802.11be Channels

What are channels in 802.11be?

Channels in 802.11be refer to frequency ranges primarily in the 6 GHz band, along with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, used for extremely high throughput wireless communication.

How many channels are available in 802.11be?

802.11be supports numerous wide channels (up to 320 MHz) across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and especially the newly opened 6 GHz band, providing tens of non-overlapping channels depending on regulatory domains.

What frequency bands does 802.11be operate in?

It operates in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and the newly allocated 6 GHz bands for Wi-Fi 6E and beyond.

What is channel width in 802.11be?

Channel widths include 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and up to 320 MHz for ultra-high throughput.

Why does 802.11be support wider channels?

Wider channels enable significantly higher data rates to support bandwidth-intensive applications like AR/VR, 8K video streaming, and cloud gaming.

Are 802.11be channels overlapping?

With wider channel bandwidths, adjacent channel overlap is possible and managed via advanced spatial reuse and scheduling techniques.

What determines the number of usable 802.11be channels?

Regulatory domain rules, spectrum availability (especially in 6 GHz), and coexistence requirements determine usable channels.

What is Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) in 802.11be?

DFS detects radar and other incumbent users in shared bands, allowing APs to avoid interference by switching channels dynamically.

Does 802.11be use Transmit Power Control (TPC)?

Yes, TPC is used to optimize transmit power to reduce interference and improve network efficiency.

How does 802.11be handle multi-band channel operation?

It supports Multi-Link Operation (MLO), allowing devices to use multiple bands and channels simultaneously for enhanced throughput and reliability.

Why is channel planning critical for 802.11be?

Proper planning ensures optimal use of wide channels and multiple bands while minimizing interference in dense environments.

Are all 6 GHz channels available globally?

No, availability varies by country depending on spectrum regulations for the 6 GHz band.

Can devices auto-select 802.11be channels?

Yes, advanced algorithms allow devices to select channels dynamically based on congestion and interference.

What is the channel center frequency in 802.11be?

Channel center frequencies vary widely across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands depending on channel width and regulatory domain.

How are 802.11be channels numbered?

Channel numbering follows the conventions established in earlier Wi-Fi standards but extended into the 6 GHz band with higher channel numbers.

What are typical channel widths and numbers in 802.11be?

Channels include 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 MHz widths. Example channel numbers include 1–14 in 2.4 GHz, 36–165 in 5 GHz, and 1–233 in 6 GHz (numbers vary by regulatory domain).

How far apart are 802.11be channels spaced?

Standard spacing is 20 MHz for narrow channels; wider channels bond multiple contiguous 20 MHz channels.

What is co-channel interference and how is it managed in 802.11be?

Co-channel interference occurs when devices share the same channel; 802.11be uses spatial reuse, MLO, and TPC to minimize its impact.

How does weather affect 6 GHz channels in 802.11be?

Higher frequency 6 GHz signals are more susceptible to attenuation by walls and rain compared to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Why is the 6 GHz band important for 802.11be?

It offers large swaths of contiguous spectrum enabling extremely high data rates and reduced congestion.

What is the typical indoor range for 802.11be?

Depending on frequency band and environment, typical indoor range can vary from 30 meters (6 GHz) to 50+ meters (2.4 GHz).

Can 802.11be channels be used outdoors?

Usage outdoors depends on regional regulations, power limits, and coexistence rules especially in the 6 GHz band.

What happens if two APs use the same 802.11be channel?

They must share airtime, potentially causing contention, but advanced MAC features help mitigate throughput loss.

What tools assist with 802.11be channel planning?

Spectrum analyzers, Wi-Fi 6E compatible scanners, network controllers, and AI-driven RF management tools.

Topics in this section,

List of channels

List of channel widths

List of Bands

Reference links

2.4 GHz Channels for 802.11be

Channel Number (MHz)	Center Frequency (MHz)	Frequency Range	DFS Required
1	2412	2401 – 2423	No
2	2417	2406 – 2428	No
3	2422	2411 – 2433	No
4	2427	2416 – 2438	No
5	2432	2421 – 2443	No
6	2437	2426 – 2448	No
7	2442	2431 – 2453	No
8	2447	2436 – 2458	No
9	2452	2441 – 2463	No
10	2457	2446 – 2468	No
11	2462	2451 – 2473	No
12	2467	2456 – 2478	No (region dependent)
13	2472	2461 – 2483	No (region dependent)
14	2484	2473 – 2495	No (Japan only)

5 GHz Channels for 802.11be

Channel Number (MHz)	Center Frequency (MHz)	Frequency Range	DFS Required
36	5180	5170 – 5190	No
40	5200	5190 – 5210	No
44	5220	5210 – 5230	No
48	5240	5230 – 5250	No
52	5260	5250 – 5270	Yes
56	5280	5270 – 5290	Yes
60	5300	5290 – 5310	Yes
64	5320	5310 – 5330	Yes
100	5500	5490 – 5510	Yes
104	5520	5510 – 5530	Yes
108	5540	5530 – 5550	Yes
112	5560	5550 – 5570	Yes
116	5580	5570 – 5590	Yes
120	5600	5590 – 5610	Yes
124	5620	5610 – 5630	Yes
128	5640	5630 – 5650	Yes
132	5660	5650 – 5670	Yes
136	5680	5670 – 5690	Yes
140	5700	5690 – 5710	Yes
144	5720	5710 – 5730	Yes
149	5745	5735 – 5755	No
153	5765	5755 – 5775	No
157	5785	5775 – 5795	No
161	5805	5795 – 5815	No
165	5825	5815 – 5835	No

6 GHz Channels for 802.11be

Channel Number (MHz)	Center Frequency (MHz)	Frequency Range	DFS Required
1	5955	5945 – 5965	No
5	5975	5965 – 5985	No
9	5995	5985 – 6005	No
13	6015	6005 – 6025	No
17	6035	6025 – 6045	No
21	6055	6045 – 6065	No
25	6075	6065 – 6085	No
29	6095	6085 – 6105	No
33	6115	6105 – 6125	No
37	6135	6125 – 6145	No
41	6155	6145 – 6165	No
45	6175	6165 – 6185	No
49	6195	6185 – 6205	No
53	6215	6205 – 6225	No
57	6235	6225 – 6245	No
61	6255	6245 – 6265	No
65	6275	6265 – 6285	No
69	6295	6285 – 6305	No
73	6315	6305 – 6325	No
77	6335	6325 – 6345	No
81	6355	6345 – 6365	No
85	6375	6365 – 6385	No
89	6395	6385 – 6405	No
93	6415	6405 – 6425	No
97	6435	6425 – 6445	No
101	6455	6445 – 6465	No
105	6475	6465 – 6485	No
109	6495	6485 – 6505	No
113	6515	6505 – 6525	No
117	6535	6525 – 6545	No
121	6555	6545 – 6565	No
125	6575	6565 – 6585	No
129	6595	6585 – 6605	No
133	6615	6605 – 6625	No
137	6635	6625 – 6645	No
141	6655	6645 – 6665	No
145	6675	6665 – 6685	No
149	6695	6685 – 6705	No
153	6715	6705 – 6725	No
157	6735	6725 – 6745	No
161	6755	6745 – 6765	No
165	6775	6765 – 6785	No
169	6795	6785 – 6805	No
173	6815	6805 – 6825	No
177	6835	6825 – 6845	No
181	6855	6845 – 6865	No
185	6875	6865 – 6885	No
189	6895	6885 – 6905	No
193	6915	6905 – 6925	No
197	6935	6925 – 6945	No
201	6955	6945 – 6965	No
205	6975	6965 – 6985	No
209	6995	6985 – 7005	No
213	7015	7005 – 7025	No
217	7035	7025 – 7045	No
221	7055	7045 – 7065	No
225	7075	7065 – 7085	No
229	7095	7085 – 7105	No
233	7115	7105 – 7125	No

List of channel widths

channel widths

List of Bands

Band Name	Frequency Range (GHz)	Frequency Range (MHz)	Channels
2.4 GHz Band	2.400 – 2.485	2400 – 2485	1 – 14 (region dependent)
UNII-1	5.150 – 5.250	5150 – 5250	36, 40, 44, 48
UNII-2 (DFS)	5.250 – 5.350	5250 – 5350	52, 56, 60, 64
UNII-2 Extended (DFS)	5.470 – 5.725	5470 – 5725	100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144
UNII-3	5.725 – 5.825	5725 – 5825	149, 153, 157, 161, 165
6 GHz Band	5.925 – 7.125	5925 – 7125	1 – 233 (20 MHz channels)

Reference links

Reference links