2006-11-02 10:01:06 · 3 answers · asked by Oscar P 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
They're different frequencies that can be used to send the wireless signal. You would change the channel if you are experiencing interference, for example, if your neighbour has a wireless network on the same channel as your own.
2006-11-02 10:11:19 · answer #1 · answered by Goffik 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're not a techie, I'd stick with the first two answers, they're both correct.
If you're still curious, here's some other things you may want to know. When you get a new wireless device (access point, phone, ect) it's a good idea to change the channel that it uses. Odds are pretty good that one of your neighbors owns a gadget just like yours, and he never changed the channel. You turn yours on, and suddenly you're both getting static. If you just move to something at least 3 channels away from what your neighbor has, suddenly it works much better.
If you have a wireless router, it's a good idea to set up security on it. http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelesssecurity/tp/wifisecurity.htm
If you live in a tightly packed neighborhood (ie Manhattan), all of the normal channels could be pretty heavily used already. If this is a problem for you, get only wireless gadgets which can use a less popular range of stations. If it's a phone, it'll say 5 GHz on the box, if it's for computers or networking, it'll say 802.11a
Hope this is helpful!
2006-11-03 12:08:50 · answer #2 · answered by btoblake 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is kind of like changing the channel on your TV different channels for different frequency's in a router
2006-11-02 10:36:29 · answer #3 · answered by Randall 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋