Is it better to use 2.4GHz or 5Ghz WiFi? Find out by reading the information we bring you today.
WiFi 2.4GHz Vs. 5GHz
Surely you have read and heard about 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi on more than one occasion and all of us have seen those band specifications in our electronic devices, be it mobile phones, computers, smart TVs, etc., and of course on all routers.
What meaning do these numbers have for us? How do they affect the activities we carry out on a daily basis when connecting to the internet? Is it better to use one frequency or the other? We are going to answer all that today, so stay tuned and don’t stop reading.
What does it mean that our router has a dual-band?
Since the beginning, WiFi has been operating with the 2.4GHz frequency, due to this it is the most compatible with all devices, only the most modern smartphones, tablets, or PC have the ability to connect to a 5GHz band.
For the same reason, older routers only allow us to connect to 2.4GHz WiFi, but if you have recently changed your router or if you have changed your provider, surely your new router allows you to connect to the 5GHz internet and also to that of 2.4GHz. This type of router is known as dual-band.
Differences between 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi?
WiFi 2.4GHz vs 5GHz: what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?Technology photo created by freepik – www.freepik.es
The 2.4GHz band is compatible with most devices, which is why it is also the one that saturates the fastest, since it is not only used for WiFi connection, but also this channel is used by wireless phones, connections by Bluetooth, PC accessories like a wireless mouse, and even your home microwave uses the 2.4 gigahertz band.
This often causes interference and can cause signal dropouts. to this is added a large number of routers using the same band to communicate.
Regarding the range of the signal, the 2.4 gigahertz band emits a lower frequency and this allows it to go further, it is also less affected by obstacles such as walls or ceilings.
On the other hand, the 5 gigahertz band offers a higher internet speed but is more susceptible to obstacles, so if you are far from the router or there are any walls or a ceiling in between, this can cause problems with the reception of the internet. sign.
An advantage that the 5GHz channel offers is that it is much less saturated than the 2.4GHz channel since there are far fewer devices that can connect to that network.
the 2.4 gigahertz band can transmit through 13 different channels, but these are usually always very saturated and also overlap each other, which makes the traffic much more saturated.
The 5 gigahertz network transmits through 21 channels and none of them overlap each other.
The biggest difficulty we can have with the 5GHz network is that not all routers and all devices are compatible.
When Should you Use 2.4GHz and when 5GHz?
2.4GHz WiFi vs. 5GHzBackground photo created by freepik – www.freepik.es
That will depend on the circumstances in which you find yourself.
If you are in a place where the router is not close, it is better to use the 2.4GHz band because it has a greater range. If the place where you are is close to the router, you should use the 5GHz band since its speed is much higher.
Within your home, you can choose to use one band or the other for different devices. For example, you could connect speakers, lights, and other smart home devices to the 2.4 gigahertz network, since its greater coverage will make it easier for it to reach all the rooms in the house.
Instead, it is more convenient that you to connect your computer, console, smart TV, or mobile phone to the 5 GHz network since it offers you a higher speed for video games, streaming, or browsing.
The 2.4 GHz WiFi offers greater coverage and range while the 5GHz offers more speed for browsing, streaming, and video games
How do I know if my device is compatible with the 5 GHz network?
Most of the electronic devices that have been manufactured from the year 2016 onwards are compatible with the 5GHz network. If your device is from previous years, it is very likely that it cannot connect to that network.
Anyway, there is a very easy way to find out, when connecting your device to the WiFi network it shows you a 5 GHz network available, tries to connect, and if the device is not compatible it will not be able to connect.
Smart wifi WiFi 2.4GHz Vs. 5GHz
Some more advanced routers have an intelligent network management system and can automatically redirect devices to connect to your home WiFi in the 2.4 gigahertz or 5 gigahertz band, even these devices can combine both frequencies according to the requirements of each connection.
Keep in mind
When it comes to talking about the 5GHz internet, it is important that we do not get confused.
Some router manufacturers have abbreviated the frequency band badly by placing 5G instead of 5GHz, if we are not very attentive this can cause confusion since in this case we are referring to the 5 gigahertz band and not the 5G connectivity they use some of latest generation mobiles.
Having said all this, we could conclude that it is more convenient to use 5GHz or 2.4GHz WiFi depending on the need of the moment and depending on how far you are from the router.