SBG6580-2: Changing the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Band Channel

Changing the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Band Channel 

1. Launch a Firefox or Safari browser.  Enter http://192.168.0.1 into the address box, and press the Enter key.  
   
   NOTE: A browser message on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera, may appear when accessing the Web Manager.  The message includes 192.168.01 uses an unsupported protocol and ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH.  The Web Manager uses an earlier version of the TLS protocol and does not match the version allowed by the web browser.  Safari browsers on Apple PC and mobile devices are not impacted.  The workaround to access the Web Manager with a PC is to use the Firefox browser and set the TLS version to 1.  For workaround instructions refer to article # 19435 - 192.168.0.1 uses an unsupported protocol. 
    
2. A security or private risk alert may appear on the web browser advising users to proceed with caution when accessing the Web Manager.  There is no risk in proceeding to the Web Manager.  For instructions to bypass the alert screen, refer to article # 18181 - Alert Message for Web Manager Access.
    
3. On the Login page, enter admin or a customized username in the Username field.
    
4. Enter password or a customized password in the Password field.
   
   NOTE: On later versions of the SBG6580-2, the Wi-Fi Security Key is used as the default admin password printed on the bottom white label.  For assistance with Web Manager Access, refer to article # 18752 – SBG6580-2: Web Manager Access.
   
   
    
5. Click the Login button.  The Home page will appear.
   
   
    
6. Move the mouse cursor over Wireless on the main menu and click the 802.11 Radio link on the sub-menu.  The 802.11 Radio page will appear.  
   
   NOTE: It is recommended to set the Wi-Fi Band Channel to Auto.  To set the channel to Auto click here to skip to step 10.  To use the Scan Wireless APs tool to determine the channel proceed to step 6.
   
   
    
7. Click the Scan Wireless APs button.  Nearby Wireless Access Points pop-up will appear.
   
   NOTE: Pressing the Scan Wireless APs button executes the tool and will pop up another window displaying the scan results.  Be sure to disable the Pop-up blocker on the browser to allow the tool to work. 
   
   
    
8. On the Nearby Wireless Access Points pop-up window, determine which channel would be the best to use by verifying which channel is used the least or not used at all.
   
   NOTE: In the example below Channel 11 is highly used, while Channel 6 is moderately used.  The best channel available is Channel 1 or channels not in use.
   
   
    
9. Once the channel has been determined, close the pop-up window.
    
10. Leave the default setting of 20 MHz on the Bandwidth drop-down menu to increase the amount of data that the Wi-Fi network can carry.    
    
    NOTE 1: The standard bandwidth for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks is 20 MHz.  If the SBG6580-2 detects another Wi-Fi network using frequencies in the wider bandwidth, it will automatically reduce the bandwidth to 20 MHz.
    
    NOTE 2: Sideband setting is only available when the Bandwidth is set to 40 MHz.  
     

    Sideband	Channels
    Lower	Auto, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Upper	Auto, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

11. Select a channel from the Channel drop-down menu other than what is displayed as Current.
    
    NOTE 1: It is recommended to leave the Channel default setting at Auto and restart the SBG6580-2.  The best Wi-Fi channel will be selected upon restart.  Keep in mind that the connected Wi-Fi clients temporarily lose Internet connection when the SBG6580-2 is restarting.
    
    NOTE 2: When choosing to set the Wi-Fi channel, it is recommended to set the channel to 1, 6 or 11 for better performance and stability because they do not overlap.  Other Wi-Fi channels overlap and degrade performance. 
     
12. Click the Apply button.  
    
    NOTE: The connected Wi-Fi clients will temporarily lose Internet connection and will reconnect.