Key Points:
- 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are the two frequencies used for Wi-Fi signals. Based on your needs for internet and WIFI speed, you can take your pick between these two types of frequencies.
- Use the 5 GHz for higher speed when you are close to your internet source. It provides faster data transfer, but it has a shorter range and can’t penetrate walls very well.
- Use the 2.4 GHz when you have barriers or some distance between your device and the internet source. It has a wider coverage range, but also a lower data transfer rate.
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are two common frequencies used for wireless communication. While both are used for Wi-Fi connectivity, they operate at different frequencies and have their own unique characteristics. The 2.4 GHz frequency is more crowded as it is widely used by many devices such as Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, and more. It provides a wider coverage area, but its bandwidth is slower than the 5 GHz frequency. On the other hand, the 5 GHz frequency provides faster data transfer speeds and is less crowded, making it better for streaming media and gaming. However, the drawback of the 5 GHz frequency is that it provides less coverage area.
©Teerasan Phutthigorn/Shutterstock.com
2.4 vs. 5 GHz: The Key differences explained
2.4 and 5 are two different wavelength frequencies on the gigahertz scale. Hertz refers to cycles per second. A gigahertz is one billion cycles per second. These two specific frequencies are used to carry WIFI information to corresponding devices for gaming, streaming, or general internet use. Each of these frequencies has its own advantages and disadvantages. One being more beneficial than the other is based on the particular needs of the situation. The major differences between the two have to do mostly with range, strength, speed, and connectivity.
©PEERASAN KHUMSREE/Shutterstock.com
2.4 vs. 5 GHz: Side-by-Side Comparison
| 2.4GHz | 5GHz | |
|---|---|---|
| Range | High | Low |
| Strength | Relative to location | Relative to location |
| Speed | Functional | High |
| Connectivity | Trouble with interference | Trouble with solid barriers |
2.4 vs. 5 GHz: 5 Must-knows Facts
- Range
2.4 GHz has a significantly wider range than 5 GHz. 5 GHz is also easily blocked by walls and ceilings whereas 2.4 GHz can easily reach across an entire house.
- Overlapping Channels
5 GHz does not have any overlapping channels. This gives it the ability to use more frequency ranges. It opens up more bandwidth that is able to be used on each individual channel. Incorporating improved protocols for transporting data such as using multiple streams on different channels also helps to make 5 GHz so much faster.
- Strength
5 GHz is stronger than 2.4 GHz, but it has a limited distance in comparison. The closer you are to a router when streaming or gaming the easier it is for your router to simultaneously send and receive data across the network in a wireless fashion.
- Interference
2.4 GHz has more interference than 5 GHz because 2.4 GHz has been the standard for so long. More devices have WIFI capabilities than ever before, and most of these devices use 2.4GHz. That leads to more interference than the 5 GHz frequency due to crowding from wireless phones, Bluetooth devices, and microwaves simultaneously using that space.
Up Next…
Let’s keep reading information about WIFI and other connectivity in your home.
- How to Pick an Internet Provider. There is not a lot more frustrating than dealing with spotty or slow internet speed at your home, especially when we are doing more and more work at home and streaming from multiple devices.
- What Is Bluetooth and How Does It Work? This magical functionality of just about every new electronic device is amazing, but how does it actually work?
- 25 Hilarious Names For Your WiFi. Let’s lighten the mood a little bit. Why does internet security have to be so serious?
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Alexander Supertramp/Shutterstock.com.
