You just bought a new router and you noticed something on that router’s box that it contains 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz frequency bands. You must be thinking, what are these numbers, and which one should you choose? In order to answer that question, one should know about the frequency bands, how it works, and why it is important.

In most countries, the government regulates frequency to use to avoid somebody from placing a transmitter that interferes with radio signals, telephones, or other transmitters. Let us start by getting to know what WI-FI frequency bands are before jumping in to know the difference between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and which one we should choose.

What is a WI-fi Frequency Band?

One can define frequency bands as the range of radio-wave frequencies which data transmissions use to communicate in the wireless spectrum. If the frequency is high, the data transmission will be fast, but coverage will be lower. 

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are the two main frequency bands used in Wi-Fi technology. The 2.4 GHz band has been around for a longer time. It is also a frequency not controlled by governments. As a result, 2.4 GHz devices are less expensive to produce than regulated ranges like the 5 GHz range. Manufacturers utilize this "uncontrolled" spectrum for a wide range of devices: landline telephones, baby monitors, microwaves, door lock openers, and all sorts of other gadgets.

The 2.4 GHz band has a longer range than the 5 GHz frequency. It is more resistant to obstructions than 5.0GHz. However, for ultimate performance, 5 GHz delivers a higher throughput. Both of these bands behave differently depending on the situation. Let us first take a look at the underlying technology before we head into a comparison.

What is frequency in the first place?

Visible light, radio waves, Wi-Fi signals, and everything else belongs to the same electromagnetic spectrum. Our eyes can only see the visible light, whereas all the other spectrums are invisible to the human eye. These signals, or light, travels at a constant speed. They travel as a wave, and they interact with objects and reflect off of them. Just like waves in an ocean oscillate between high peaks and low peaks, so do light waves. We call the rate at which these waves oscillate, the “frequency” of oscillation.

The higher the energy in a light wave, the higher its frequency. So, a 5 GHz signal has a lot more energy than just 2.4 GHz. But waves can also interact with one another, and these interactions have a higher impact if the waves travel at the same frequency. This is why, if there are a lot of users in a confined location, the Wi-Fi quality goes down the drain. Increasing the number of routers will not increase the quality of the connection for these users.

Additionally, both of these frequencies also come with different channels for the Wi-Fi router to use. If you are facing poor signal quality in an area, then you should change the channel that your router is operating on. Doing so will increase your Wi-Fi’s signal quality and improve your experience when on the internet.

Now that we have the technical details out of the way, let us focus on the difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi.

What is the difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz?

Since the advent of Wi-Fi, there has been a slew of new Wi-Fi standards aimed at improving both Wi-Fi speed and coverage. Wi-Fi technology 802.11n or also known as WIFI 4 came out in 2009, and it was the first to support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless frequency bands. Ever since, a huge percentage of routers have switched from single-band to dual-band mode, allowing them to send wireless signals over either of the two Wi-Fi frequencies. So, what are the differences between these Wi-Fi frequency bands? Which frequency should we choose?

Wi-Fi Coverage

In terms of the Wi-Fi range, 2.4 GHz outperforms 5 GHz. The lower frequencies sent in the 2.4 GHz band can penetrate a lot more solid objects than their higher frequency counterparts. This allows the signal to go further throughout your home.

Wi-Fi Speed

The 5 GHz band, which operates at a higher frequency compensates for its lesser range by providing extremely fast Wi-Fi bandwidth compared to the 2.4 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz frequency can offer rates of between 450 and 600 Mbps, whereas the 5 GHz frequency supports up to 1300 Mbps. Keep in mind though, that the type of router you use will have a bigger impact on your Wi-Fi speed and that your actual internet speed plays a significant role in this too.

Wi-Fi Channels

Now we will look at some of the most significant differences.

You have 11 Wi-Fi channels to pick from the 2.4 GHz band, three of which would be non-overlapping. The reason these non-overlapping channels are important is that if two Wi-Fi channels overlap with one another, they will interfere with each other. Lowering the signal quality.

On the other hand, with 5 GHz, you may choose from 45 different Wi-Fi channels. With 24 of them being non-overlapping! Making it easy to set up multiple networks and routers without them interfering with each other. It is also worth noting that network interference in the 2.4 GHz band does not simply come from other Wi-Fi networks; a significant portion of network disturbance here originates from other home appliances that use the 2.4 GHz spectrum for communication.

Device Compatibility

Given that the Wi-Fi 4 standard has been there for nearly a decade, it has the highest compatibility with most of our devices nowadays. On the other hand, most newer devices can handle both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. However, if you do have any older network services or devices from before 2009, they may only work on the 2.4 GHz spectrum.

Summary

While the 5 GHz standard is newer than the 2.4 Giga Hertz, both still have their own place and use-cases. 

Overview of 2.4 GHz

Pros: Superior at going through solid materials; wider coverage range.
Cons: Data rate is lower, making it more vulnerable to interference. This frequency is frequently used by more devices.

Overview of 5 GHz

Pros: Increased data rate; less vulnerable to interference; Less devices use this frequency.
Cons: Smaller coverage range. Less effective at penetrating solid things.

Tips to choose the suitable GHz 

It is debatable. As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to using each of the Wi-Fi frequencies. Where one provides higher speeds, the other provides greater coverage; and how one provides less channel interference, the other provides device compatibility.

A 2.4 GHz link travels further at lower rates, whereas 5 GHz frequencies offer greater speeds over a shorter distance. Where and how you utilize your Wi-Fi connection will determine whether you use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Microwave ovens, radio monitors, and automatic door openers are among the electronic equipment and appliances using the 2.4 GHz frequency. If you have a lot of them in your house, or if you live in an apartment or condominium with a lot of other people, the 2.4 GHz band will face clogging, affecting signal quality and speed.

When to use 5 GHz

If you can use the majority of your devices close to your router, then 5 GHz is the ideal option for getting faster speeds. Similarly, if you are performing a bunch of high online activities like gaming or videoconferencing, you should use this frequency and go as close to the router as possible.

Alternatively, if you live in apartments or condominiums with a lot of other people, 5 GHz will assist you in preventing wireless traffic. 5 GHz also comes with more channel options so if you need to have multiple Wi-Fi networks available, this is the way to go.

When to use 2 GHz

On the other hand, 2.4 GHz frequency is the best option if you have a device that keeps moving around a great deal during the day like a smartphone, tablet, or any other mobile device, especially if you have a huge mansion. This frequency has a longer range and is more capable of penetrating solid objects than the 5 GHz band, making it perfect for devices that move from place to place or are further away from the router. Newer routers with 5 GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi, on the other hand, can achieve range coverage comparable to 2.4 GHz in the correct settings.

Using Turbo VPN for additional security on Public Wi-Fi

While using the latest Wi-Fi standards will definitely make your Internet faster, it does not ensure security. Especially if you are on a public Wi-Fi network. Interference and general overlaps are only a problem when you have a lot of Wi-Fi networks operating in a small, confined space. Such spaces mostly exist in public malls and markets. 

Those public Wi-Fi connections are incredibly insecure. Your data and activities are not private, and we recommend that you only use public Wi-Fi connections with a VPN service. And even then, something like Turbo VPN that encrypts all communications to and from your device. Turbo VPN is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more. Subscribe to only one premium account of Turbo VPN, you can connect up to 5 devices at the same time. It's about time to access streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney Plus, and much more with Turbo VPN!