ARRIS Consumer Care

SBX-AC1200P: Changing the 5 GHz Wi-Fi Band Channel

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Question

How do I change the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band channel in the SBX-AC1200P?

Answer

When using a wireless connection, interference may occur. One variable may include other Wireless Access Points within the surrounding area using the same wireless channel. In order to mitigate wireless interference, change the Wi-Fi band channel in the SBR-AC3200P by confirming the Wi-Fi band that the affected Wi-Fi clients are connected to then use the Scan Wireless AP tool to select the cleanest available Wi-Fi channel. By default, the SBX-AC1200P is set at 36 channel. This document describes how to change the 5 GHz Wi-Fi channel band.

Changing the 5 GHz Wi-Fi Band Channel

NOTE: Steps 2 - 12 (static IP address setup) are applicable on Windows 10, 8, & 7.

Connect a computer with the Ethernet cable or to the SBX-AC1200P default wireless network. The default wireless name and password are located on the back panel of the SBX-AC1200P.

NOTE: If the SBX-AC1200P is operating as a wireless router, client devices can only connect to the SBX-AC1200P default wireless network because the Ethernet port is used for connecting a modem device. Connect the Wi-Fi client to the SBX-AC1200P default wireless network and click here to skip to step 13.
Click the Window's Start button and type Network and Sharing Center in the Search box.
Click on the Network and Sharing Center icon. The Network and Sharing Center window will appear.
On the Network and Sharing Center window, click the Change adapter settings link. The Network Connections window will appear.
On the Network Connections window, right-click on Local Area Connection then select Properties. The Local Area Connection Properties window will appear.

NOTE: If the computer is connected wirelessly, right click on Wireless Network Connection then select Properties for Wireless Network Connection Properties window.
On the Local Area Connection Properties window, select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) then click the Properties button. Make sure the box to the left is checked. The Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties window will appear.
In the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties window, capture the current IP and DNS addresses under the General tab for reference. These settings will need to be restored after making changes in the SBX-AC1200P Web Manager.
Select Use the Following IP address.
Enter 192.168.100.253 in the IP Address field.
Enter 255.255.255.0 in the Subnet Mask field.
Click the OK button.
Click the Close button on the bottom of the Local Area Connection Properties window.
Launch a web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari. Enter http://192.168.100.254 into the address box, and press the Enter key. The Login page will appear.

NOTE: If the SBX-AC1200P is operating as a wireless router, enter http://192.168.0.1 in the address box.
On the Login page, enter admin in the Username field.
Enter password in the Password field.
Click the Login button. The Home page will appear.
Move the mouse-cursor over Wireless on the main menu and click the Access Control link on the sub-menu. The Wireless - Access Control page will appear.
On the Wireless - Access Control page, select the 5GHz tab.
On the very bottom of the page, verify if there is any device listed that is experiencing the Wi-Fi intermittent connectivity issues.

NOTE: If there are no 5 GHz devices listed, please refer to article # 16619 - SBX-AC1200P: Changing the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Band Channel for 2.4 GHz devices.
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 5 GHz Wi-Fi Band Channel to Auto. To set the channel to Auto click here to skip to step 25. To use the Scan Wireless APs tool to determine the channel proceed to step 21.
Select the 5 GHz tab and click the Scan Wireless APs button. Nearby Wireless Access Points pop-up window with a list of nearby wireless access points appears.

NOTE: Pressing the Scan Wireless APs button executes the tool and will pop-up another window displaying the scan results. Be sure to disable Pop-up blocker on the browser to allow the tool to work.
On the Nearby Wireless Access Points pop-up window, determine the cleanest channel to use by verifying which channel is used the least or not used at all.

NOTE: In the example below Channel 36 is highly used, while Channel 157 is moderately used. The cleanest channel available is Channel 40 or channels not in use.
Once the channel has been determined, close the Pop-up window.
Leave the default setting of 80 MHz on the Bandwidth drop-down menu to increase the amount of data that the Wi-Fi network can carry.

NOTE: Sideband setting is only available when the Bandwidth is set to 40 MHz.

Bandwidth Sideband Channels
80 MHz N/A Auto, 36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157, 161
40 MHz Lower Auto, 36, 44, 149, 157
40 MHz Upper Auto, 40, 48, 153, 161
20 MHz N/A Auto, 36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165
Select a channel from the Channel drop-down menu other than what is displayed as Current.

NOTE: It is recommended to leave the Channel setting at Auto and restart the SBX-AC1200P. The cleanest Wi-Fi channel will be selected upon restart. Keep in mind that the connected Wi-Fi clients temporary lose Internet connection when the SBX-AC1200P is restarting.
Click the Apply button.

NOTE: The connected Wi-Fi clients will temporary lose Internet connection and will reconnect.