Recognize when to use 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz depending on your needs
WiFi is already a basic element in most homes, since we use it on all our devices - mobile, computer and tablet - to have an internet connection and be able to use any application. However, what do we know about our WiFi?
Once the router is installed in our home, its objective is the internet connection. We enter username and password on our device... and browse. It is true that WiFi has fulfilled its function, but, many times, we stay with that information and stop being aware of more technical aspects that we consider boring or complicated. However, it is not as difficult as it seems and it is very useful to know what frequency we are using. And it's been a few years since our router It gives us two possibilities: the use of the 2.4 Ghz or 5 Ghz network . But what does this mean?
The first option (2.4 Ghz) provides us with a slower connection speed and may have interference due to having few channels that overlap each other, since if we are in a neighborhood where there are a large number of homes, many of them will use the 2.4 Ghz WiFi network. However, the main benefit is that it has greater range by operating at longer frequencies in addition to being compatible with more devices. For its part, the 5 Ghz network has more channels that prevent overlapping and a higher connection speed, but its problem is that it has a shorter range and some devices do not accept it.
Therefore, which WiFi should we choose for our devices? The answer is not unanimous and depends on the device. On the one hand, the use of the 5 Ghz WiFi network provides greater speed, which could make it the best option. However, as we mentioned before, there are many products that can only be used with a 2.4 Ghz WiFi network.
Some of these products are those related to IoT devices ( Internet of Things ), that is, products related to home automation , which require a WiFi network of lower speed but greater distance, since we will need to control them from further away. This can pose a problem for us, since, if we have 5 Ghz WiFi activated, we will have to deactivate it, activate 2.4 Ghz WiFi to connect the device and, once connected, activate 5 Ghz again if we wish. You can see this process in this video, and although we know it can be cumbersome, it is also effective. Furthermore, if we have any problem, all we have to do is contact our telephone company so they can solve it.
On the other hand, older products may also require the 2.4 Ghz network. Among them we find laptops from a few years ago or other current low-cost devices, such as a basic mobile phone, which does not have the built-in 5 Ghz connectivity option.
Thus, we make a selection of some of the many examples that can tell you when it is advisable to use each of the WiFi networks:
2.4GHz WiFi
- Use home automation products
- Check social networks from the top floor of your house if the router is on the ground floor
- Read the news on the internet from your garden
- Connect your wireless mouse
5GHz WiFi
- Play video games
- Watch videos on Youtube
- Watch a series on streaming platforms such as Netflix, HBO, Movistar + or Amazon Prime
- Use Smart TV
As a clarification, it is essential to understand that the 2.4 or 5 GHz WiFi network It is very different from the 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mobile network. Ghz refers to Ghz, this being a unit of frequency measurement that is made up of one million hertz, while the G alone refers to the multiple advances of the mobile generation that have allowed us to have faster and more interactive connectivity.