Currently, the vast majority of routers, WiFi access points and PLCs with WiFi, have simultaneous dual band, being capable of broadcasting in the popular 2.4GHz band, and also in the 5GHz band or commonly known as 5G. This frequency band is much faster than 2.4GHz, since it has a greater channel width, less interference with neighboring networks, and is much freer from wireless devices. However, it is possible that your computer only connects to the 2.4GHz band and not to the 5G band, today in this article we are going to explain step by step all the checks you must do.
We have divided this tutorial into two distinct parts, the checks that we must do on our wireless router , and also the checks that we must do on our computer or smartphone . We recommend that you follow all the checks step by step, to try to find the error, and then solve it.
Checks you should do on the router
Most of the 5G connection failure errors are due to a bad router configuration, or that it does not directly support simultaneous dual band. We must remember that, to enter the router, we must do it with a web browser by putting the default gateway of the router in the address bar. How can we find out which is the default gateway (the router)? We go to “Start” and put “cmd” and press enter, to go directly to the Windows command prompt.
Once here, we must execute the following command and press enter: “ipconfig”. When we have executed this command, “Default gateway” will appear followed by an IP address, normally the default gateway on routers is: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, 192.168.50.1 and 192.168. 178.1, but the best thing is that you see what IP you have, and with the web browser you put this in the address bar: http://192.168.1.1
Is our router simultaneous dual band with 5G WiFi?
The first thing we must bear in mind is that, in order to connect to the 5G band, our router must be simultaneous dual band, or at least, broadcasting in the 5G band. This is known by looking at the router model, if it is “AC” or “AX” then it is simultaneous dual band. However, if our router indicates that it is “N”, then it is possible that it is not simultaneous dual band. Before continuing to check different aspects of our router, we must make sure that our router, indeed, supports the 5G band.
Is the 5G WiFi network enabled?
If our router is compatible with the 5G band, we must enter the firmware and check if this frequency band is really activated or not. In the «Wireless» section, we should see a menu that tells us if the frequency band is activated or deactivated. Some routers have the same physical button to activate the WPS and to activate / deactivate the WiFi frequency band, so it is possible that we have accidentally turned it off.
If you have the Movistar router, you must enter the “WiFi Plus” section that refers to the 5G band, while “WiFi” refers to the 2.4G band. In this configuration menu, you will see an option called “Wireless Network Status” and it should be marked “On”.
Once we have verified it, we click on apply changes, and we will check with the WiFi client if we can already detect it.
Is the SSID (WiFi network name) hidden?
By default, on all WiFi routers, APs and PLCs with WiFi, the name of the WiFi network is always displayed, but it is possible that you have hidden it and do not remember it, or that you have configured the router incorrectly by mistake. To verify if the SSID is hidden, the easiest thing is to enter the advanced configuration of your router, and see if we have activated the option “Hide WiFi network”. Depending on the router model, it will be in one location or another.
What channel is it broadcasting on?
The 5GHz band has different WiFi channels to broadcast, in this article we have previously explained what channels are available in this band, and what its main characteristics are. Normally the routers broadcast on channels 36, 40, 44 and 48, they are called U-NII-1 channels, we also have channels 52, 56, 60 and 64, with the so-called U-NII-2A channels, and finally we have channels 100, 104, 108 and 112 or higher, which are channels U-NII-2C. From channel 149 they are called U-NII-3.
Some WiFi cards only support the 5G WiFi channels that are located in the “low channels”, that is, channels 36, 40, 44 and 48. If we are broadcasting on channel 100, and the WiFi client is not compatible with this band of frequencies, since logically it will not be able to “see” any WiFi network. In the previous image we have the channel in automatic, as you can see, it has automatically chosen channel 108 to broadcast, so if we had an old WiFi card, we could not connect.
Checks on your PC or smartphone
Once we have done all the checks on the router, if we are still not able to connect correctly to the 5G network, then we must follow the following steps to check and begin to rule out possible problems.
Is my WiFi card compatible with 5G?
The first thing we must know is if our WiFi card is compatible with the 5GHz band. How can we find out? If we go to “Control Panel / Network Center / Change adapter settings” we can see the exact model of our WiFi card. If it does not appear, we can use programs such as AIDA64 to find out the exact model of the WiFi network card that we have installed.
When we know the model, then we must go to the official website of the manufacturer, and see the technical characteristics of this card. It should indicate somewhere the compatibility with the 802.11a / ac / ax standards, if it does not support these standards, it means that it does not support the 5G band, and that you will always have to connect to the 2.4G band. In case it appears that it is compatible with WiFi 5 or WiFi 6, we can affirm that it is compatible with the 5G band.
Is my WiFi card compatible with the channel used by the router?
In the event that our card is compatible with WiFi 5, but we still do not “see” the WiFi network, check the router’s broadcast channel, and make sure that you are broadcasting on the “low” channels 36, 40, 44 and 48. Such And as we have explained previously, there are WiFi cards that are compatible with 5G, but only for the “low channels”, not being compatible for channels 100, 104, 108 and 112, therefore, you must enter your router and look at which channel is broadcasting.
You can also use programs such as WiFi Analyzer for Android or the Acrylic WiFi Home program to see the WiFi channels, both 2.4G and 5G, but this must be used on a computer that is capable of “seeing” the WiFi network, because if We use it on the computer that cannot connect to the 5G network, we will still not see the WiFi network and without knowing which channel it is broadcasting on.
Am I close to the WiFi router?
The 5GHz band has less range than the 2.4GHz band, if we are very far from the router, but we see the 2.4GHz band, it is very possible that the 5G band will not see us due to the simple fact that we are too far away. Depending on the WiFi card that we are using, we can connect further or closer to the main router. Therefore, if a computer is able to connect from the position where you are currently, but the other computer is not, it is very possible that it is a WiFi coverage problem.
Have I connected to the 5G network before and now it won’t let me?
If you have already connected to the 5GHz band in the past, but now it won’t let you, check that you have deleted the remembered WiFi network in Windows. This is very important, because if you have changed the password, Windows will detect that it is not correct and it will appear at the end of the list of available WiFi networks. We recommend you go to the section of remembered WiFi networks, and click on “Forget network”, to later reconnect again. You have probably solved the problem simply by forgetting the remembered network, and connecting again.
We hope that with these tips you have been able to connect with the 5G band, much faster and recommended than using the 2.4G band, but you must remember that this frequency band has less range than the 2.4G band, therefore, you must be closer router, access point or PLC with WiFi, otherwise you will not be able to connect.