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WIFI CONNECTIONS ARE pretty much ubiquitous by now. All modern devices now connect to them and there are more free WiFi spots popping up in different places.
For a while, WiFi connections were mainly 2.4GHz but there are many new routers that now have 5GHz connections and more devices that support them.
As you may have guessed, GHz (hertz) refers to frequencies which determine the strength and range of a signal. While 5GHz has been around for just as long as 2.4GHz, as far back as 1999, it was more expensive and didn’t come into popularity until recent years. So all devices catered for 2.4GHz instead.
Pretty much any wireless device like cordless phones, baby monitors, and Bluetooth devices rely on 2.4GHz connections. It’s a shorter, denser frequency which is better for range and when there are walls blocking you and the router.
There are different standards of 2.4GHz, which we won’t get into, but since it was so popular, it meant that it became very crowded since all devices were operating on it.
That meant it’s harder to get a connection. If you have numerous devices using the same frequency, it can impact the overall quality and result in dropped connections from time to time.
When you change to 5GHz, there isn’t as much interference, and it’s a stronger signal, meaning a more reliable connection and faster data rates.
It also means that the new batch of smart devices that are coming out will all be able to maintain a connection without problems.
The drawback to 5GHz is its range is shorter in comparison to 2.4GHz so coverage doesn’t spread as far. Also, it has more difficulty penetrating obstacles like walls, and windows so the connection may drop if you walk outside.
So in short, 2.4GHz has better range, but 5GHz has less interference so if your devices support it, connect to 5GHz. Otherwise 2.4GHz works just as well.
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Just put all your devices on the 5 network and the rest of the family on the 2.4 then it’s quicker.
I hear that they have the internet on computers these days……
You could also change the bandwidth you are broadcasting over on both from 20 MHz to 40MHz it will double your max data rate, downside is a bigger drain on battery. 5GHz has a larger max data rate than 2.4Ghz and is more reliable.
Also may want to change channel on 2.4GHz to either 1, 6 or 11 as they will not overlap with other channels and cause less interference. Most devices usually set up to/bunched around channel 1.
Use inSSider version 3 (free for PC) from metageek and it will display what channel you are on and other channels around you. For mobile phone WiFi test use WiFi ANALYTICS from Netgear to test WiFi environment around you.
Problem is Trevor, you may understand what you said but for most people it’s just words. What most techies fail to understand is that terminology plays a huge part in peoples’ understanding of things. I like many others, turn on my phone, laptop etc. and wonder at the amazing things going on inside the case which allows us to have wonderful things like wifi and internet and that’s it. Unless things technology are explained in words of one syllable, eyes glaze over.
Granted yeah, most people don’t look under the hood. They need to learn how to use the WiFi device router manager to tweak their router.
URL/website address in web browser 192.168.1.1 will get you into most router manager and use password that is router dependent, maybe on back of router.
URL for a WiFi repeater 10.10.254 and another one off the top of my head would be 192.168.1.254
No point paying good money for a router and not learning how to tweak it to improve your WiFi experience.
40MHz a bad idea in dense environments like apartments or terrace housing. Switching to narrower 20MHz can actually speed up performance in these instances especially in 2.4GHz. No point in doubling you data rate if it halves your chance of transmission.
Flash the the firmware on your 802.11ac to Tomato that’ll sort you out
I fail to see the logic of 5g based on the information in this article.
Most peoples’ wifi emanates from a single router, usually sited beside the main telephone line input. So if 5g has difficulty penetrating walls and obstacles then by extension, the only place you could reliably use an appliance is in that room. Purely a layman’s opinion, feel free to pull it apart.
That’s what I took from it too. According to the article the only advantage of 5Ghz is that there are fewer devices using it. But if you change your home router to 5Ghz then all the same phones, tablets, laptops etc will be competing with each other. Does it mean you have to have two routers for there to be any improvement? Seems kind of pointless when you factor in the weak reception through walls, unless you live in a bedsit.
A decent router / WiFi hot spot can broadcast over both frequencies at the same time.
The point is other non WIFI devices like cordless phones as in landline phones, baby monitors, radio controlled cars etc use 2.4.
2.4GHz is a busy “Junk Band” shared with Bluetooth, zigbee, phone watch and in a multi AP or dense urban environment has only 3 usable non-overlapping channels so the band is congested. While 5GHz can’t penetrate obstacles as well as 5GHz it’s very usable and has an allowed EIRP twice that of 2.4GHz but the big advantage is 19 indoor non overlapping channels. In dense environments e.g an apartment block it means 19 apartments get their own non shared 20MHz slice while lower density users can have 80MHz wide quad channels giving a data rate currently up to 1.3Gb/s… 2.4GHz allows max 450Mb/s using 40MHz dual channels but then again you only have 3 channels (usable).
Ye 2.6 GHz is the difference
While anybody with issues with wiffy interference should look at the power line networking. I find it much more stable and user friendly. Also clears up the network for your mobile devices as you can ethernet consoles, smart tvs, pc towers or laptops.
That’s great if you have a network socket on your device and don’t mind it being tethered. Not much good for tablets/phones/ultraportables.
My PS3 can’t see my new wifi connection. Would that be because of the frequency?
Have you considered bringing it to specsavers?
Yeah it could be. I had a hell of time getting my very, very old laptop to recognise and then connect when we changed provider and router. You should have a look at your router setting and play around with them.
PlayStations can only pick up 2.4ghz
Thanks Arro. I didn’t set up the 2.4Ghz network based on the “that number is bigger” decision making model. Thought my PS was just on the way out
turn on your router
Have it working now, thank you
5Ghz AC routers are a lot faster can get over 200Mb download on speedtest on my IPhone 6, the downside is speed and range drop the further away you are from the router.
You’re not getting 200MB
I noticed zero difference when I had a 5gz setup , ping slightly lower that’s it .
We’ve turned of the wireless altogether in our home and use powerline adaptors to route our broadband through our plug sockets.
A bit awkward at first, but the connection’s a lot better.
Though the main reason was the safety aspect.
WiFi is a recent technology, far to many birth defects, miss-carriages, sterility, in the human population these days.
Fortunately we live in a rural area.
Turn your Phone Wifi on in a city centre apartment block these days, and you can be in the range of 10, 50 even 100+ routers.
The flat next door and/or the one upstairs may have their router beside your baby’s cot.
Some schools have even ditched their books for Wifi Tablets.
I won’t be allowing anyone use my babies as their GuineaPigs.
Not enough research has been done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrVNdbT7hb4
If you wear tinfoil hats you will be fine. Make a little tinfoil blanket for your babies.
My babies are just fine thank you.
I’ll pass on your weirdo experiment.
I applaud your actions,interesting so Many people are not aware of the effects…The amount of reds you got signifies the ignorance of most people…Well done…you and family comes first…
That’s statement has been said quite a lot in the last few years to condemn people that question any official line not coming out from main stream…you should do some research and stop being so ignorant to others peoples opinions…You believe the office line because you are simply a college boy spoon Fed lies on a daily basis
Amen Sean.
Amen.
Everyone knows someone who got headaches from over use of a mobile or cordless phone.
It’s far from a conspiracy theory.
Powerline adapters lol, sure isn’t it the pylons/electricity that are causing all the defects. I take it you don’t use mobile phones or radios then either.
humanfromplanet – Well then you should turn off all your lights in your house, and pull the curtains from the sun as well because they are exactly the same e.m. waves but at an even HIGHER frequency.
You, or your friend Sean there, cant go wrong with full body tinfoil suits for all the family whether your indoors or outside.
Sorry to spoil your fun Cyan, but the Sun has been around a lot longer than Broadband Routers and Mobile Phone Masts and the strange birth defects and diseases of recent years.
And thanks again but I’ll look after my own family.
I don’t live near pylons Conor.
Even if I did I’d air stay on the side of caution.
human – I think the information on the tinternet is doing you more damage than the actual frequencies. You need a filter for that as well.
The term conspiracy theories came about after the JFK assassination,anybody that did not go with the official government line ie Warren commission was a conspiracy theorist,ironic that at same time cia was infiltrating the media during operation mocking bird…now today of you question anything your labeled cool.Lets just same I’d rather be in the minority and question everything as opposed to believing everything my government tells me.
I meant your labeled a kook
I think perhaps Sean had a point. I don’t see an alternative though. For me it’s like cars. Dangerous and known to kill people (millions per year globally) but the upside is incredible and there isn’t an alternative right now.
@Human Are you sensitive to 2.4GHz or 5GHz or are you dual band?
Sorry guys.
Domestic routers have only been in circulation here for a decade or so.
I’m not trying to promote, endorse or sell anything.
Just being responsible for myself and my babies.
I’ll pass thanks.
Jesus an Article about Wifi and the crazies are on it. It really is like fox news here lately.
Poor article.
The benefit of 5GHz is increased speed over the wireless network, also less interference from other devices that broadcast on lower frequencies.
The downside is lower range, meaning that you probably wouldn’t be able to get the signal outside the house, or maybe in all rooms.
As said earlier, you can have both enabled at the same time. It is definitely worth turning it on if your router supports it. If you have a fast internet connection you may not be getting the benefit if you are using 2.4GHz wireless.
I’m on the fibre to the home trial in Belcarra County Mayo. I noticed a tremendous increase in speed when I got the new Eircom F2000 modem which supports 5ghz. Before that the 2.4ghz on the F1000 modem was nowhere near as fast. I’ve hit well over 200mbps download compared to nowhere near as fast previous to that
Pylons are extremely dangerous, I got stuck at the bottom of one in school.
What genius thought this topic would be current ??? It’s about 10 years too late FFS.
The future is 5GHz, make sure any kit you buy is 5GHz capable, laptop & tablets are obvious but don’t forget about wifi enabled TVs, sprakers, amps etc.
5gigs is fine until it also gets crowded A direct LAN connection is best if your pc is static
and its its harder to hack.
The end user will find no difference at all.
Instantaneous frequency hopping minimizes interference of course.
The “range” at higher frequency is not shorter. Boost the power…. boost the range.
The 5 GHz radio frequency finds it harder to get around a corner though!
Line of sight.
have your say