Wifi frequency range 5 ghz

That's where the developers remembered the good old WiFi 5 GHz – today devices supporting 802.11n and 802.11ac standards work in this range. It is the latter that provides the maximum wireless connection speed.

160 MHz in the 5 GHz band: WiFi routers and cards with top speeds

Since the Wi-Fi 5 standard, including the new Wi-Fi 6 standard, some routers, access points and Wi-Fi card support 160 MHz channel width in the 5 GHz band , Default Wi-Fi 5 standard uses a channel width of 80 MHz However, by doubling the channel width (160 MHz), we will achieve twice the actual speed with the same number of antennas. Today we are going to explain the maximum speeds what we will achieve with an 80 MHz channel width and 160 MHz channel width depending on the number of antennas

Using 160 MHz channel width in routers and access points is very important if we want to achieve real speeds of 1000 Mbps or higher, that is, with this channel width we can achieve speeds above the Gigabit Ethernet standard that we all know, but we will only achieve this in the 5 GHz band, as we will have a large number of channels available. With a router and Wi-Fi 6 supporting 160 MHz, we can easily beat the Gigabit Ethernet interface speed, as you will see below.

Channels available for use with 160 MHz channel width

In this article, we talked earlier about the channels available in the 5 GHz band, specifically we have UNII-1, which are 36, 40, 44 and 48. We also have UNII-2, which are DFS channels, and they are 52, 56, 60 and 64, finally we have UNII-2 extended channels, which go from channel 100 to channel 144.

With the ability to configure all of these channels in our Wi-Fi router, we have a total of 5 channels available if we use the 80 MHz channel width, and only two channels if we use the 160 MHz channel width, since we will be taking up all of the available spectrum.

When we configure our wireless router or Wi-Fi access point with a 160 MHz channel width, we can select the control channel, but the channel width extends to the entire spectrum included in UNII-1 and UNII-2, as well as the entire UNII-2. Extended, as you can see in the previous figure.

5 GHz and 2.4 GHz WiFi bandwidth – what's the difference in practice?

In practice, the difference between the 5 GHz band and the 2.4 GHz band is the ability to connect more devices without losing signal quality. It also has a higher maximum speed and network bandwidth.

Equipment that supports the 5 GHz standard is more expensive, but not by much. In addition to the high speed to the pluses of wifi 5 GHz can be attributed to the fact that at the moment it almost nobody uses, and therefore there is no interference. While the frequency range of 2.4 GHz is heavily littered, because it operates not only routers and network devices, but also all the devices of the smart home. Just look at the number of simultaneously working networks in the access area from my apartment.

2.4 GHz

5 GHz

The difference in range of the wireless signal in the range of 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz

The only serious disadvantage of the 5 GHz frequencies is the shorter range of the signal from the WiFi source and the "penetration" compared to 2.4 GHz. If at 2.4 GHz the router can easily pass through two or three interior walls or a solid wall, then for 5 GHz even one interior wall, cabinet or door can be an insurmountable obstacle.

See how the reception decreases as you move farther away from the 2.4 GHz wireless access point

As you can see, the 5 GHz signal fades much faster. However, on the one hand, the advantage of 2.4 GHz in this aspect is offset by the strong clogging of this range. On the other hand, the 5 GHz coverage area can easily be expanded by installing wireless signal repeaters or mesh systems.

Advantages of

Now briefly about the advantages of the new band compared to 2.4 GHz:

• Higher speeds. The 802.11ac standard is up to 6.77 Gbps with 8 antennas in MU MIMO mode, and Beamforming technology gives better beam directionality to the end device. The new 802.11ax promises even better. The previous one, 801.11n, gets up to 450 Mbps (and normally up to 300 Mbps).
• Less wireless congestion and interference – and it's true, because not all neighbors have switched to the new routers.
• The standard is backward compatible. In addition, many routers work in two bands – i.e. old devices will work safely at the old speeds without much conflict.
• More non-overlapping channels (up to 33 channels) – everything is really free here, and the channel width is larger.

Disadvantages

But not everything is so rosy. Although the technology is not new anymore, but problems with it are still encountered:

• The devices are quite expensive. We're talking about central home routers. The price tag on them is inflated from the old ones by at least 1,000 rubles.
• Older devices are compatible, but do not work at high speeds with it – it is clear, but at home it will be very expensive to upgrade all phones and laptops.
• Less coverage (40-60 meters) signal, deteriorated penetration through the walls – but for a simple apartment is usually enough. It's from physics – the shorter the wavelength (the higher the frequency), the worse this wave bypasses obstacles.

STEP 1: Logging into the Web interface

So, we don't know if our router supports the second frequency. The easiest way to see this information is in the settings (or configurator) of the router. You do not need to install anything, just being connected to the router's network (via cable or Wi-Fi), enter the IP or DNS address of the router into the address bar of any browser. It can be found on a label underneath the device. Very often such addresses are used:

After that, enter the username and password to log in. The username and key can be spied on the same piece of paper.

STEP 2: Setting Up

Now we come to the question of how to switch and configure a 5 GHz router. Again, routers have different firmware because they are released by different manufacturers. Also, the operating systems may be different for the same manufacturer due to different hardware versions of the routers. I have tried to list all possible options. But before we begin, let me briefly talk about certain 5 GHz network parameters that you may encounter:

• Mode or standards – Three popular standards can be found:
  • N– Also works at 2.4 GHz. Has the lowest speed in the 5GHz range.
  • AC . – 5th generation Wi-Fi. Has a fairly high speed. In the average of 400 to 500 Mbit per second.
  • AX – 6th generation Wi-Fi. The highest speed and high reliability. Read more…
  • WPA – The most unreliable and old method. It is used only on old devices.
  • WPA2 – is the most popular and sufficiently reliable.
  • WPA3 – is only supported by Wi-Fi The most secure.

  TP-Link

  In newer routers, you need to go to Advanced Settings – Wireless Mode – Configuration…. Here you can see two or even three networks (some models have support for two 5 GHz Wi-Fi). To turn off Wi-Fi broadcasting, uncheck the "Enable Wireless Broadcasting" box.

  

  On some new models, "Smart Connection" mode is enabled by default – when there is only one network on the air, and the router itself chooses which wave to connect devices to. That is, both frequencies are kind of paired. You can leave this configuration or turn it off to put the router in dual-band 2.4 and 5 GHz mode. The two wi-fi bands will then begin to appear below, one of which you can turn off if necessary.

  What are Wi-Fi channels?

  

  In simple terms, a Wi-Fi channel is a wireless data link between a router (access point) and a terminal device (such as a laptop or smartphone). The channel can be either open or closed. For example, the Wi-Fi channel in public places is usually open so that visitors can use it for free. In home or office Wi-Fi networks, the channel is, of course, closed. The busier the channel (e.g. this is the channel coincidentally used by neighbors or other consumers in the reception area), the more interference is created, and as a consequence, the lower the data transfer rate. And it doesn't have to be a laptop or smartphone. It can be headphones with Wi-Fi, a Wi-Fi video camera (including external car surveillance on the street), Bluetooth devices or other modern appliances that support wireless data transfer. Even a regular microwave oven can have a serious impact on data transfer speeds for a short period of time.

  A 2.4 GHz WiFi router can support up to 13 channels, a 5 GHz WiFi router in RF can support up to 33 channels.

  Comparison of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi data transfer standards

  Speed

  If we're talking about the most popular Wi-Fi standard 802.11n – 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz speeds should be the same (at least on paper). The specification declares that the data transfer rate can be up to 600 Mbit/s. In reality, it is worth considering that 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is used by many manufacturers (and consumers, respectively) and the popularity of this standard is very high. Hence the congestion of data channels from a large number of nearby signal sources. As well as interference from household appliances and primarily microwave ovens. Therefore, you can probably expect the speed stated in the specification only under ideal conditions, for example, in a private house where neighbors and their routers are relatively far away.

  The author of this article scanned the air at home for Wi-Fi load on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The result is in the screenshots. I don't think there is any need for comments.

  

  But with the same standard 5 GHz WiFi you can expect the speeds promised in the specification. The channels are wider (possible channel width settings are 20/40/80 MHz). Non-intersecting channels are no longer 3, but 19 (with a channel width of 20 MHz). Interference from household appliances is no longer a concern. Most neighbors still use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. And, accordingly, no one will stop you from racing traffic from the 5 GHz access point to the terminal equipment (WiFi 5 GHz devices – laptop, smartphone, etc.) at maximum speed.

  Another thing is the latest standard 802.11acwhich is designed exclusively for 5 GHz WiFi ac. There are 19 non-intersecting channels (with a channel width of 20 MHz), and the maximum possible channel width is up to 160 MHz.

  2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency grid

  Wireless Internet is a kind of radio broadcasting standard which is used for the purpose of transmitting information between two or more devices. There are now many wireless networking standards that use the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.

  The basic and most popular band. There are 14 channels operating in this band. The radio channel has a frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz. Now let's look at the diagram below.

  

  The beginning of the band is from 2.400 GHz and the end of the band is 2.500 GHz. A single channel can take up from 20 to 40 MHz. The picture above shows channels with a 20 MHz wavelength. Modern routers can use a wider band of 40 MHz.

  If you look closely, you will notice that the next channel starts at 2.406 GHz, meaning that one channel has the ability to overlap with five channels. With too many routers the signal can degrade due to lost packets, delays occur and the recipient needs to send the lost data again.

  WiFi channel	Lower frequency	Center Frequency	Upper frequency
  1	2.401	2.412	2.423
  2	2.406	2.417	2.428
  3	2.411	2.422	2.433
  4	2.416	2.427	2.438
  5	2.421	2.432	2.443
  6	2.426	2.437	2.448
  7	2.431	2.442	2.453
  8	2.436	2.447	2.458
  9	2.441	2.452	2.463
  10	2.446	2.457	2.468
  11	2.451	2.462	2.473
  12	2.456	2.467	2.478
  13	2.461	2.472	2.483

  5 GHz

  Frequency range from 5.170 GHz to 5.905 GHz. 802.11a, h, j, n, ac, and ax standards are used. As you can see, N is also compatible with this frequency. Consequently, two networks can exist and function as one. The data transfer rate increases to several gigabits per second. This is due to the doubling of the frequency.

  

  In the 5 GHz band, a channel width of 20/40/80/160 MHz is used.

  

  Channel	Frequency
  34	5.170
  36	5.180
  38	5.190
  40	5.200
  42	5.210
  44	5.220
  46	5.230
  48	5.240
  52	5.260
  56	5.280
  60	5.300
  64	5.320
  100	5.500
  104	5.520
  108	5.540
  112	5.560
  116	5.580
  120	5.600
  124	5.620
  128	5.640
  132	5.660
  136	5.680
  140	5.700
  147	5.735
  149	5.745
  151	5.755
  153	5.765
  155	5.775
  157	5.785
  159	5.795
  161	5.805
  163	5.815
  165	5.825

  2.4 GHz band

  Let's start with the most popular and widely used range 2.4 GHz, today it is the main band supported by all Wi-Fi devices, it's also the busiest, especially in areas of multistory buildings.

  The main regulatory document in Russia is Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation from 12.10.2004 N 539 (ed. from 22.12.2018) "On the order of registration of radioelectronic means and high-frequency devices"., namely paragraph 24, which states that are not subject to registration:

  Short-range devices used in wireless data transmission networks and other devices with data transmission function in the radio frequency band 2400 to 2483.5 MHzwith direct spread spectrum and other types of modulation with a maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power less than 100 mW

  This frequency range corresponds to the international frequency range ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical), which is also allowed to use without a license, namely its "scientific" part of 2400-2500 MHz. The range allowed in Russia includes 13 channels with a width of 20 MHz and a frequency step of 5 MHz.

  

  Of these, only three channels are independent or non-intersecting: 1st, 6th and 11th. Formally, in Russia, you can assign sets 2-7-12 and 3-8-13 to non-intersecting, but in practice, it does not make any sense. In most European and American countries only 11 channels are available in this band, which leaves no other options but 1-6-11.

  Stations operating on adjacent channels interfere with each other (interference), which is not eliminated at the protocol level, in contrast to the intrachannel interference (collisions). You can read more about this in our article.

  5 GHz Band

  To solve the problem of the congestion of the 2.4 GHz band for Wi-Fi devices, an additional 5 GHz band, or rather a number of bands in the 5-6 GHz band, was allocated. At the same time the mistakes made during the regulation of the 2.4 GHz range were taken into account, but how effective the measures taken will be, we will know when the devices operating in this range will be as widely spread as the devices operating on 2.4 GHz.

  In Russia, this band is regulated by paragraph 23 of the above-mentioned decree, which withdraws from the registration:

  Short-range devices in wireless data networks and other devices with direct spread spectrum and other types of modulation used indoors in the radio frequency bands 5150 to 5350 MHz, 5650 to 5850 MHz With a maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power not more than 200 mW.

  As we have said, 5 GHz is not a single band, but a number of bands, the order of use of which may differ from country to country. Below is a diagram of the distribution of channels in these bands, the picture is enlarged. The bands allocated for unlicensed work are called UNII (Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure).

  

  The frequency grid of the band provides for the use for Wi-Fi only non-intersecting channels with a width of 20 MHz and with a step of 20 MHz, from the beginning and end of the band the frequency indentation is 30 MHz. Initially the band UNII-1 (Europe, Russia) and in addition to it UNII-3 and one channel of the "medical" ISM (USA) were allowed to use, later the band UNII-2 was added to them.

  Channel	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	149	153	157	161	165
  Central frequency, MHz	5180	5200	5220	5240	5260	5280	5300	5320	5745	5765	5785	5805	5825
  Band	UNII-1				UNII-2				UNII-3				ISM

  Pros and cons of the 2.4 GHz band

  We've been using the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network for years with any device, but with the launch of the WiFi 5 standard, which has greatly improved real-world performance in the 5 GHz band, the 2.4 GHz band is used very little, so little that it can be deactivated without skipping a connection to it. However, this band has its strengths and weaknesses, as we will see below.

  • Greater Wi-Fi coverage Compared to the 5 GHz band. This frequency band clearly behaves better for signal ricochets as well as crossing obstacles. If you are going to connect from a location far away from the WiFi router or access point, this frequency band will give you better performance than the 5 GHz band, although you must verify it with a speed test to be sure.
  • Greater compatibility with all devices . The 2.4 GHz band has been in use since the 802.11b standard, goes through the 802.11g standard, and the popular 802.11n, so we have a large number of compatible devices today. Any device we buy, such as an IP camera, inexpensive smartphones, smart outlets, or Shelly-type WiFi switches, support this frequency band, although it is possible that these devices also support the 5 GHz band.

  

  However, the weaknesses of this WiFi frequency band are as follows:

  • Much slower actual speeds compared to the 5 GHz band. We have to take into account that in the 5 GHz band we have a channel width of 80 MHz and even 160 MHz, which is not the case in the 2.4 GHz band, since the maximum supported channel width is 40 MHz.
  • Fewer Wi-Fi channels are available . In the 2.4 GHz band we only have 13 channels, however, if we have one router or access point broadcasting with a 40 MHz channel width, we will already be taking up the entire band since the distance between the channels is only 5 MHz. For this reason we will have quite a bit of interference with our neighbors' wireless networks.
  • Interference instability . The 2.4 GHz band is also used for cordless phones, Bluetooth and other wireless devices. In general, there is a lot of WiFi interference in this band, so you will have instability and even fairly high jitter (variation in latency).

  When to turn off 2.4 GHz

  This frequency band is worth turning off whenever you do not need to use it. To disable it, you first need to think about all the wireless devices that you are going to connect to this frequency band, once you have a device that does not support the 5 GHz band, but supports the 2.4 GHz band, then you will not be able to deactivate it. So, you have to evaluate several aspects such as the following:

  • Compatibility – Do all your devices support the 5 GHz band? If so, you can disable that band and connect all devices to the 5 GHz frequency, which has higher bandwidth, less jitter, and less interference with neighboring networks. Today, the vast majority of devices we buy support the 5 GHz band, such as laptops, ultrabooks, tablets, and smartphones, but budget equipment may only support 2.4 GHz, so you should consider this.
  • Distance with a router or access point : Are these devices you're going to connect very far from a WiFi hotspot or WiFi router? If we are in remote locations, you must remember that the 2.4 GHz band will give you better coverage than the 5 GHz band because the latter is much worse with obstacles and signal ricochets.
  • If you are not going to use it : If you know you are not going to use this frequency band, deactivate it because you will improve the performance of your neighbors' Wi-Fi networks, since your network will not interfere with theirs, so if you know you will not use it, for solidarity it is better to deactivate it.

  

  6 GHz band: The new band

  Wi-Fi 6 does not use the 6 GHz band , but the use of the 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band to take advantage of both , the 2.4 GHz band has more coverage and the 5 GHz band has faster speeds.

  The change that comes with the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E, which adds the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi 6. In fact, the Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 spectrum ends at the same point, 5.925 GHz. From what we can tell, the 6 GHz band has not been covered, which we will do with Wi-Fi 6E as we reach 7.125 GHz.

  Wi-Fi 6E adds 1.2 GHz bandwidth to the Wi-Fi's spectrum of available frequencies. With this we get 14 additional 80 MHz channels or 7 additional 160 MHz channels, depending on how the router manages the connection . This is a change that this new standard brings with it, we need to consider that until now we only had two 160 MHz channels, and these channels were so wide that they helped to increase the actual speed of compatible wireless clients and to be able to manage the connectivity of multiple devices without degrading the network quality, so by increasing these Wi-Fi channels we can greatly improve our connectivity without routers and access points interfering with each other.

  

  We're not going to focus on speed just yet, since most Wi-Fi problems are related to network congestion, too many devices are connected on the same frequency (regardless of whether they belong to your connections, since all Wi-Fi – Fi connections share the same air), and some have to wait while others work. Wi-Fi 6E helps in this regard because it offers routers a wider bandwidth so there is no overlapping connections.

  What bandwidth should I connect to?

  Now we have to look at what we need to see what would be the best solution for us.

  If we have few devices, they are old, and we hardly use them, we can work with the 2.4 GHz network without problems. Although, on the other hand, if we have many devices in our home or office, whether it is home automation, mobile telephony or other type of wireless equipment, we have to choose the best option, obviously a router that can manage Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi-Fi 6E.

  We will also have to consider where we live, if it is a block with many neighbors, where everyone has their own connection to a dual-band router, it is very likely that if we connect devices to 2.4 GHz Network, there will be problems from the first minute. Carriers today already offer more or less decent routers, but if, for reasons similar to those we live in today, you need more work at home or you need better wireless performance, we recommend you buy your own router, do not Save on this expense as it is an investment in improving your local wired and home network that will give you a great user experience.

Read More: