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5 GHz vs 2.4 Ghz Wireless Network Connections

A lot of people seem confused about, or maybe just completely unaware of, what the differences are between the 2.4 and 5GHz wireless frequencies.  First of all what the 5Ghz signal refers to has nothing to do with 5G mobile networking technology.  All modern Wi-Fi  routers and receivers support 2.4 Ghz connections.  Many newer ones also support 5 Ghz connections.  This refers to the frequency at which the signal is broadcast.

Is 5 Ghz faster than 2.4?  In many newer devices 5 Ghz does allow more bandwidth and will provide potential faster data transfer than 2.4 Ghz signals.  There are limitations though… like the speed of your internet from your provider.

Another advantage is that there are less devices to interfere with the 5 Ghz signal.  Many common household items such as microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and garage door openers work off of a 2.4 Ghz signal and may cause problems when using this frequency for your wi-fi.

The are some disadvantages to 5Ghz wireless connections as well.  Higher frequencies do not travel as far, so the range of Wi-Fi will be shorter.  They also do not penetrate solid objects (walls) as well, again limiting the range in homes and offices.

Fortunately most new routers support both frequencies, so you can simply choose which one works best for your situation.