Networking

Today I helped a client set up their WiFi and learned some interesting things about WiFi channels and common misconceptions about 5G vs 5GHz.

WiFi Channels Explained

WiFi networks operate on specific frequency channels. I learned that:

1. 2.4GHz band has 14 channels (though only 1-11 are used in the US)
2. 5GHz band has many more channels (36-165 depending on region)

The key insight: Adjacent channels overlap and cause interference! For 2.4GHz networks, only channels 1, 6, and 11 don’t overlap with each other.

Today I learned how to SSH into a server and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). This is a fundamental skill for remote server administration and network management.

Basic SSH Command

The basic syntax for SSH is surprisingly simple:

ssh username@hostname

For example:

ssh admin@192.168.1.100

SSH Authentication Methods

I learned there are two main ways to authenticate:

1. Password Authentication: Simply enter your password when prompted
2. Key-Based Authentication: More secure, uses a public/private key pair

Setting Up Key-Based Authentication

To set up key-based authentication: