Every wireless router for a wifi connection uses radio signals and frequencies to transmit data. The data is transmitted between the router and the connected devices like your phone, tablet, or other internet-enabled devices.
5GHz and 2.4GHz are frequency bands that are used by wireless connections for wireless transmissions. Both bands have their own pros and cons and unique suitability. We will discuss these details in the article.
Also read: How to connect Airtel Wifi without password?
Let’s start with understanding a few basic differences between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
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Difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
2.4 GHz is one of the most commonly used bands. It travels to far locations at a lower speed than other bands. Meanwhile, 5 GHz is totally the opposite. It travels for short distances but at a much faster speed.
In simple words, 2.4 GHz covers the long-range and 5 GHz covers the short-range. As mentioned above, 2.4 GHz is one of the most used bands by people. It is used by security cameras, baby monitors, and many other wi-fi enabled devices since it covers long distances. However, 2.4 GHz sometimes delivers low speeds when connected to multiple devices. The connection can become cluttered and deliver a poor and patchy network.
On the other hand, 5 GHz delivers a faster speed than 2.4 Ghz but only for a small range. You can’t use this band for security cameras or baby monitors if these devices are placed far from these devices.
Now that you have understood what is the difference between 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz, let’s see which one you should use and when!
Use 2.4 GHz for devices placed farther from the router
2.4 GHz bands as discussed above, cover long distances. Therefore, if you have a big house with various rooms and devices like security cameras or baby monitors, 2.4 GHz will work best for you. A 5 GHz can’t cover a big home and offer a good internet connection. However, 2.4 GHz, even though has a lower speed, is perfect for a big house with many wifi devices placed in different corners of the house.
Moreover, 2.4 GHz penetrates solid objects with more ease than 5 GHz. Even if your router is centrally placed, it may need to penetrate various solid objects to reach different corners of a given area. Therefore, in such cases, 2.4 GHz should be your pick.
Prefer 5 GHz for short range and devices closer to the router
Let’s say, you live in a studio room or a single-room apartment. Most of your WiFi-enabled devices will be in close proximity to the router. There will be fewer hindrances in the network in terms of solid objects. In such a case, 5 GHz is the best. It would offer faster speed within that short range. It also depends on what kind of activity are you doing online. If you are in a video conference call or playing online (high-bandwidth activities), it’s best to use 5 GHz and sit closer to the router.
Rather than sticking to one frequency band, we encourage you to switch between both as and when required.
How to switch between frequency bands?
Most of the traditional routers allowed users to work on only one frequency without any option to switch. However, thanks to dual-band routers, you can easily switch between both bands easily. Leading broadband providers like Airtel offer Dual-band routers for free with their broadband connection.
Here’s how you can switch between both:
The dual-band routers have two different networks appearing in your network list – both for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Go to your wi-fi settings to choose one of the bands as per your requirements. Check broadband connection near me to find a dual-band band.
