So… 2.4 Gigahertz? 5 Gigahertz? What do these numbers mean and why do they matter when it comes to your Internet connectivity at home? Well, this is exactly what we’re going to talk about in this article.
First things first, it’s important to pick a reliable internet provider, and for me, none is as reliable as my trusty TIME Internet that I’ve been with for five years now.
Now, while it’s important to subscribe to the best, fastest, the most consistent broadband plan you can afford, it’s also important to understand what happens when that connection is dispersed wirelessly to your devices.
What is 2.4 Gigahertz and 5 Gigahertz?!
I know, it‘s confusing and some of you may be asking:
“Do I really need to know?”
“Does it really matter?”
“Should I even care?”
The answer is YES! Okie, let’s get down to the basics.
The Basics
In a nutshell, 2.4 and 5 Gigahertz are radio frequencies that are used by the router to communicate wirelessly with your devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more. They are the 2 most common WiFi bands offered by most routers in the market, including the newer WiFi 6 models.
Without getting too technical, here are a couple of things you should know.
2.4GHz
2.4 Gigahertz is a lower frequency compared to 5 Gigahertz. That means it has the ability to travel farther and is also better at penetrating solid objects like walls.
But on the flip side, it offers a lower data transfer rate, which means it’s a little slower.
If you were to run a speed test, you’d typically get results in the range of 20-60Mbps. It is also more prone to interference because other Bluetooth household devices share the same frequency!
5GHz
The 5 Gigahertz WiFi band, on the other hand, operates at a higher frequency. It provides faster speeds at the expense of a shorter range and if you were to run a speed test, it would typically yield 100Mbps and above.
And since fewer household devices use this frequency, there’s less congestion and interference overall.
However, the downside of 5 Gigahertz though is its reach. It is not so great at penetrating solid objects like walls, so coverage is not as good as 2.4 Gigahertz.
How to choose?
Now, I know you may be thinking… Haiyo, so how ah? Which do I choose then? Well, here is the rule of thumb in choosing the right WiFi band.
The further away you are from your router, use 2.4 Gigahertz, especially if you have a large home with many rooms.
For devices that move around a lot all-day like smartphones or tablets, this lower frequency is your best bet.
It still offers more than enough speed for your day-to-day online activities like browsing the web, sending emails, chatting with friends, watching videos, and more.
If you spend a lot of time in the living room or common area where your router is commonly placed, then 5 Gigahertz is the way to go.
This WiFi band is perfect for high-bandwidth activities like gaming, video conferencing, 4K streaming, and sharing large files. Plus, you don’t have to share this frequency with your robot vacuum.
Yeap, remember my previous video about robot vacuums interfering with your WiFi, do check out that video, which I will link below, if you haven’t.
Now, switching between WiFi frequencies is common with older routers, but newer models such as TIME’s OmniMesh range will automatically connect your device to whichever band is closer or has a stronger signal.
Run a Speed Test
You may be wondering, how far or near to the router do I have to be for it to matter? That’s a great question, my friends, and here is what you will need to do – run a speed test.
Okay, but before you run a speed test, one of the easiest things you can do to check your WiFi signal strength is to look at the little WiFi symbol on your phone. If all bars are lit up, then your signal strength is strong. If it’s a few bars down, then your WiFi may be weaker and slower.
For a more concrete result, you can do simple speed tests around your home to find out.
You can either do it through your laptop browser or download a speed test app on your phone.
If you’re a TIME subscriber, you can do it through the TIME Internet app! Choose your weapon, hah!
But make sure to turn off your VPN if you have that on, and any security firewall or downloads. And if you’re using your smartphone to test, make sure to turn off battery save mode and ensure that there’s more than 20 percent juice left.
Run speed tests for both 2.4 and 5 Gigahertz connections while you move around your home and take note of the results. If you find the 5 Gigahertz connection is dropping off too much, you may want to switch to 2.4 instead.
Here’s a fun fact. If you’re using TIME’s OmniMesh devices, it will automatically choose the best frequency for your devices, so no more switching between 2.4 and 5 Gigahertz, just use a single SSID for your whole house!
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So, that’s it! I hope this quick video gives you a better understanding of the two common WiFi bands so that you can optimize your internet experience.
If you’re not already a TIME Internet subscriber, sign up now to enjoy ultrafast, reliable, and stable fibre home broadband. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, I’ve been a TIME Internet user for five years now and it’s been great!
Providing speeds up to 1Gbps over their 100% fibre network, they offer the lowest price per Mbps, plus they always have awesome deals on their website. And if you’re not on TIME Internet, what are you waiting for?! Sign up now to enjoy ultrafast and stable Internet all over your home :
Alright then, I hope you found this video insightful and if you loved it, do like and if you haven’t done so. Thank you so much for stopping by!
