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Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

WAP
Apprentice
Apprentice

Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

At my office I have a Netgear business class access point.  The 2.4 GHz radio has the following three choices via a drop-down for Channel Width:

20 MHz

40 MHz

Dynamic 20/40 MHz

(I've selected 20 MHz drop-down)

 

On the Orbi RK50 under the Advance Wireless Settings (2.4 GHz b/g/n) the following two choices are available (rather than three):

Check On: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

Check Off: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

 

What is appropriate Orbi Check On or Check Off state to force the channel width to be 20 MHz (from what I read Apple devices work much better when channel width is 20 MHz (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202068)

Model: RBK50| Orbi AC3000 High-Performance Tri-Band WiFi System
Message 1 of 8
st_shaw
Master

Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence


@WAP wrote:

At my office I have a Netgear business class access point.  The 2.4 GHz radio has the following three choices via a drop-down for Channel Width:

20 MHz

40 MHz

Dynamic 20/40 MHz

(I've selected 20 MHz drop-down)

 

On the Orbi RK50 under the Advance Wireless Settings (2.4 GHz b/g/n) the following two choices are available (rather than three):

Check On: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

Check Off: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

 

What is appropriate Orbi Check On or Check Off state to force the channel width to be 20 MHz (from what I read Apple devices work much better when channel width is 20 MHz (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202068)


It's not documented anywhere I have seen, but it appears that if you check the box, then Orbi will drop back to 20 MHz if it senses other devices on the same 40 MHz channel.  If you leave the box unchecked, then Orbi will operate at 40 Mhz.  I have seen no issues with 40 MHz and Apple devices, but they usually connect on 5 GHz.

 

So, if you want maximum speed on 2.4 GHz and you have no nearby neighbors and no other APs or devices that need the 2.4 GHz spectrum (e.g. Sonos), you can leave it unchecked.

Message 2 of 8
Geezer67
Aspirant

Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

I want to improve speed and range on our 2.4ghz wifi as we have a sprawling one story home and so we need the range as much as we want maximum speed.  The 5ghz signal just does not get out very well.  I use a windows laptop but we also use a Macbook Pro and two iphones on the wifi.  I read a post on this site that suggested that if we have "nearby neighbors" that we might not want to turn off the the 5ghz and go only with our 2.4ghz wifi signal.  Our neighbors on both sides are about 75-100 feet from the router.

What is the reason for this advice about not turning off the 5ghz signal and going only 2.4ghz as it relates to "nearby neighbors" and how might it impact them or us in this setting? 

Thanks for your input and assistance.

Message 3 of 8
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

This setting doesn't impact range and coverage however does on performance.

 

If you have neighbors near by, please try changing to a manual channel 1, 6 or 11, which ever one isn't used alot by neighboring wifi.

You can also lower the output power of the radios from 100% to something lower. This will help reduce your over all wifi coverage if you having issues with nieghbors.

 

5Ghz is effected by building materials.

Orbi is designed to use both 2.4Ghz and 5ghz radios for its MESH system. It wouldnt' be a MESH system if 5Ghz was disabled.

 


@Geezer67 wrote:

I want to improve speed and range on our 2.4ghz wifi as we have a sprawling one story home and so we need the range as much as we want maximum speed.  The 5ghz signal just does not get out very well.  I use a windows laptop but we also use a Macbook Pro and two iphones on the wifi.  I read a post on this site that suggested that if we have "nearby neighbors" that we might not want to turn off the the 5ghz and go only with our 2.4ghz wifi signal.  Our neighbors on both sides are about 75-100 feet from the router.

What is the reason for this advice about not turning off the 5ghz signal and going only 2.4ghz as it relates to "nearby neighbors" and how might it impact them or us in this setting? 

Thanks for your input and assistance.


 

Message 4 of 8
Geezer67
Aspirant

Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

Thanks but I don't know how to tell what channel(s) our neighbors wifi use.

Also, when you say that it does not impact range and coverage but does impact performance, do you mean it will be somewhat slower?

My router is a N750  WNDR 4300 if that helps.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Message 5 of 8
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

Do you not have an Orbi system?

Use a wifi scanner...there free. https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/wlan-wifi-wireless-network-software-tools/wlan-scanner-acrylic-wifi-f...

 

Yes, if it happens that the device has to switch from 40Mhz to 20Mhz, the speed will be slower.


@Geezer67 wrote:

Thanks but I don't know how to tell what channel(s) our neighbors wifi use.

Also, when you say that it does not impact range and coverage but does impact performance, do you mean it will be somewhat slower?

My router is a N750  WNDR 4300 if that helps.

Thanks again for your assistance.


 

Message 6 of 8
Geezer67
Aspirant

Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

No, I don't  have Orbi -- I just searched for Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence and landed in this group.  Hope that is OK?

Thanks again for your help.

Message 7 of 8
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Advanced Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence


@Geezer67 wrote:

No, I don't  have Orbi -- I just searched for Wireless Settings: Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence and landed in this group.  Hope that is OK?

Thanks again for your help.



Please continue to post here for your model router.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Wireless-N-Routers/bd-p/home-wifi-routers-wireless-n

Thank you...

 

Message 8 of 8
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