Going by the documentation on the wireless NICs, the frequency is the same but there are different channels available. What exactly does that mean? And further, how much noise/interference would those pick up from say, a microwave or some other appliance?
Each channel is actually a different frequency band, and the frequency bands used by adjacent channels overlap. This tutorial goes into more detail.
In my network, if the microwave is on, the distance from the access point at which I can maintain a reliable connection is reduced; throughput is probably reduced as well, but I have not tested it. This article lists the authors experiences with microwave oven interference on different wifi channels.
Another potential for interference is a 2.4 GHz cordless phone, since some of the channels overlap. If this is a problem you can get around it by changing the channel on your wi-fi.
Are the channels the same with all 2.4GHz hardwares? Is channel 2.4E the same on a phone as a wi-fi NIC? And also, could a different frequency cause interference?
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