2.4GHz vs. 5GHz: A Comprehensive Guide for Choosing the WiFi for Home

Everyone wants to access a high-speed WiFi connection nowadays. However, every few of them understand the technicalities involved with wireless internet. One of the main factors that determine internet speed is the WiFi frequency. WiFi frequency refers to the specific range of frequencies, i.e., radio waves that are used to transmit data in a network.

Before getting WiFi for home, you must know a few things about WiFi connection. Among these things, the WiFi frequency that your router will use is one of the things that you must be aware of. This is because the kind of frequency channel the router uses will determine your internet's overall range and speed.

The numbers 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz refer to two different radio wavelengths (often called "bands" or "frequencies") currently used by most routers to transmit WiFi connections. The two significant differences between these internet technologies, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wifi connections, are speed and range.

A wireless transmission at 2.4 GHz provides internet to a larger area but sacrifices the fast internet speed. On the other hand, 5 GHz provides faster speeds but restricts itself to a smaller area. Every router is designed to deliver a certain desired set of frequencies, and one will want to consider which WiFi band and channel will best suit the user's needs and give optimum performance.

The key point to ponder is the speeds of the WiFi for home or office will vary based on the internet service speed the users are paying for.

Range vs Speed - The Major Difference between the frequency digits (2.4GHz vs. 5GHz)

There is no tumbling thought over the ideal frequency between the two frequencies. It all depends on the user's requirements.

If you want a better and longer range for your devices, use 2.4 GHz. If you need higher speed and could sacrifice for range, the 5 GHz band should be used.

The 5 GHz band, which is the newer of the two, has the potential to cut through network clutter disturbance and interference to maximise network performance. Users who require a high-speed WiFi connection that does not compromise the speed can set the router to 5 GHz. It has more channels for communication, and being the newbie in the market, it usually does not have many competing devices on the band.

However, if the network has to be distributed over a larger area, 2.4 GHz will be preferable.

Exploring More About The WiFi Frequencies Of 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz

Here are both the frequencies in a nutshell:

2.4 GHz

The 2.4 GHz frequency of the WiFi router offers the wifi user a wide coverage area. It is better at penetrating solid objects with a usable speed of 50 -70 Mbps (subject to real-world scenarios).

On the other hand, it has a lower data range and is highly prone to interference and disturbance. This is why it offers a lower speed than the 5 GHz frequency band.

5 GHz

The 5 GHz frequency facilitates the customer with a higher data range with negligible interference and offers a great deal regarding internet speeds for home wifi.

Contrary to this benefit, it has a narrow coverage area and is not a successful band for penetrating solid objects. So, when users want to extend the coverage of their WiFi connection over larger areas, the 5 GHz would be ineffective.

Which Frequency Should be Used: 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz?

Several factors dictate which frequency band the devices should utilise. When a user plans to get WiFi for home, they must communicate their requirements. The WiFi connection provider may provide a suitable solution for a specific issue.

For example, if a user wants to enjoy high-speed internet without compromising the range, the ISP (Internet Service Provider) will suggest installing a WiFi range extender. Here are a few considerations for selecting the right frequency of the band for your WiFi for home:

1. Size of Your Home

A larger area will require a wider coverage area, and the 2.4GHz band is best suited for this as it has a longer range and penetration ability. For smaller homes, flats, or apartments, 5GHz will not only provide greater speed but also help with minimum interference from cluttering networks.

That being said, the 2.4 GHz frequency band offers a decent speed that would be good enough for most regular needs, such as browsing social media or watching videos. So, setting the frequency at 5 GHz might not make much sense unless the user is interested in data-intensive tasks like HD video streaming and online gaming.

2. Count of Interference

The 2.4GHz band is highly prone to interference because of the number of devices that use this frequency band, such as older routers, microwaves, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, garage door openers, and more decade-old equipment.

But if you desire a hassle-free frequency band for your wifi connection, you could rely on the 5GHz, which is a better option as long as the device is near the router/access point. Less overlap of the devices and lesser interference ensures that the user gets a seamless and consistent WiFi connection.

3. Connection Between Frequency Channel & Connected Devices

The 2.4GHz band uses longer transmission waves, which makes it better suited for transmission through walls and other solid objects. Ideally, the 2.4GHz band should be used to connect devices for low bandwidth activities like browsing the Internet. On the other hand, 5GHz is the best option for high-bandwidth devices or activities like gaming and streaming HDTV.

Whether the user chooses 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz, one thing to make sure is the modem/router and device are set to use the same frequency for the optimum use of the frequency bandwidth and better performance of the WiFi connection.

Read tips and tricks to increase your wifi speed here.

Conclusion

WiFi channel frequency is not the only thing to check while getting a WiFi for home. Several other factors also matter and determine the user experience. The quality and type of internet connection being used play major roles in the speed and bandwidth of a WiFi connection.

For example, a dedicated fibre-optic network would be much more reliable and consistent than a DSL or cellular internet. So, users must strive to get the best possible WiFi connection in their area.

ACT Fibernet is offering Fibernet services in 22 cities across the country. The users can benefit from the fast and reliable internet speeds offered by their broadband plans. Apart from that, they also offer dedicated customer services to help out their customers who are facing network or connectivity issues.

The users can choose residential plans tailored for those needing stable and fast WiFi for home. The users who need WiFi for business purposes can choose from their enterprise plans. Check their website today to learn how to get a 25% discount on your next internet bill!