Operation Manual

6.3 Frequency Range

WLAN uses the frequency range around 2.4 GHz in the ISM

band or, alternatively, the frequency range at 5 GHz.

The frequency range used in your WLAN depends on the

settings of your WLAN access point.

A WLAN in the 2.4-GHz frequency band works in the same

band as Bluetooth, DECT, microwave devices, video bridg-

es and baby monitors. This means that interference may

occur within WLANs operated in the vicinity of such devic-

es. Generally the only adverse effects are to the transmis-

sion rate; aborted connections and data losses are rare.

WLAN in the 5-GHz frequency band is subject to less inter-

ference, as these radio frequencies are used much less of-

ten.

In both frequency ranges, the European regulation author-

ities have designated certain channels for WLAN. A chan-

nel can have a bandwidth of 20 MHz (throughput up to

130 Mbit/s) or 40 MHz (throughput of up to 300 Mbit/s).

Channels located directly next to each other may overlap

and result in mutual interference. For instance, if several

WLANs are operated close to each other in the 2.4-GHz fre-

quency range with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, a distance of

at least five channels should be left empty between each

two channels used. This means that if channel 1 is select-

ed for one WLAN, the channels 6 through 13 can be select-

ed for a second WLAN. This maintains the minimum dis-

tance between channels.

Should interference in a WLAN persist, the first step

should be to select a different channel. If your WLAN ac-

cess point is equipped with an autochannel function, you

can automatically have it search for the WLAN channel in

your frequency range that is subject to the least interfer-

ence. For more instructions, see the section “WLAN Con-

nection Is Not Established” from page 42.