Like all things, your wireless internet uses a number of variables to operate, and sometimes they can be difficult to understand, or at the very least uncommon terms in an everyday household. For example, wireless frequencies used by your internet service provider to supply the internet to your home or office aren\u2019t something that is constantly talked about.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve ever searched for wifi at a cafe, you may have noticed that some public spaces will have two separate wireless connections: 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. What does this mean, exactly? And what is the difference between the two?<\/p>\n
When we talk about wireless frequencies, we can look back on a perhaps-familiar, perhaps-distant memory from physics or science class. That is, frequencies are waves and are measured in how tall the wavelengths are, and how far the distance is between each wave.<\/p>\n
Your 5.0Hz connection provided by your internet service provider will be faster than its 2.4Ghz counterpart. This is because it is at a higher frequency (also known as bandwidth). Waves are happening more often, which means more data is being transferred, and therefore your internet speed will be faster with a 5.0Hz connection than with a 2.4Ghz connection.<\/p>\n
As you may have noticed (or have been informed by your unhappy child), different rooms in your home will pick up wireless internet better than others. Simply put, the best connection usually stems from being in a spot that is near your router.<\/p>\n
This is more true with a 5.0Hz connection than with a 2.4Ghz connection. Because the frequency with a 5.0Hz connection is higher, this means it is less capable of traveling through solid surfaces such as walls or floors. Since your internet service provider will often include both frequencies with your service, opt for the 2.4Ghz connection if you are a couple of floors (or rooms) away from your wireless router.<\/p>\n