to be considered. Below are some links for examples on how the channels overlap:
Thanks,
dmoh009
Oct 09, 2015Aspirant
Hi,
Thanks for the response. I think i didnt explain myself correctly. I am aware of the different channel frequencies, so 2.4 and 5Ghz wont interfere with one another, i am specifically talking about the device when it uses 2 channels in the same frequency to increase speed. See this extract below:
Note: | Up to 270Mbps mode uses two channels, but in this mode only the first channel is listed in the channel pulldown menu. The associated channels in this mode are: 1+5, 2+6, 3+7, 4+8, 5+9, 6+10, and 7+11. When you select another wireless network mode, the channel pulldown displays all available channels: 1 through 13. However, available wireless channels depend on the selected wireless region. |
So my fear, and i can see this on a channel analyser is that when a select channel 1 for an AP but the speed is up-to 270Mbps mode, i will sometimes see the channel frequency expand, does this cause an interference problem. Again any help would be great
(i did try posting an image of the channel analyser but had a few problems).
Thanks
Daniel
JohnRo
Oct 10, 2015NETGEAR Employee Retired
Hello dmoh009,
Yes, was quite confused on what you have asked but I believe I get what you are asking now. The APs communicate and listen to both channels per band, this is like load balancing between the channels and that is how you get the performance. You'd generally use channels 1,6 and 11 (US region) or 1,5,7 and 11 or depending on how much is the size of the environment you are working with. Each radio does a request to send on the channel before it sends packet, so if other APs are playing nicely, it will know it. If there is some interference it really shouln't be noticeable unless you are in a really crowded environment.
Thanks,
- dmoh009Oct 12, 2015Aspirant
Hi JohnRo
Thanks for the response, So if i understand correctly, If lets say I have AP-Guest running on channel 6+10 and i have AP-Corp 11. If it works as if it was load balancing then when the channel 6+10 decides to send traffic on the 10 frequency this would infact be an overlapping channel with the 11 (AP-Corp) frequency?
Also what makes the decision on when to use the additional channel to load balance? I am currently looking at a channel analyser and one of my AP's is happy sitting on channel 6, but at times i see that channel move to 6+10.
Thanks
Daniel
- JohnRoOct 12, 2015NETGEAR Employee Retired
Hello dmoh009,
Yes, you are correct. There will be some inteference but it is hardly noticeable unless there are a lot of devices broadcasting at the same time. The election process is based on the wireless networks that are being broadcasted, the radio sends a request to the channel before sends packets and decide which channel to use.
Thanks,
- dmoh009Oct 13, 2015Aspirant
Thanks JohnRo you have been a great help, One final question - Does this load balancing happen for all data transmission or only when a channel has reached maximum throughput?
Because i have noticed that when i have an AP (lets call it guest). Guest has been set on channel 1. On an analyser, i will only intermiteently see 1+5! and majority of the time just see channel 1
Thanks
Daniel
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