# **You must have heard about 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Wi-Fi, so which band is “stronger”?** **If you have a Dual-Band Router (router or Wi-Fi router) , you will have to choose between 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz.** The answer about which band is “stronger” is not simple, let’s try to find a solution from the nature of the 2.4 GHz bands. and 5.0 GHz. ## 2.4 GHz band The 2.4 GHz band is metaphorically compared by analysts of The Big Tech Question with The Beatles – the famous rock band in the 1960s and 1970s – that is, this band has been around for a very long time. long and widespread. The 2.4 GHz band is used not only for Wi-Fi access, but also on nearly every digital device from baby monitors to cordless desktop phones and wireless cameras. In addition, there are still quite a few laptops (laptops) and old routers that only have one band, 2.4 GHz. The problem is that if you try to stream a 4K video from the router in the living room to the TV in the bedroom – there will be quite a few sources that transmit and receive wirelessly not only from your house but possibly from your neighbor’s router as well. And that is also the reason why manufacturers are starting to switch to making routers that operate in the 5 GHz band with less interference. ## The 5 GHz band The 5 GHz band operates on a different frequency than 2.4 GHz, meaning they can coexist without affecting each other – and they are likened by The Big Tech Question to Metallica, the popular rock band language from the 1980s to the present. Since there are fewer devices supporting 5 GHz, the waves tend to be “stronger” – reducing the risk of overloading or disrupting radio transmissions. Another good news is that the maximum data transfer rate of 5 GHz is much faster than 2.4 GHz. However, 5 GHz also has disadvantages. It uses radio waves shorter than 2.4 GHz, which means it is more difficult to penetrate walls, windows, bookcases, and all the obstacles that can be found in a modern home. ## Should I choose 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz? The first thing you need to determine is whether you have a choice because, to simplify, most routers will automatically assign devices to one band or the other. This approach has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that you don’t have to think too much but the downside is that devices using the 2.4 GHz band often cannot communicate directly with devices on the 5 GHz band – even though they are connected to the same network. Worse still, you won’t know which band each device is connecting to without diving into the router’s settings, and most likely you won’t be able to select a device that connects to a specific band either. Therefore, it is best to set it up so that each band is assigned a separate name (SSID) – so that they look like 2 different routers when you connect devices. Once you’ve done this, you should also connect all your daily-use devices (phones, tablets, smart speakers, doorbells…) on the 2.4 GHz band. They usually don’t need the highest speeds and you will benefit from the high reliability of 2.4 GHz. Devices that need very high speed and the best possible performance like TVs, 4K streaming devices or game consoles – use 5 GHz. They will be free from interference from other devices in your home and can receive data at high speed and without interruption. ## 3rd option? The great news is that you can have a third option that is the new routers based on Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are providing 6 GHz band. This band has some significant benefits such as greater capacity than 5 GHz, less interference potential than 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz because it is new and not yet widely adopted. Although like 5 GHz – has shorter coverage and is less effective through walls – 6 GHz is combined with Wi-Fi 7’s technologies, it can provide high-speed, low-latency connections , making it ideal for streaming 4K video, games, or virtual reality. Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers are still pretty rare at the moment – but if you’re thinking of upgrading, you should definitely check them out so your investment doesn’t go to waste. And since 6 GHz is the band of the future, The Big Tech Question has yet to find a suitable rock band to compare it to.
