This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Rijul Rajesh
When we perform a network scan, there are a few terms that often pop up and confuse beginners. One of them is the idea of channels and channel numbers. If you have ever seen a scan output that shows something like Channel 6 or Channel 11, you might wonder what that really means.
What is a Channel?
Think of WiFi like a busy road. Many cars are moving in different lanes. If all cars tried to squeeze into the same lane, it would become messy and slow. WiFi channels work in a similar way.
A channel is simply a small slice of the overall frequency band that WiFi uses. Instead of all devices communicating on the exact same frequency, the band is divided into multiple channels. Each channel is like a lane on that road, letting different devices talk without colliding too much.
For example:
- In the 2.4 GHz band, there are usually 14 channels (though depending on the country, only 11, 12, or 13 are commonly available).
- In the 5 GHz band, there are many more channels, often ranging from 36 all the way up to 165.
Why Channel Numbers Appear in Scans
When you run a WiFi scan with tools like iwlist, airmon-ng, or even your operating system’s built-in network scanner, you will see networks listed along with a channel number. This number tells you exactly which frequency slice that particular WiFi network is operating on.
For instance:
- Channel 1 in the 2.4 GHz band corresponds to 2.412 GHz.
- Channel 6 corresponds to 2.437 GHz.
- Channel 11 corresponds to 2.462 GHz.
So if your neighbor’s WiFi is on channel 6 and yours is also on channel 6, both of you are in the same lane. This can lead to interference and slower speeds.
Why Channels Matter in Security Scans
If you are doing a penetration test or a security audit, knowing the channel is very useful. Here is why:
Targeting a Specific Network
Tools likeairodump-ngcan focus on one channel at a time. If you know the target is on channel 11, you can lock your card to that channel to capture cleaner traffic.Detecting Interference or Rogue APs
Sometimes attackers create rogue access points on specific channels to trick users. By looking at channel numbers, you can compare if an AP is mimicking the original or sitting on another channel.Performance Analysis
Even outside security, admins look at channel scans to avoid crowding. For example, if most nearby routers are on channels 1 and 6, you may choose channel 11 for your own router.
A Quick Example
Here is a simplified scan output:
SSID: Home_Network
BSSID: 00:14:22:01:23:45
Channel: 6
SSID: Cafe_WiFi
BSSID: 34:89:5D:7A:12:EF
Channel: 11
SSID: Office_AP
BSSID: 98:23:45:67:89:AB
Channel: 1
Looking at this, you can tell where each access point is operating. If you wanted to monitor the Cafe WiFi, you would lock your tools to channel 11.
Wrapping Up
The term channel in network scans is not complicated once you connect it with the idea of lanes on a road. It simply tells you which part of the frequency band a WiFi network is using. Security researchers, network admins, and even casual users can benefit from understanding this, since it helps avoid interference, detect rogue devices, and improve scanning accuracy.
Next time you see a channel number pop up in your scans, you will know exactly what it means and why it matters.
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This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Rijul Rajesh
Rijul Rajesh | Sciencx (2025-08-24T18:19:48+00:00) A Beginner’s Guide to Channels in WiFi Scanning. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/08/24/a-beginners-guide-to-channels-in-wifi-scanning/
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