Today in most of our homes and offices we have a dual band router. Both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands have their advantages and disadvantages. One thing is certain, we have more and more devices connected to the Internet and to our wireless connections. In that regard, only about 10 years ago we only connected via Wi-Fi our laptops or desktops, smartphones and tablets. However, in recent years the landscape has changed a lot, it is not surprising that in our homes we have a Smart TV or an Android TV player, smart plugs and more. Then the question arises which devices need better WiFi to work properly.
In some moments when we connect wirelessly, we find that we have cuts. One of the reasons why this happens is usually because we are too far from the router or we have not chosen the right band. In this regard, we may be interested in knowing why the Internet is cut off with a USB WiFi adapter. It should also be noted that we have network equipment that supports connection, both via network cable and Wi-Fi. In this case, for example with a Smart TV or a computer, if it is close to the router, it is best to connect it by network cable. In this way, all the bandwidth is used and we leave the Wi-Fi for other devices that need it more.
The frequency band is the most important decision
Not all the tasks that we carry out on the Internet need better WiFi to be able to work well. Depending on the device or equipment that we want to use, it will be convenient for us to use one band or another. For example, a smart plug requires a low connection speed to work well, and putting it on a faster Wi-Fi network would do little for us. Therefore, each device tends to do better with one or another band, although sometimes it can vary depending on whether we are more or less far from the router.
As an example of a summary, this is what each of the bands would bring us. Networks operating in the 2.4GHz band have lower connection speeds, but in return, their signal coverage reaches further than 5GHz networks. On the other hand, networks that work in the 5GHz band , due to the frequency they use, withstand distance and obstacles such as walls worse , but they also obtain higher speeds .
Also comment that, in the future, when the Wi-Fi 6E standard is implemented, we will be able to connect to the 6GHz WiFi frequency band to have more free channels and higher speed. Now it’s time to see the devices that need better WiFi.
Devices that need better WiFi
If we want to choose the best band for our devices and equipment, we have to do it based on certain criteria. In this case, the best solution would be to say depending on the distance from the router that device is, and the bandwidth that it requires for its correct operation. Here, we must comment that the devices that need better WiFi and are close to the router use the 5GHz band . On the other hand, if you need little bandwidth or are far away , it is best to use the 2.4GHz band .
As for laptops and desktop PCs, they are computers that require a large bandwidth due to the tasks that we can develop with them. The most convenient if we are relatively close would be to opt for the 5GHz band, otherwise the 2.4GHz band will be better. Regarding smartphones, we should follow a very similar criterion to the one we have applied with computers. The only exception is that it is an old or low-end phone, in which case it is up to us to use the 2.4GHz band.
Finally, here you can learn more devices that you should connect to the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands that need better WiFi.