Since WiFi's inception, there have been countless new WiFi standards that aim to improve both our WiFi speed and WiFi coverage. In 2009, WiFi standard 802.11n (also known as WiFi 4) was released, which was the first standard to operate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequency bands. Since then, the majority of routers have made the switch from being single-band to dual-band, meaning they can choose between the two WiFi frequency bands to transmit wireless signal. So, how are these WiFi frequency bands different, and which should your wireless devices use?
What are WiFi frequency bands?
Before we dive in to the differences between the two WiFi frequency bands, let's talk about what frequency bands actually are. Frequency bands are ranges of radio wave frequencies used to transmit data in the wireless spectrum, and can further be broken down into WiFi channels. (The higher the frequency, the faster the data transmission and shorter the signal range.) WiFi frequency bands are frequency ranges within the wireless spectrum that are designated to carry WiFi: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
This article by TechTarget dives a bit deeper regarding what frequency bands are. The key takeaway here is that WiFi frequency bands are unlicensed (i.e., they do not require any special permissions to use). This is what makes them more susceptible to interference, and which is why your home network and connected devices may experience poor signal.
How are 2.4 GHz WiFi and 5 GHz WiFi different?
There are four main differences between the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and the 5 GHz WiFi band:
- WiFi network coverage— When it comes to WiFi coverage, 2.4 GHz outshines 5 GHz. In the 2.4 GHz band, the lower frequencies that are transmitted here can more easily penetrate solid objects, meaning the signal can be better carried out throughout your home.
- WiFi network speed— The higher frequency 5 GHz band makes up for its shorter range with much faster WiFi speeds than the 2.4 GHz band. To compare, the 2.4 GHz band will support speeds between 450 Mbps and 600 Mbps, while 5 GHz will support speeds of up to 1300 Mbps. (Of course, the kind of router you have will better dictate the WiFi speed you can achieve.)
- Co-channel interference— Now we get to some of the major differences... In the 2.4 GHz band, you have the option to choose from 11 WiFi channels, where 3 of which are non-overlapping. In the 5 GHz band, you have the option to choose from 45 WiFi channels, where 24 of which are non-overlapping. Overlapping channels are what lead to network interference, so comparing the two WiFi frequency bands, we can easily see that 5 GHz provides less room for co-channel interference. It's also important to note that in the 2.4 GHz band, you aren't just receiving interference from other WiFi networks— a decent amount of network interference here comes from other household appliances that also use 2.4 GHz for signal.
- Device compatibility— Considering the fact that WiFi standard 802.11n (WiFi 4) has been around for nearly a decade now, the majority of our wireless technologies have been built to support both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. But, if you have any old networking equipment or devices from pre-2009, there's a chance they may only be compatible with the 2.4 GHz band.
Choosing between the two WiFi frequency bands
Which WiFi frequency band is best to use?
It depends. As you can see above, there are pros and cons to using either of the WiFi frequency bands. Where you get faster speeds with one, you get stronger coverage with the other; and, where you get less co-channel interference with one, you get device compatibility with the other. (A fun fact: At Minim, we are constantly monitoring device attributes and behaviors, which enable us to provide network recommendations like, "This device might be a good candidate to move to 5 GHz WiFi in order to improve its performance.")
Therefore, to choose the best WiFi frequency band for your wireless network, consider whether you need strong coverage throughout your home (i.e. your WiFi signal has to reach multiple rooms and floors). If this is the case, you will want to use the 2.4 GHz band. If this isn't the case, the 5 GHz band will be better to use as it will provide much faster WiFi speeds. (You could also consider adding a WiFi booster to help extend your WiFi signal if you find it to be weak.)
Additionally, if you own a dual-band router and use the same SSID/password for the 2.4 GHz band and the 5GHz band, client devices can automatically choose which band to use based on signal strength. Most will prefer to use the 5GHz band if within range and compatible.
How do I see which band my router is using?
To see which band your router is using, you'll need to access your router's settings:
If you are a non-Minim user, you can do this by opening your browser and typing in your router's IP address, which can be found on your router. Next, log in using your username and password (If these are still the factory set values found on your router, take a minute to change to something more secure!) Once logged in, navigate to the router settings page, where you will be able to see which WiFi frequency band your router is using.
If you are a Minim user, you are able to see which band your router is using, what devices are connected, and so much more easily from the Minim mobile app:
Minim mobile app
How do I switch WiFi frequency bands?
In the case that you own a dual-band router, you can switch to a different WiFi frequency band by accessing your router's setting page using the same process as described above. In the same spot as where you see the band your router is using, you should also see an option to choose the other WiFi frequency band to use. (Before you go ahead and change your router's frequency band, it may be worthwhile to check out MetaGeek's guide for designing a dual-band wireless network!)
More WiFi 101 topics you may like:
- WiFi channels explained
- WiFi signal strength: how it works and how it can be improved
- WiFi boosters, repeaters, and extenders: What's the difference?
- WiFi extenders vs mesh networks [pros and cons]
- How do I interpret my WiFi speed test results?
- WiFi channels explained: What is WiFi channel width?
- 3 steps to find the best WiFi channel for your router
