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Forum Discussion
coolwifi
Jan 21, 2026Luminary
RS500 router keeps falling back to 80 Mhz bandwidth from 160 Mhz
I have set up my RS500 router with channel 44 and up to 5.8 Gbps speed in the 5 Ghz band. The router stays on 160 MHz bandwidth for a day or two before falling back to the 80 MHz bandwidth and never comes back up to the 160 MHz bandwidth unless rebooted.
I do know that the router might fall back to 80 MHz bandwidth if any radar is detected nearby in the DFS channels. Isn't it supposed to get back up to the 160 MHz bandwidth if there's no more interference?
15 Replies
- plemansGuru - Experienced User
Biggest downfall to 160hz wide is the DFS. Thats one of the main benefits to 6ghz is the move to wider channels without interference. You might be in an area where 160hz isn't possible because of to many DFS signals. I'd just try setting the channel width to 80hz. It'll have plenty of bandwidth for pretty much anything you can throw at it with 80hz wide channels.
- coolwifiLuminary
I agree. I don't lose much with the 80 Mhz bandwidth, just that I get more speeds in the 5 Ghz 160 Mhz bandwidth in my phone as the range of the 6 Ghz band is much shorter. It would be nice if the router included the bandwidth drop in the logs when DFS interference is detected.
- plemansGuru - Experienced User
Most people don't realize they don't need 800mbps on their devices. Streaming 4k only takes 25-50mbps on average. So unless you downloading massive files or moving datasets, going from 100mbps to 800mpbs won't make much difference. Its also why the vast majority of tv's don't come with even gigabit ports. Just 100mbps ports.
- plemansGuru - Experienced User
Have you tried channels 149? There's a 160hz wide channel from 149-177
- coolwifiLuminary
Yes I did try the channels 149-161, but some of my devices don't support the UNI-4 channels with the 160 Mhz bandwidth, so they get stuck in 20 Mhz bandwidth speed.
- FURRYe38Guru - Experienced User
I will check, my router is currently using manual channels 11 and 48.
If you have some nieghboring wifi, possible this maybe one cause.
- coolwifiLuminary
Thank you! I had thought so too, but this appears to a DFS radar interference issue and the router never gets back to the 160 Mhz bandwidth after the drop by reapplying wireless settings or after a reboot.
The neighboring stronger channels in the 5 Ghz band also don't use the 160 Mhz bandwidth.
Could you please check if your router is staying in the 160 Mhz bandwidth in channel 48?
- FURRYe38Guru - Experienced User
If there is interferences or they are contant, the the router would auto change to help keep the entire connection going, regardless of bandwidth speed.
What channels is the router using?
Try changing to a manual channel configuration?
What wireless device are you using for 160Mhz?
Be sure any drivers for this devices has updated drivers from the Mfr as well.
What FW version is loaded on the RS router?
- coolwifiLuminary
The interference doesn't appear to be constant as the reboot gets back up to the 160 Mhz bandwidth with channel 50(44) - 160 Mhz and after a day it goes back to channel 42(44) - 80 Mhz. The bonded channel numbers are from the wifi analyzer apps in my phone.
I am using using manual channel 44, it's the same result with channels 36-48. My Android phone and my wife's iPhone support wifi 6 and the 160 Mhz bandwidth in the 5 Ghz band. The firmware for the router is the latest available version.
- FURRYe38Guru - Experienced User
Possible the phones are picking the lower bandwidth based on noise, interferences and distances?