2 APs - 2.4Ghz channels, use somting besides 1,6,11?

[wardwolfram]

I have 2 Access Points. Much of the readings suggest that one uses channels 1,6 and 11 on the 2.4GHz band.  Since I have 2 AP, could not I use a different combination of non-overlapping channels such as:

3 & 8

5 & 10, etc.

Am I missing something if I do so?

Thanks in advance,

[Flavio Miranda · Accepted solution]

Hi

 The idea of 1, 6 and 11 goes byond avoid co-channel interface (which is 2 AP using the same channel) but distributing APs over 1 or 6 or 11 also avoid  adjacency interference.  Channel overlaps between themselves and this adjacency interference.  is as bad as co-channel interference. To avoid adjacency interference the only option is 1,6 and 11

  But, if you can, avoid 2.4 at all.  2.4 became extremelly crowded and will be the worst choice. If you can, stick with 5ghz which is much less crowded.

[Leo Laohoo]

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@wardwolfram wrote:

 I missing something if I do so?

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Yes, do not use 2.4 Ghz.

[ammahend · Accepted solution]

You can and it will work, but it would be a very inefficient way of using it, let’s say you put an AP on Chanel 3, now you have exposed yourself from being interfered by interferes on both channel 1 and channel 6, and on 2.4 there are lot of interference. So I would not recommend doing that. 

hope this helps.

[Rich R · Accepted solution]

But if you must use 2.4 Ghz, and you only have 2 APs, you have 3 channels to choose from so why is that a problem for you?

You could put AP1 on channel 1 and AP2 on channel 11.

Most default to selecting the "least busy" channel on startup.  They do this by listening to all allowed channels for a few seconds on startup and then selecting whichever seems quietest at that moment which is far from fool proof.  If you set them yourself then you are making that choice and decision in advance.

Small anecdote: I've only ever once used channels other than 1,6,11 where the customer's neighbour had hundreds of APs running on 1, 6 and 11 at 90-100% channel utilisation and at high power levels making the 3 non-overlapping channels un-useable - customer devices lost WiFi connection constantly.  (I hate to imagine what level of service the neighbour's users had) By selecting the other channels for their APs we were able to make their service useable despite the slight adjacent channels interference.  That nightmare installation is now long gone though fortunately.