Understanding the different Wi-Fi bands and when to use them

If you’ve set up a wireless router, then you’re probably aware of a specific type of language in the product’s name, such as “Dual-Band,” or perhaps even “Tri-Band,” especially it’s a newer and higher-end model. Ever wondered what these fancy taglines mean? If so, then you’ve come to the right place.

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What are Wi-Fi bands?

Wi-Fi bands are perhaps best described as ranges of radio frequencies that Wi-Fi devices utilize to communicate with one another. For example, you might’ve heard of Dual-Band wireless routers supporting the 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands, while newer Tri-Band wireless routers support these in addition to a 6GHz band.

GHz is short for gigahertz, which is a unit intended to measure a radio wave’s frequency. A smaller GHz number equates to fewer oscillations per second, while a larger number equates to more oscillations per second.

Each of these Wi-Fi bands sports its own unique properties, whether that’s improved signal distance, object penetration, or faster data speed. Between the three Wi-Fi bands mentioned above, they can be described as the following:

• 4GHz band provides the highest signal strength at greater distances and penetrates walls the best, but offers the slowest data speeds
• 5GHz band provides reduced signal strength at greater distances and offers faster data speeds
• 6GHz band provides the least signal strength at greater distances and offers the fastest data speeds

Some wireless routers allow users to set dedicated networks for each individual Wi-Fi band, while others incorporate two or three of the Wi-fi bands into a single combined network with auto-switching capabilities, depending on the device’s needs.

When to use each Wi-Fi band

2.4GHz

The 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band is the most used Wi-Fi band by devices, including computers, phones, tablets, and smart home devices, among other things. It’s generally preferred by some devices because of its superior range and object penetration, which is why some smart home devices may require it upon setup.

Unfortunately, the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band is also vulnerable to overcrowding and interference because so many devices operate in this radio space. Even household appliances like microwaves and garage door openers use this frequency, and so too do many Bluetooth devices.

While anyone configuring a Wi-Fi network can utilize any of the 11 channels to disperse signals across a wider range and avoid conflicts, the smaller number of channels available in the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band can spell out disruptions in your Wi-Fi connection if over-used.

Certain activities like web browsing are best using the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band because these activities don’t require a lot of bandwidth. Likewise, you can be anywhere in your home and pick up a decent signal from a network utilizing the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band.

Features of the 2.4GHz band include:

• Speeds of up to 100Mbps
• Longer range and greater wall and object penetration

5GHz

The 5GHz Wi-Fi band is the second-most used Wi-Fi band, typically used by higher-performance devices such as computers, phones, tablets, game consoles, smart TVs, and more. Many devices can benefit from the 5GHz Wi-Fi band because of its superior download and upload speeds, but it doesn’t reach as far as 2.4GHz does.

Because most devices are using the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band, the 5GHz Wi-Fi band is a good option if you need a cleaner Wi-Fi signal to avoid interference with other networks or wireless connections. For example, a 2.4GHz device won’t interfere with a 5GHz Wi-Fi signal, resulting in less noise when the receiver receives the signal.

Compared to 2.4GHz, the 5GHz Wi-Fi band supports 23 non-overlapping channels, which provides a wider range of relief for anyone configuring a 5GHz network when compared to a 2.4GHz network to spread signals and services out and to avoid interference.

This is the ideal band for gaming, streaming, and video calling in most households, as most wireless routers today support it and it’s much faster than 2.4GHz. Devices that will utilize this Wi-Fi band are best placed closer to the wireless router to help combat the smaller coverage area and lack of object penetration.

Features of the 5GHz band include:

• Speeds of up to 1Gbps
• Mid-tier range with mediocre wall and object penetration
• Less interference than 2.4GHz

6GHz

The 6GHz Wi-Fi band is the least-used Wi-Fi band because it’s still relatively new and adoption isn’t quite as common. It’s used by home devices that support the Wi-Fi 6E or later standard, including Wi-Fi 7, and the lack of backward-compatibility here means that 6GHz networks never need to slow down to match slower devices’ speeds.

If you’re relatively close to your wireless router, such as in a small studio apartment, utilizing the 6GHz spectrum can be fruitful. This band doesn’t penetrate walls or broadcast as far as 2.4GHz or 5GHz signals, but in a smaller and open space, it provides the single fastest wireless connection out of the three.

The 6GHz Wi-Fi band supports an even higher number of channels at 59, which considering its recent introduction, means that this band has the lowest amount of interference potential of the three different Wi-fi bands available.

Features of the 6GHz band include:

• Speeds of up to 2Gbps
• Improved latency thanks to scheduled network traffic
• Lowest range with poor wall and object penetration
• Higher network capacity
• Least amount of interference compared to 2.4GHz and 5GHz

Why does my router have two 6GHz bands?

Some Wi-Fi 7 wireless routers even have two 6GHz bands available, and this is a push by manufacturers to increase bandwidth and improve data speeds for devices connected to the same wireless router in the same structure. It’s common for one of these bands to be dedicated to gaming setups, or for families to dedicate one band to private use and the other to guest use.

Which band is right for you?

Which band you should select for your Wi-Fi usage depends greatly on how you use the internet and the layout of your home.

If you’re going to be further away from the wireless router or make the signal pass through more obstacles, then you should stick to 2.4GHz and maybe even 5GHz bands, but if you’re going to be super close, then you can really take advantage of the 5GHz and 6GHz bands and see higher bandwidth, data speeds, and more.

For the most part, smart home devices and web browsing devices should stick to 2.4GHz and leave the other lanes of traffic open to higher-demand devices. For example, gamers and streamers may prefer the higher-speed Wi-Fi bands for optimal performance.

Wrapping up

Which Wi-Fi bands do you prefer to use, and how do you use them? Be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.

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