![]() ![]() ![]() Nick's love of tinkering with computers extends beyond work. In college, Nick made extensive use of Fortran while pursuing a physics degree. Before How-To Geek, he used Python and C++ as a freelance programmer. He has been using computers for 20 years - tinkering with everything from the UI to the Windows registry to device firmware. Nick Lewis is a staff writer for How-To Geek. It's tempting to just go ahead and use 5 GHz Wi-Fi for any device that supports it and use 2.4 GHz for the rest - and you can certainly do that, and it's a fine choice in most situations - but it's not always the best strategy. If you're already using a dual- or tri-band router and have both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands available, you'll have to make some decisions on which one to connect your devices to. If you live in a crowded apartment complex with dozens of wireless routers, baby monitors, and other 2.4Ghz band devices, then you should definitely consider switching to the 5 GHz band (or even the 6GHz band) if you already haven't. There's only so much speed you can get out of a 2.4 GHz network, even under ideal conditions. If you're experiencing dropped connections or if you need more speed for watching videos or playing games, then you probably need to move to 5 GHz. If you currently use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and are wondering whether you need to upgrade to 5 GHz, it's really all about what you need to do with it. That said, we're here to talk about wireless. The advantages of having both bands operating simultaneously usually outweigh the cost difference. These tend to be a bit more expensive than selectable dual-band routers, but not by much. ![]() Some router brands also let you assign the same SSID to the two bands so that devices only see a single network - even though both are still operational. A simultaneous dual-brand router broadcasts separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks at the same time, giving you two Wi-Fi networks that you can choose from when you set up a device. You actually have to use a switch to tell it the band you want to use. A selectable dual-band router offers a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, but you can only use one at a time. A dual-band router is one that broadcasts both a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signal from the same unit, essentially providing you with two Wi-Fi networks and the best of both worlds. The good news is that most modern routers act as dual- or tri-band routers. Related: What Are Dual-Band and Tri-Band Routers? Of course, you may also be able to mitigate that shorter range through the use of range extenders or mesh Wi-Fi systems, but that will mean a bigger investment. It's also got a shorter effective range than the 2.4 GHz band. On the other hand, the shorter waves used by the 5 GHz band makes it less able to penetrate walls and solid objects. The 5 GHz band is much less congested, which means you will likely get more stable connections. Related: What Is Mesh Wi-Fi and How Does It Work? However, because so many devices use the 2.4 GHz band, the resulting congestion can cause dropped connections and slower-than-expected speeds. So it's arguably better if you need better range on your devices or you have a lot of walls or other objects in the areas where you need coverage. The longer waves used by the 2.4 GHz band are better suited to longer ranges and transmission through walls and solid objects. Old cordless phones, garage door openers, baby monitors, and other devices tend to use the 2.4 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz band is a pretty crowded place, because it's used by more than just Wi-Fi. The second big caveat is that important phrase we mentioned: "ideal conditions." Related: What is 802.11ac, and Do I Need It? ![]()
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