sysop@hub:~/tools/wifi-channel-planner$
wifi-channel-planner
How many channels do you really have, and which access point gets which? Choose the band, the channel width and how many access points there are. The drawing shows the band, and the table a starting assignment.
which width for what
| Width | Use it for | Not for |
|---|---|---|
| 20 MHz | 2.4 GHz always. 5 GHz in dense places: many access points, many neighbours, lecture halls, warehouses. | A single access point at home where speed counts. |
| 40 MHz | The sensible default for 5 GHz in an office with several access points. | 2.4 GHz. |
| 80 MHz | Homes and small offices with up to three or four access points, and 6 GHz in general. | Offices with many access points on 5 GHz. |
| 160 MHz | One access point, new clients, a quiet neighbourhood. 6 GHz. | Anything shared. |
Channel rules differ by country and change: the lists here are the common allocations for Europe (ETSI) and North America (FCC), and your access point only offers what is legal where it thinks it is. Set its country correctly. A plan on paper is a starting point: walls, floors and the neighbours' networks decide the rest, so look at the real air with a Wi-Fi analyser afterwards. Related: where access points belong, Wi-Fi cheat sheet, PoE budget calculator, wizard: Wi-Fi is slow or drops.