How to Choose Which Devices to Connect to WiFi 2.4 GHz and Which to Connect to 5GHz

Introduction to current dual-band routers

A current simultaneous dual-band router is capable of working with three types of devices that we can connect through:

1. A network cable connected to one of your Gigabit ethernet ports or Multigigabit ports. Generally it has four, which we could connect by using network network cables with connecting RJ-45. In addition, in order to take advantage of the full bandwidth of the connection, it is recommended that the cable be category 6 and up.
2. Use the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network , currently all devices that can be connected by WiFi can use it, since it is the frequency band that has always been used in Wi-Fi wireless networks, so we will not have any compatibility problem.
3. Connecting to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network , here the issue is more complex since there are quite a few devices that cannot connect to this frequency band. The trend is that most of those manufactured in 2020 are compatible with this type of network, but this does not always happen, it depends on the internal wireless card used by the equipment, usually low-end devices (smartphones and tablets), they do not incorporate this functionality.

As for the network cable, it is undoubtedly the best method to obtain the highest speed that our connection offers, and in a more stable way. This means that, generally, we will not have large fluctuations in speed. In addition, we are going to get a better ping, or what is the same, a better response time from when the packet leaves our computer until it reaches its destination, however, the most important thing is the jitter (ping fluctuation), and it is that we will not have “lagazos”.

Therefore, to finish with the network cable connections to those Gigabit Ethernet ports of our dual band router, we recommend connecting the following equipment:

1. Desktop PCs nearby.
2. A laptop that is almost always in the same place and has the router nearby.
3. A Smart TV, game consoles and other types of multimedia devices. In many cases, especially when you are in the center of the house and are located next to the router, it is highly recommended to connect these devices via cable. In that case forget about WiFi, since the network cable will give you better performance.

Analysis of 2.4GHz networks, regulations, advantages and disadvantages

If we want to know which devices it is better to connect to WiFi 2.4 GHz and which ones in 5GHz we have to start by knowing them. Now we are going to deal with the 2.4 GHz network, through its nomenclature, we will know what speed they can reach. Then we will turn to its advantages and disadvantages.

Now it’s time to talk about the 802.11 standard, which is a family of wireless standards created by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In the case of the 2.4 GHz band, current routers work with 802.11b / g / n / ax standards.

The oldest is the 802.11b standard, which was approved in 1999. The maximum transmission speed is 11 Mbps. In real life, this maximum speed is reduced by approximately 5.9 Mbps over TCP and 7.1 Mbps over UDP. Then, in June 2003, the 802.11g standard was approved. In this case we could consider it as its natural evolution. With this mode, a theoretical maximum speed of 54 Mbps can be achieved. On the other hand, the real average of the real transfer speed obtained was approximately 22.0 Mbps.

The 802.11n standard was approved in September 2009. In this case, the theoretical maximum speed that can be reached depends on the number of Wi-Fi antennas, both internal and external, in real life at most there are computers with a total of four antennas WiFi, which are capable of providing speeds of up to 1,000Mbps thanks to 1024QAM quadrature amplitude modulation. A fact that we must comment is that it can work in the 2.4 GHz band and in the 5 GHz band simultaneously. This standard is currently referred to as Wi-Fi 4.

Finally, we currently have the 802.11ax standard , which was recently approved and we are starting to see routers, WiFi access points, wireless network cards and other devices such as smartphones or tablets that support it. It makes use of the same 2.4GHz band, but improves its performance to provide up to 1,148Mbps when we use four antennas in MU-MIMO 4T4R configuration.

Regarding the 2.4 GHz WiFi band, we can comment that it operates from 2,412 MHz (channel 1) to 2,472 MHz (channel 13). Therefore, we would have a new channel every 5 MHz apart. In addition, the channel width is 20MHz or 40MHz, so with a couple of Wi-Fi networks we would be occupying almost all the available spectrum.

As you can see, the inconvenience of having few channels will cause us to have a lot of interference with nearby networks. If you make a simple check with your smartphone of the networks available in a large city, obtaining a result of more than 20 would not be strange at all.

These interferences that we suffer with nearby Wi-Fi networks cause 2.4 GHz networks to obtain a connection speed much lower than 5 GHz . In general we could have an average maximum speed of between 60 or 80 Mbps. However, thanks to the fact that the frequency used is lower, we obtain its greatest advantage and that it is none other than that its signal goes further .

In summary, 2.4 GHz networks have less connection speed, but in exchange, their signal coverage goes further than those of 5 GHz networks.

Analysis of 5 GHz networks, regulations, advantages and disadvantages

The first standard to use the 5GHz band was 802.11a, with a speed of 54Mbps maximum, exactly the same as the 802.11g standard for the 2.4GHz band. The next standard in using this frequency band was 802.11n, with the same speed and characteristics as the 2.4GHz band, but it was a before and after since the first simultaneous dual-band routers began to appear.

In the 5 GHz band we have to talk about the 802.11ac regulation that was approved in 2014. It is currently the most widely used in this band. Another way to name it is as WiFi 5, WiFi Gigabit or as WiFi 5G. Transfer rates of up to 433 Mbps can be obtained per data stream using 256QAM quadrature amplitude modulation. As a maximum speed we could theoretically reach rates of 1.3 Gbps using 3 antennas, or 1.7Gbps if we use 4 antennas. Also, if we use a 1024QAM quadrature amplitude modulation, the speed will be 25% higher, around 540Mbps per data flow.

Finally, the 802.11ax standard that is prepared to operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Popularly known as WiFi 6, I mention it so that you know what the future of our WiFi networks will be. As for 5 GHz networks, there are 21 channels of 20 MHz, as we have more, there will be less possibilities for a network to coincide on the same channel, although in this case we have channel widths of 80MHz or 160MHz, so neither is that we have so many channels available, but clearly many more than in the 2.4GHz band.

Therefore, we can affirm that the great advantage that 5 GHz networks give us is that we obtain a connection speed much higher than 2.4 GHz. If we use a modern smartphone that supports 5 GHz networks, we can obtain speeds higher than 500 Mbps and even higher if we use a laptop.

On the other hand, 5 GHz networks because of the frequency they use, have a drawback and it is none other that supports distance and obstacles such as walls worse . This also has its positive point (having less coverage), since the neighbors’ Wi-Fi networks will be greatly attenuated and will not interfere with ours.

The WiFi Alliance has already standardized the new 6GHz band, which is the perfect complement to the 5GHz band since it will allow us to connect a large number of devices without interference, by having even more channels to connect equipment. Thanks to this decision, we will soon see routers with Wi-Fi 6 using this Wi-Fi frequency band.

Criteria for choosing which WiFi network to connect to

Now that we know the strengths and weaknesses of the 2 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi networks, we are going to learn which type of network works best for each one. The best we can do is study the device and decide based on:

1. The distance from the router.
2. The bandwidth you need.

As a general rule we could say that devices that need a lot of bandwidth , and are close to the router, use the 5 GHz band . On the other hand, if you need a low connection speed or are far away, it is best to use the 2.4 GHz network .

Also whenever you have the router next to you , try to use an ethernet network cable since we will always get higher speed and a more stable connection, especially if we are going to transfer a large amount of information.

The next thing we are going to do is put examples with a series of equipment that we usually have in our homes.

PCs and laptops

Both PCs and laptops often require a high connection speed. They may need to carry out tasks as demanding as:

• View multimedia content in 4K streaming, such as on YouTube, Netflix or Disney + among others.
• Videoconferences.
• Play online in multiplayer games.
• Receive updates from the operating system.

Ideally, if they have a site and the router is close by, it is the network cable, as I mentioned earlier. However, this is not always possible and in this case it is best to use the 5 GHz network unless those devices are very far from the router, and they have to be connected to the 2.4GHz band.

Smart TV and Android TV

These devices also require significant bandwidth for their proper operation. Many of the conventional TV channels have their app so you can watch the program or series that you couldn’t watch at the time. In addition to that, we have to add payment platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO or Disney +.

Our first option would always be the Ethernet network cable, but sometimes we do not have the router next to the TV to make it possible, so in this case, our recommendation would be 5G Wi-Fi, especially if we have the router in the same room or in one of the adjoining ones. Ideal especially if you play 4K content.

The 2.4 GHz network could also be used as long as the streaming does not exceed the Full HD resolution, or if it is quite far from our WiFi equipment.

Smartphones and tablets

The first thing to note is that not all smartphones and tablets are compatible with 5 GHz networks. However, with the 2.4 GHz network they can all work. The easiest way to check it on Android is to go to Settings, Wi-Fi and look at it. There the two SSIDs or names of your Wi-Fi network should appear. If only one appears, that means that it is only compatible with the 2.4 GHz one, or that in your router you have an SSID for the two frequency bands with band steering, so you will have to connect and see the Wi-Fi status to see which frequency band you’ve connected to.

The advisable thing if you are close to the router, is the use of the 5 GHz, especially if you are going to watch videos on YouTube or make video calls. However, for use in more remote rooms, it would be more advisable to use the 2.4 GHz network, especially since the mobiles have very small antennas and allow very little signal reception.

Wi-Fi IP cameras, smart plugs and other devices

In this case, it is best to use the 2.4GHz network. An important reason is that devices such as smart plugs require a low connection speed to work well, the same goes for IP cameras because they have very little bitrate to function properly. Another favor point would be that, even if they are far from the router, they can work correctly.

In the case of smart plugs, the bandwidth you need is a few Kbps to receive or send the activation or deactivation signal, in addition, its firmwares are very small so updating it would not be a problem either.

With this series of examples, it is clear that you must connect your devices to the corresponding network and depending on your needs and requirements. So depending on the connection speed and the distance you are from the router you will choose the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network, and you can even connect it via cable.