These numbers refer to two different radio wavelengths (often called “bands” or “frequencies”) currently used by most routers to transmit wifi connections. The two big differences between these upending 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, while 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 the channel will best suit the needs and give the user 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)
A 2.4 GHz connection travels farther at lower speeds, while 5 GHz frequencies provide faster speeds at a shorter range. Your choice of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz will depend on where and how you use your WiFi connection most.
A lot of electronic devices and appliances use the 2.4 GHz frequency, including microwaves, baby monitors, security cameras, and garage door openers. If you have many of these in your home, or if you live in an apartment or condo, that 2.4 GHz band is likely to be congested, which can damage speed and signal quality.
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 and 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.
The exception to this is newer routers running 5 GHz 802.11ac WiFi, which can, in the right conditions, get range coverage equal to 2.4 GHz.Â
5 GHz
The 5 GHz frequency facilitates the customer with a higher data range with negligible interference and offers a great deal when it comes to the internet speeds for wifi at home.
Contrary to this benefit, it has a narrow coverage area and is not a successful band when it comes to penetrating solid objects. Which frequency should be used– 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz?
Several factors will dictate which frequency band the devices should utilize. Here are a few considerations for selecting the right frequency of the band
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.
Count of Interference
The 2.4GHz band is highly prone to interference because of the number of devices that use this frequency band like older routers, microwaves, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, garage door openers, and more decade-old equipment.
The Usage of the frequency band and the devices connected to it.
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.
But if you desire for hassle-free frequency band for your wifi connection one could rely on the 5GHz which is a better option as long as the device is close to the router/access point. Less overlap of the devices lesser will be the interference, which equals efficient wifi connection.
It is always good to find out the right service provider in your locality. In case you live in Pondicherry, there is a reliable internet service provider in Pondicherry known as Interjet.