5 GHz Wi-Fi has a total of 25 non-overlapping channels.. You'll definitely have a wide range of channels to choose from, even if each channel is only 20 MHz wide, plus linking channels can increase the channel size. As for bandwidth, 5 GHz is up to 1.3 gigabits per second (Gbps).
- How to choose a router, frequently asked questions and answers. What does a single-band router mean.
- How it works and the actual purpose
- The main technical characteristics of routers
- Number of bands: pros and cons of different frequencies
- Choosing a router for a standard apartment
- 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz: which to choose?
- Which router should I choose?
How to choose a router, frequently asked questions and answers. What does a single-band router mean.
I was disappointed but interested in using it personally, but I didn't understand the benefits of the 5 GHz band and put it down for storage.
Today I'm going to tell you as much as I can, but mostly in a more interesting way, what a wi-fi router is and why you need one in your apartment. Many users and happy owners of this box know little about it.
But this transmitter hides many secrets and mysteries. About this we will talk today. This article will not only tell you what the gimmick is, but also help you understand the difference between a good router and a bad router so that you can easily choose the right one for you.
However, this is for those who have not yet purchased a transmitter and are in the process of choosing one. First, let's be clear about what we mean. Router – "router" in English, is also called router in Russian, so these two words are synonymous. And now in more detail.
How it works and the actual purpose
The beginning of a router is a multistep process. The purpose of a router is to act as an intermediate link between two networks operating on different principles. It is also called a gateway. Still don't get it? -It doesn't matter. Example.
ISPs currently provide Internet services through a network in the city (which no one can live without). But for us this network is external (global), because it is not located in our apartment or house. Of course, we can connect the cable pulled by the ISP directly to our computer or laptop.
But then the question arises – since you also want to use the Internet, what should the rest of the family do? This is when the router kicks in. The Internet cable plugs into one of the ports, usually called the WAN connector. This port is usually blue or blue in color. The Internet is now making its way into our box.
The LAN ports are also used to connect the cables of many computers and laptops. You guessed it, they are yellow. By the way, you can connect not only computers, but also network printers, smart TVs, security cameras, and anything else that has a similar network interface.
The task of the router is to receive signals from the external network, create an internal network between connected devices and distribute the Internet to those devices. However, all connected devices can exchange information within the network. For example, you can download a movie to your computer and watch it on your TV.
The main technical characteristics of routers
A router, or router, is a device that receives the Internet from the provider and distributes it to the internal network and client devices connected to it – laptops, consoles, smartphones, etc. In essence, a router is a small computer, capable of processing information and distributing it to a large number of users. It has a processor, RAM and an operating system. In the basic package, any router transmits Wi-Fi and has special ports for connecting cables. However, it can also be a more multifunctional device – for example, to work with USB drives, modems, printers, and so on, to have parental control and VPN function.
Since the main function of a router is to distribute data, the most important characteristics are related directly to Wi-Fi – the number of bands and Wi-Fi standards.
Number of bands: pros and cons of different frequencies
Frequency is the speed of the signal transmission. Routers can support frequency bands in 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and combine both of these bands.
- Low speeds – often up to 300 Mbps;
- unstable operation: the band is crowded, and the device will be interfered with interference from other networks and even devices not related to Wi-Fi. For example, a switched on microwave oven can provoke signal interruption for a single-band router.
When choosing a router and reading the specifications, you should understand that the specified connection speed does not equal the data transfer speed. In reality, the speed of the router is affected by many factors: the supported Wi-Fi class (about this below), the band load, the area of the room, the number of walls / partitions, the number of connected devices. The latter is especially important to consider if several people will be using the router at once: the speed is evenly distributed among all the gadgets connected to it.
Choosing a router for a standard apartment
The peculiarity of apartment buildings is an overloaded network and a lot of interference. So when choosing a router in 2022, it no longer makes sense to consider single-frequency devices, even if you live in a small studio and alone.
A dual-frequency router is the choice for a typical apartment of up to 80 m². In order to appreciate the benefits of Wi-Fi 6, you need to make sure that your devices (smartphones, laptops, etc.) support this class. But more often, as we wrote above, Wi-Fi 5 is quite enough for an apartment.
2.4 GHz or 5 GHz: which to choose?
Your choice depends primarily on your needs. Choose the 2.4 GHz band if you need wide coverage or if you live in a house with thick concrete walls that can cause interference. The 2.4 GHz band is also ideal for surfing the Internet without claiming high speeds.
The 5 GHz band is ideal for streaming video and online gaming. You should also use this band if you want to connect a lot of home devices to your wifi.
If a wide range of Wi-Fi is not required, 5 GHz would be ideal to use. But you can also use Wi-Fi signal repeaters to extend your coverage.
Which router should I choose?
When buying a router, or router, you don't have to make a difficult choice, choosing one of two bands. This is because modern Wi-Fi routers usually use both bands.
A dual-band Wi-Fi router Transmits a signal on both the 2.4 GHz frequency and the 5 GHz frequency. With this type of router, you can connect both 5 GHz devices for higher speeds and 2.4 GHz devices for a wide range.
There are also Tri-band routers.. They broadcast three different signals: one 2.4 GHz signal and two parallel 5 GHz signals. As a result, tri-band routers allow you to connect even more devices without affecting your Wi-Fi speed. You also get less interference, and you can dedicate each band to a different device in your home or office.
You'll also soon be considering a router with 6 GHz Wi-Fi. Currently, tri-band usually means 1x 2.4 GHz and 2x 5 GHz. However, when 6 GHz routers become the norm, tri-band will refer to a router with 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands.
As Wi-Fi speeds are shared between your connected devices, a separate 5 GHz band means you get more bandwidth. Dual-band routers offer twice the bandwidth, while tri-band routers offer three (or more) times the bandwidth of single-band routers.
Sergey Sandakov, 42. Since 2011, I write reviews of useful online services, sites and programs for PCs. I am interested in everything that happens on the Internet, and I am happy to tell my readers about it.
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