Which channels are non-overlapping for 802.11b and 802.11g?

In the context of 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networking, non-overlapping channels refer to those channels that do not interfere with one another. For the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is utilized by both 802.11b and 802.11g, there are a limited number of channels available.

The channels in the 2.4 GHz band are spaced 5 MHz apart, but due to the width of the channels (which is typically 22 MHz for 802.11b and 802.11g), adjacent channels overlap. In the United States, channels 1, 6, and 11 are the commonly identified non-overlapping channels.

Using these non-overlapping channels allows for more efficient use of the wireless spectrum, reducing interference among access points that are using the same frequency band. Therefore, selecting channels 1, 6, and 11 ensures that multiple access points can operate simultaneously without degrading the performance due to overlapping signals.

Non-overlapping channel selection is critical for maintaining strong and reliable connections, especially in dense environments where many wireless devices operate in proximity to each other.