Difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi

You are just deciding to replace your old router. When you unpack your newly purchased Wireless Router, you may wonder why there are two 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. So is 5GHz more powerful? What is the difference between them?

In fact, wireless devices are increasingly popular, wireless connectivity in general and WiFi in particular are increasingly being widely covered, so the 2.4GHz band is being used very popularly. Recently Google has provided an Ethernet dongle for its Chromecast. They found that the 2.4GHz band was too much and caused interference so it was easy to get disconnected. So Google sells Ethernet dongles for $ 15 so that it can plug the Chromecast directly to the user’s router. In addition, the newly updated Chromecast gives users access to wireless connections on the 5GHz band.

What is 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi?

First, 2.4GHz and 5GHz are part of the same WiFi network. Think of them as two different channels on your TV playing the same program. In the case of a dual-band router, the source of the Internet is the same, but there are two different ways to connect: Use either the 2.4GHz band or the 5GHz band.

Since these two bands operate on different frequencies, they do not interfere with each other. This is why many modern routers can broadcast both frequencies at the same time without negatively affecting the strength of the WiFi signal. Additionally, many modern routers automatically broadcast live on both channels with no setup required.

What’s the real difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz?

WiFi has become increasingly essential over the past decade. It is used by people all over the world and like any other wireless communication system, wifi has frequencies and wavelengths. All of these factors will affect the way waves are transmitted and the distance through which they are transmitted.

The terms 2.4GHz and 5GHz refer to the frequency range of the router or device transmitting these signals. The biggest and most prominent difference between these two frequencies is speed and range.

Under ideal conditions, 2.4GHz WiFi will support a maximum connection speed of 450Mbps or 600Mbps, depending on the type of router you use. While 5GHz WiFi will support connection speeds of up to 1300Mbps, that’s an extremely impressive figure!

Of course, there are a few things that you need to pay attention to here. Firstly, the maximum speed you can see also depends on the wireless standard your router supports, which can be 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n or 802.11ac (the most common standards). ). You can learn more about how those connectivity standards work in practice to get a better understanding of the information you need.

The second is an important phrase that we just mentioned, which is “ideal conditions”. The 2.4GHz band can be seen as a rather crowded “road”, as it is not only used for WiFi connections. Old wireless phones, cameras, home appliances as well as some other devices tend to use the 2.4GHz band.

Waves with longer wavelengths are commonly used by the 2.4GHz band to better accommodate connections over a wider range, as well as through walls and solid objects. So the 2.4GHz band is said to be better if you need stable connections over a wide range of your devices, or there are too many obstacles in the connection area.

However, due to the fact that so many devices use the 2.4GHz band, congestion can result in sudden disconnections and slower connection speeds than expected.

Meanwhile, the 5GHz band is used for devices that need more data such as laptops, phones or tablets because it can transmit higher data volume and less devices use. With the 5GHz band less congestion means you can get a more stable connection and much better connection speeds.

On the other hand, the shorter waves used by the 5GHz band will make it less able to penetrate solid walls and objects and have a shorter effective range than the 2.4GHz band. Of course, you can also improve this through the use of a range extender or mesh WiFi systems, and of course, the investment costs of these support also. is one thing we must take into account.

What is dual-band and tri-band?

The good news is that most modern routers can act as either a dual-band router or a tri-band router. A dual-band router is a router that can transmit both 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals at the same time, essentially providing you with two parallel wireless networks. Dual band routers come in two types:

• Selectable dual-band. Selectable dual-band routers have 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi networks, but you can only use one network at a time. You will have to use a switch to choose the type of frequency band you want to use.
• Simultaneous dual-band. A simultaneous dual-band router is a router that can simultaneously broadcast separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi networks at the same time, providing you with two WiFi networks you can choose from when establishing a connection. Certain types of routers may also allow you to assign the same SSID to both bands so that devices see only one network, even though both networks still operate in parallel. This type of router will cost a bit more than the selectable dual-band routers, but completely acceptable compared to the benefits it brings.

A tri-band router is a router capable of transmitting three networks simultaneously, consisting of two signals on the 5GHz band and one on the 2.4GHz band. The reason for this is to help reduce congestion that can occur in the network. So if you have multiple devices using 5GHz connection at the same time, such as streaming in high resolution or even streaming 4K video, you can clearly benefit from using tri-band routers. .

Should choose the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band?

The first thing you must consider is that if you are using devices that support wired Ethernet connections and it is not difficult to connect the cable to the device, you should use a wired connection rather than a wireless one. A wired connection offers lower latency, no interruptions due to interference, and is simply faster and more stable than a wireless connection.

However, we are talking about wireless connections here. If you are currently on 2.4GHz WiFi and are wondering if you need to upgrade to 5GHz then the answer is should, if conditions permit.

Specifically, if you are experiencing frequent disconnections or if you need a higher connection speed to watch videos or play games, you should upgrade to 5GHz. If you live in a complex consisting of crowded apartments with dozens of different routers and countless devices using the 2.4GHz band, then you should definitely consider switching to the 5GHz band. as soon as possible.

If you’ve used dual- or tri-band routers and these routers have both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands available, then with that said, you’ll have to decide which band to connect your device to. The simplest thing is to go ahead and use 5GHz WiFi for any device that supports this band and use 2.4GHz for the rest, however, this is not always a good strategy. Best.

Instead, think about how you would use each device. If the device only supports 2.4 GHz then don’t say anything, but if the device can support both bands then think about whether you really need to use 5GHz or not. For example, does the device need higher speeds or do you mainly check email and browse the web? Is the device disconnected on the 2.4GHz network and do you really need a more stable connection? Do you feel okay using the device with shorter connection range by using the 5GHz band?

In short, consider the following conditions before deciding whether to use the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band:

• If you lose connections often or you need speed to watch videos, play games, you should upgrade to 5GHz.
• Living in a crowded residential area with many WiFi routers or devices using the 2.4GHz band should switch to 5GHz.
• Using a router that supports 2 bands, you should use 5GHz for the devices that support it and 2.4GHz for the rest.
• If your device supports both bands then consider whether it’s necessary to use 5GHz for that device.

summary

The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands both have their advantages and disadvantages, it’s best to keep using the 2.4GHz band, unless there is a specific need for stability or speed of the connection (for video, games for example). Also keep in mind that no matter what you choose, you should take the time to optimize the wireless signal by choosing the appropriate channel on your router.

I wish you to give yourself the right options!

See more: