If you have a Wi-Fi 6 (or newer) router, there’s a good chance it’s only operating at half its wireless capability right out of the box. The culprit? A conservative default setting for channel width that most manufacturers leave at 80MHz on the 5GHz band, when many routers are actually capable of 160MHz.
A recent article from MakeUseOf highlighted this widespread issue, and we wanted to expand on it with some practical guidance — especially for the types of routers and access points we sell here at 5Gstore.
What Is Channel Width, and Why Does It Matter?
Think of Wi-Fi channel width like the number of lanes on a highway. A wider channel allows more data to flow at once. On the 5GHz band, most Wi-Fi 6 routers default to 80MHz channel width, but many support 160MHz — effectively doubling the lane count.
The real-world numbers back this up. With a typical 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 connection, an 80MHz channel tops out at a 1,201 Mbps link rate. Switch to 160MHz and that jumps to 2,401 Mbps. In actual file transfer testing, users commonly see speeds jump from around 100–120 MB/s on 80MHz to 190–220 MB/s on 160MHz when conditions are good.
Why Do Manufacturers Disable 160MHz by Default?
There are three main reasons router makers play it safe:
DFS channel requirements. To get a contiguous 160MHz block on the 5GHz band, the router must use DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channels. These channels are shared with weather radar and other systems. When the router detects radar, it has to vacate those channels temporarily, causing brief disconnections or a fallback to 80MHz. This is actually mandated by the FCC — routers are legally required to yield to radar.
Device compatibility. Not every Wi-Fi device supports 160MHz. Many smartphones (including older iPhones) cap out at 80MHz, and some budget devices with older chipsets don’t handle wider channels well. Devices that don’t support 160MHz will still connect — they’ll just negotiate down to 80MHz or lower — but the router’s behavior on DFS channels could cause them temporary hiccups.
Neighborhood congestion. In dense environments like apartment buildings, finding a clean 160MHz block of spectrum can be nearly impossible. Forcing it in that scenario can actually make things worse, because you’re now competing for a much wider swath of spectrum with your neighbors.
Should You Enable 160MHz?
This setting is most beneficial if:
- You have a relatively uncrowded Wi-Fi environment (suburban homes, rural areas, isolated offices)
- Your key devices support 160MHz (most modern laptops with Intel AX or newer Wi-Fi cards, recent flagship phones)
- You’re not near an airport, military base, or weather radar station that would trigger frequent DFS events
- You have a fast internet connection (500 Mbps+) or do a lot of local network file transfers
It’s probably not worth it if you live in a dense apartment complex, most of your devices are older, or you’re already experiencing Wi-Fi instability.
The good news: enabling 160MHz doesn’t lock out your older devices. They’ll still connect at whatever width they support. So it’s usually worth trying — you can always switch back if you notice issues.
How to Change Channel Width on Popular Router Brands
The general process is the same across brands: log into your router’s admin interface, navigate to the wireless/Wi-Fi settings for the 5GHz band, and look for a “Channel Width” or “Channel Bandwidth” setting.
Peplink / Pepwave (Routers with Built-in Wi-Fi)
Peplink routers with built-in Wi-Fi (like the MAX BR1 series, Balance series with Wi-Fi, and the Surf SOHO) let you configure channel width through the web admin interface:
- Log into your Peplink router (typically at 192.168.50.1)
- Navigate to AP > Wireless SSID Settings (or Network > AP depending on your firmware version)
- Select the 5GHz radio settings
- Look for Channel Width and change it from 20/40/80 MHz to include the widest option available
- If your device supports DFS, make sure DFS channels are enabled as well
- Click Save and then Apply Changes
Important note for Peplink users: Many Peplink routers and Pepwave access points, including the popular AP One AX, list their maximum 5GHz channel width at 80MHz in the specifications. This means 160MHz is not available on these devices — they’re already running at their maximum supported width. This is a hardware limitation, not a settings issue. If you need 160MHz support, check your specific model’s spec sheet before digging through settings.
Cradlepoint
For Cradlepoint routers managed locally:
- Access your router’s admin page (typically at 192.168.0.1)
- Go to Networking > Local Networks > WiFi
- Select the 5GHz tab
- Under WiFi Settings, look for Channel Width
- Change from the default to the widest available option
- Save and apply
For Cradlepoint devices managed through NetCloud Manager (NCM), you’ll make this change through the cloud management portal under the device’s network configuration settings. Navigate to the router group or individual device configuration, then locate the Wi-Fi radio settings.
Note: Older Cradlepoint models may only support up to 40MHz or 80MHz channel widths. The Wi-Fi 6 capable models (like the E3000 series) will offer the widest channel options.
Other Common Brands
- ASUS: Advanced Settings > Wireless > Channel Bandwidth (look for a 160MHz checkbox)
- TP-Link: Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings > 5GHz band > Channel Width
- Netgear: BASIC > Wireless (channel width is often tied to the Mode setting)
Wi-Fi 7 and Beyond: 320MHz Channels
If you’re already thinking ahead, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) takes this even further with support for 320MHz channels on the 6GHz band. That’s double the 160MHz width, with the added benefit of operating on the much cleaner 6GHz spectrum where DFS isn’t a concern.
For businesses and power users who need the absolute fastest wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi 7 routers and access points are beginning to enter the market. But for the vast majority of deployments today, simply enabling 160MHz on a Wi-Fi 6 router is the quickest and cheapest way to boost wireless performance.
The Bottom Line
Enabling 160MHz channel width is one of the easiest performance tweaks you can make to a Wi-Fi 6 router, and it’s worth testing in most environments. Just remember to run a speed test before and after the change so you can verify it’s actually helping in your specific situation. If you see worse performance or frequent disconnections after enabling it, simply switch back to 80MHz — your environment may not be suited for the wider channel.
Need help optimizing the Wi-Fi settings on your router? Contact our team at 5Gstore — we’re happy to help you get the most out of your equipment.
FAQ
Q: Will enabling 160MHz channel width disconnect my older devices? A: No. Older devices that only support 20MHz, 40MHz, or 80MHz will still connect to your router normally. They’ll just negotiate at their maximum supported channel width. The 160MHz setting only benefits devices that can take advantage of it.
Q: Does my router support 160MHz? A: Check your router’s specifications. Most Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) home routers support 160MHz on the 5GHz band, but many enterprise and cellular routers (including several Peplink models) max out at 80MHz. If you don’t see a 160MHz option in your settings, your hardware likely doesn’t support it.
Q: What are DFS channels and should I be worried about them? A: DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channels on the 5GHz band are shared with radar systems. Your router can use them, but it must scan for radar first (which can take about a minute on startup) and will temporarily switch channels if radar is detected. For most users, the brief interruptions are barely noticeable, but if you’re near an airport or radar installation, you may experience more frequent disruptions.
Q: Is 160MHz better than using Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7? A: If your router and devices support Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz band) or Wi-Fi 7, those are generally better options for maximum speed because the 6GHz band has cleaner spectrum and doesn’t require DFS. But if you’re on standard Wi-Fi 6 hardware, 160MHz is the best you can do — and it’s a significant improvement over the 80MHz default.
Q: I enabled 160MHz but my speeds didn’t change. What’s wrong? A: Several possibilities: your client device may not support 160MHz, your router may have fallen back to 80MHz due to DFS radar detection or interference, or your internet connection may be the bottleneck rather than your Wi-Fi link speed. Check your device’s Wi-Fi connection details to verify the actual channel width being used.
