2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz WiFi: Which Is Better?

Want to get more out of your home internet?

When setting up you home Internet connection, you likely consider price, value, and speed. Less often considered, but equally (if not more) important, is bandwidth .

Most internet service providers offer two main bandwidths-2.4 GHz and 5 GHz-and both have their own strengths and weaknesses. So which one is right for you?

Many modern routers can broadcast both signals. If you know how to set your WiFi bandwidths correctly, you can optimize your home network properly. This affects how you stream videos, play online games, or browse the web.

In this article, we'll break down the differences between 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz WiFi. We'll cover how these frequencies impact internet speed, range, and interference from other devices. Read on to find out what's best for your household needs and how to get the most out of your home internet.

GHz stands for gigahertz. It is a unit for measuring alternating current (AC) and electromagnetic (EM) wave frequencies, including radio waves used in WiFi (and no, it’s not the same as 5G WiFi ). One GHz equals one billion cycles per second.

GHz is an electromagnetic radio frequency most commonly used to transmit data (specifically, sounds or images) via radio, mobile phones, television, and wireless internet connections. Having the right bandwidth, or GHz, for your needs is imperative for being able to use your devices seamlessly.

Different GHz frequencies have different properties:

• Lower frequencies (like 2.4 GHz) travel farther and pass through solid objects more easily
• Higher frequencies (like 5 GHz) can carry more data but don't travel as far

Your router sends out these radio waves, and your devices receive them. This is how wireless internet works.

If you need an analogy to help visualize it, think of signals as cars and the frequency channel as a highway.

• 2.4 GHz is like a highway with fewer, wider lanes. It can handle traffic over longer distances but might get congested more easily.
• 5 GHz is like a highway with narrower lanes. It can handle more traffic at once but over shorter distances.

When you connect your home devices to these bandwidths separately, you can see the effect on the connection's speed, range, and compatibility with different devices.

2.4 GHz WiFi is the most common and widely supported wireless frequency that is compatible with almost all wireless devices. One of the main advantages of 2.4 GHz WiFi is its extensive range. These signals can travel further than higher frequencies and can provide WiFi coverage to a greater area.

In a large home or office with solid object partitions like floors and walls, 2.4 GHz signals provide a better connection, even in areas farther from your router. However, it's also prone to signal interference when shared with multiple devices.

The 2.4 GHz band offers only three non-overlapping channels, which can result in network congestion. You may experience traffic, which can result in drops and delays. It's also the slower option of the two, supporting WiFi speeds of up to 300 Mbps under ideal conditions.

5 GHz is a higher frequency, soit doesn't travel as far as 2.4 GHz frequencies. This means you might experience a weaker signal in areas farther from your router or in rooms with many obstructions.

However, it has 23 channels (“lanes”), which means it can handle a large amount of traffic—and do so at higher speeds (up to 1300 Mbps under ideal conditions).

5 GHz WiFi is also capable of handling data from numerous sources (think: your phone, your computer, smart TVs, etc.) at once.

While most newer devices support 5 GHz WiFi, some older or less expensive WiFi-enabled products may only work with 2.4 GHz networks. When setting up a 5 GHz network, it's important to check your devices for compatibility.

NModern routers and devices typically support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequencies. However, if you want to optimize your home network for the best performance across all your devices, you need to know when to connect to which frequency.

Here are the key differences between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi:

Speed:

• 2.4 GHz: Slower and supports speeds up to 300 Mbps under ideal conditions.
• 5 GHz: Faster and can achieve speeds up to 1300 Mbps.

Range:

• 2.4 GHz: Offers a longer range and can cover larger areas more effectively.
• 5 GHz: Faster and can achieve speeds up to 1300 Mbps.

Penetration:

• 2.4 GHz: Better at penetrating solid obstructions like walls and floors.
• 5 GHz: Results in weaker signals in areas with obstruction.

Interference:

• 2.4 GHz: Prone to interference from other devices and networks (only 3 non-overlapping channels).
• 5 GHz: Less affected by interference (has 23 channels), which helps to reduce network congestion.

Device Compatibility:

• 2.4 GHz: Supported by almost all WiFi-enabled devices.
• 5 GHz: Supported by most modern devices.

Choosing the right WiFi frequency can significantly impact your internet experience.

GWe recommend opting for 2.4 GHz WiFi if your main priority is distance rather than speed. For example, if the only place you can connect your router is far away from where you usually use the internet (like your desk, or the living room), A 2.4 GHz connection is suitable.

If you also live alone or don’t have too many devices connecting to the internet, a 2.4 GHz might be better.

2.4 GHz provides wider coverage and better penetration through solid objects, which makes it ideal for larger homes or offices.

The only notable drawback of using 5 GHz WiFi is the range. However, it makes up for that in fast connectivity, excellent upload and download speeds, and low latency times.

Connect your WiFi at this frequency if you stream, game online, or have multiple devices on your network (not just phones and computers, but anything that uses WiFi, including smart home devices). It's also a great option for those who live in smaller spaces and don't have to worry about how far the signal will travel.

Many modern routers are dual-band and support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signals. This allows you to choose the best frequency for each device based on its needs and location.

Once you’ve determined which frequency—2.4 GHz or 5 GHz—better suits your needs, follow these steps to set up your router.

• Check your router's capabilities: Make sure it is dual-band, meaning it can operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. Most modern routers support both, but some older models only support 2.4 GHz.
• Access your router settings: Open a web browser and enter your router's IP address (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). These details are on the back of your router. Log in with your admin username and password.
• Locate wireless settings: Look for a section labeled "Wireless," "Wireless Settings," or something similar.
• Choose your frequency: You'll see options for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for dual-band routers. You can typically enable or disable each band separately. Some routers allow you to set different network names (SSIDs) for each band.
• Select your channel: Channels 1, 6, and 11 are recommended for 2.4 GHz as they don't overlap. For 5 GHz, choose any available channel.
• Save and apply changes: Your router may reboot after applying the changes.
• Connect your devices: Reconnect your devices to the new network(s)

To make sure you're always connected, Optimum has award-winning Internet options, with fast speeds, reliable connectivity, and 24/7 support for all of your Internet needs. Our 100% fiber network offers increased bandwidth, which makes it great for connecting with multiple devices.

Set up both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi for your home internet and optimize your performance today.