What is 5 GHz?
In the home network, WiFi is mainly available in two frequencies: 2.4 and 5 GHz. One frequency, for example, is a 5 GHz frequency, which offers higher speeds, fewer interference incidents and usually less heavy usage. The range of 5 GHz is comparatively short and is therefore particularly suitable, for example, for smart TVs or game consoles, which are usually located near the router and at the same time require a stable and fast connection to the WiFi.
In summary, the 5 GHz band offers a shorter range but transmits data at a higher speed. Newer routers have both 2.4 GHz WiFi and 5 GHz WiFi, so users usually have a choice of which band to use, circumstances permitting.
Risk of confusion: 5 GHz WiFi does not transmit or has no connection with 5G mobile radio signals. The 5G mobile radio standard has no overlap with the 5 GHz WLAN.
5 GHz advantages
- Higher bandwidth compared to the standard frequency
- Higher and more stable speed, e.g. for streaming or gaming
- Less overloaded, so that faults occur less frequently
However, it is the case that at a higher frequency the range decreases. Compared to the 2.4 GHz frequency, the 5 GHz network has a much smaller range and is therefore limited to one floor, for example. Walls in particular slow down connectivity a lot. At the same time, the use of the 5 GHz frequency is hardware-dependent. Many older routers and devices do not yet support the connection to this network.
