If you are tired of troubleshooting and trying to improve your wireless speed, here is an easy hack that is definitely going to increase your internet speed. I am talking about Wi-Fi Channels, but how to Choose the Best Wi-Fi Channels for Your Network?

It is common to face network issues when staying in an apartment surrounded by other multi-story buildings. For example, have you ever wondered what causes your internet speed to slow down or drop?
Sometimes, we do everything in our power to ensure the internet signals are not interrupted, but we still end up experiencing low network connectivity.
I agree that it can be highly frustrating and nerve-racking at times, especially when we are in the middle of an official con- call or something urgent. But did you know that sometimes choosing the right router channel can solve all your problems?
In this article, we will tell you all about router channels and how they affect your network speed. So, if you’ve tried every option to increase your network speed and have still not succeeded, this article will tell you how to improve your wireless connectivity by choosing the right channel.
What causes your network signals to slow down?
When you connect your computer to the internet, the computer receives signals from the router, which travel through channels and reaches the computer system. However, if your neighboring systems are also using the same channel you use to connect to the internet, you will see your network speed going down.
When we access the internet, we are often unaware that our neighbors are already using the channel we use.
For uninterrupted service, we need to ensure that the channel we use is solely used by us and not by anyone else.

How do we ensure that we are using a dedicated router channel to connect to the internet?
The first step towards improving network connectivity is to check whether we are using a dedicated router channel.
How do you check your router channel?
- The first step towards finding out which router channel you are using is to know your router’s band. Routers generally operate on either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. You can also have a dual-band router that supports both the 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band.
- Once you know the band of your router, you need to look for the channel number. But before you do that, just remember two things.
Firstly, 2.4 GHz band routers have three distinct channels that do not overlap. These are channels 1, 6, and 11. You need to choose from these three channels.
However, if you have many technically sound people around you, you may still feel the network speed going down, even if your immediate neighbor is not on your channel.
Secondly, 5 GHz routers have 23 channels on which to operate. Because of more free space and multiple channels, your network speed is rarely affected.
- If you use a dual-band router, it’s best to shift to 5 GHz when you are experiencing network issues.
- You can use a WIFI channel scanner to find out which channel you are using. Some special applications that can be used to find your channel number are Net Spot, Acrylic WIFI, WIFI Scanner, and WIFI Analyser.
The benefit of using these applications is that they not only tell you your WIFI channel number but also help you see the channels other people are on. So you can easily choose the channel number that is ideal for your network. Preferably, choose a channel that has minimum users.
Now that you know which channel you are on and which channel you should be on for improved connectivity, change it to the desired channel. And test your connection.
How do we change the router channel for better connectivity?

You need to follow these steps to change your router channel.
- Open the web browser and key in your IP address. For first-timers, it is going to be something like 192.168.1.1
- You can find the address engraved on the router’s body or inside the manual.
- The WIFI channel can be changed from the router settings.
- Apply the channel number you want your router to use, and save the changes. It will be reflected on all your external devices. So you don’t need to change it manually on every device.
Conclusion: So, What the Best Wi-Fi Channels for Your Network?
Therefore, we can say that if all else fails and you see your network speed is not improving, try changing the router channel and see the difference.
Just keep three things in mind.
First, if you are using a 2.4 GHz band, choose between channels 1,6 and 11.
Second. If you are using a dual-band router, shift to 5 GHz for better Internet Speeds.
And, finally, the channel you chose should not be used by too many people.
We are sure if you follow these steps, you will be able to choose the best channel for your network and increase your wireless speed. In turn, you will experience less buffering when working online.
Related: Can I use a router without a modem?