
2.4GHz or 5GHZ Wi-Fi: What is the difference and why do you care about your smart home?
If some time has spent configuring intelligent domestic devices, you have probably encountered the dreaded message “This device only supports the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi message.”
It is one of those inconvenience that lets you look at your router’s configuration, asking you why your modern double band network is suddenly a problem.
And the worst part is that sometimes you will not even receive this message, and instead they are frustrated more and more than your new and brilliant intelligent house device does not connect … even if you are stopped right next to your router.
While this guide will not make this situation less annoying, since it depends on the brands to make lighter than its devices are only 2.4GHz, it will help you understand exactly what is happening.
2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi
We are not going to delve into science here, but it is important to understand the main differences between 2.4 and 5GHz when it comes to Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi operates in different frequency bands, with 2.4GHz and 5GHz, at least in recent years, being the most common.
2.4GHZ has been longer (since 1997, in fact) and remains the default value for most intelligent domestic devices, while 5GHz is a more modern addition that allows faster speeds.
The main differences between the two, in terms of daily use at home, are at least reduced to reach, speed and congestion.
2.4GHZ, which was part of the original Wi -Fi 1 standard (IEEE 802.11, in case you wonder) is able to travel longer distances and walls and penetrating floors more effectively.
This makes it ideal for devices distributed around your home, particularly those located away from the router; Think of plugs, bulbs, sensors and more.
However, the 2.4GHZ disadvantage is that it operates with a frequency that is much more susceptible to congestion.
Not only does it share its frequency with many daily ‘domestic’ domestic devices such as microwaves and wireless phones, but 2.4GHz is also the frequency used by Bluetooth and Zigbee devices. Therefore, interference is common
In addition, because many intelligent domestic devices still depend on 2.4GHz, their network can be overpopped quickly, which leads to delay, fallen connections and slower performance in general.
Think of 2.4GHz as a busy road with cars, buses and bicycles trying to share a couple of lanes. And traffic is only becoming heavier as more devices bind to the network
5GHz Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is much faster and less congested.
While its shortest wavelength means that it does not travel as far or penetrates solid objects as effectively as 2.4GHz, 5GHz compensation is a significantly higher speed and reduced interference
This makes 5GHZ the best option for heavy bandwidth devices such as transmission multimedia players, portable games and computers that benefit from faster connections.
However, it is not always ideal for intelligent home devices that can be located in remote areas of your home, although the boom in Wi-Fi mesh systems throughout the home has made it a lower problem in recent years.
It is also possible, with some routers such as Netgear and Eero, to temporarily disable the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Many modern double -band routers often also have the ‘band’s address’, which intelligently directs devices at the optimal frequency, which should, at least, eliminate the need to do this.
Why intelligent domestic devices still prefer 2.4Ghz

Most intelligent domestic devices, such as security cameras, smart plugs, bulbs and sensors, continue to depend on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.
The main reason is its range and reliability. A door sensor in its basement or an intelligent bulb in its rear patio can have difficulty maintaining a strong 5 GHz connection, while 2.4Ghz ensures constant connectivity to greater distances.
Another crucial factor is energy consumption. Many intelligent domestic devices work with drums, and 2.4GHZ Wi-Fi consume less energy than 5GHz, which makes it the preferred option for devices that need to operate efficiently without a frequent recharge.
It is also cheaper than brands slapped a 2.4GHz radio on a device than a 5 GHz.
However, the congestion problem remains a challenge. Since 2.4GHZ is often overloaded with multiple intelligent devices, older routers may have difficulty handling all connections effectively.
This is the reason why some modern intelligent home devices, particularly security cameras that need a high bandwidth to transmit 4K video, now offer double band support.
These devices can be connected to 5GHz when they need faster speeds, while maintaining compatibility with 2.4Ghz when the range is a problem.
The evolution of Wi-Fi and multiple band solutions

As smart house ecosystems grow, Wi-Fi technology is evolving to keep up. The introduction of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E a few years ago has brought significant improvements in efficiency, even for 2.4GHz networks.
Wi-Fi 6, which operates in the frequency bands of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, improves performance by reducing congestion, improving speed and increasing the number of devices that a router can handle simultaneously.
Guide: What is Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 … and what the hell is Wi-Fi 6e?
Wi-Fi 6e introduced a completely new frequency of 6 GHz, which offers even faster speeds with minimal interference.
Although most intelligent domestic devices do not take advantage of 6GHz, this technology is raid affordable. As the Amazon Eero 6+.
These modern Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems have also revolutionized domestic networks. Unlike the previous unique router configurations, the Wi-Fi mesh systems use multiple access points to create a perfect network that automatically optimizes device connections.
Many of these systems admit tri-band configurations or even quadruple, ensuring that the devices are connected to the best available frequency without manual intervention. This means that your Smart Home Home devices, transmission devices and essential elements for work from home can coexist without overwhelming your network.
The transmission of sticks and boxes such as the latest Apple TV 4K and Fire TV also have Wi-Fi 6 credentials, as well as the last Sonos speakers such as 300 and it was 100 and we are even watching Wi-Fi 6 in cameras in cameras Safety such as Reolink Argus Pro.
Wi-Fi 7 is also on the horizon, promising even more speed, reduced latency and better multiple device management, which could change the game for smart homes. Wi-Fi 7 also has “MLO” technology, which offers the ability to combine frequency bands in a single connection.
We have tried the tastes of Eero Max 7 and the Netgear Orbi 970 series, which are massive massive for intelligent domestic devices at this time (and are ridiculously expensive), but they point out a movement towards a more rationalized frequency arrangement in your smart home.
As Wi-Fi technology continues to improve, we will see more intelligent devices that offer dual support or even tri-band to take advantage of not only 2.4GHz or 5GHz, but also 6GHz, when necessary.
The good news is that Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 are all compatible with previous versions and the devices greater than 2.4GHZ will continue to work with these newer routers.
Troubleshooting
If you have read all of the above but you still have trouble combining your Smart Home device to your domestic network, it may be worth making some manual settings in your router or mesh system.
Most modern routers combine the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands under a single network name; The technical term for this name is the SSID and this is what you see in the list when you are looking for a new Wi-Fi network on your portable phone or computer.
This is part of the “band address” that we mention before and is designed to automatically direct its devices at the best frequency. However, it does not work as expected, and you can find that you need to connect your intelligent device manually to a 2.4GHz network.
Some Wi-Fi systems really transmit a SSID dedicated in the frequency of 2.4GHz so that their intelligent starting devices live, but, in practice, this generally causes problems, since it will end with your phone and the application of the controller in a network , and its intelligent domestic device in another. That is not always a problem, but it can be.
You can, if you wish, usually play with the router configuration to separate the 2.4GHZ and 5GHz bands in two different ssid, but again that gives you the same problem as the dedicated Smart Home network.
But some people swore by this method, so here is a quick overview of how to do it if you want to try it.
Each router manufacturer has a different interface, and the exact steps will vary (look for the model number of their online router to find the manual), but in general, you can access the configuration of your router writing an address in the bar in the bar addresses of your web browser.
Common addresses include 192,168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, or 10.0.0.1. Once that address knows, you will need the username and password of your router to log in.
Once you are in the configuration of your router, look for a section related to Wi-Fi, wireless or network.
Some routers allow you to create separate network names (SSID) for 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. If this is an option, you will often see configurations such as “Enable 2.4GHZ SSID” and “enable 5GHZ SSID”.
Then you can give each network a unique name, for example: “Mynetwork_2.4Ghz” and “Mynetwork_5Ghz”.
Some routers also have a “guest network” option that often works only in 2.4GHz. You can try to connect your smart device to the guest network.
Alternatively, as mentioned, you can try to temporarily disable the 5 GHz band in its router configuration (but remember to turn it on again).
Frequent questions
It is likely that your router use “band address”, which combines 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Try to move your device closer to the router during configuration. If that does not work, see the manual of your router to obtain instructions on the separation of the networks or use a network of guests.
2.4GHZ has a better range and wall penetration, crucial for devices away from the router. It also consumes less power, important for smart devices with batteries.
Probably. The newest Wi-Fi standards improve efficiency and reduce congestion by 2.4GHz. While many devices are not Wi-Fi 6/6e/7 yet, updating your router can benefit your existing 2.4GHz devices.
While the separation of networks can sometimes help with the initial configuration, often leads to “roaming” devices and losing connection. Unless it is absolutely necessary for a specific device, it is often better to let its router manage the band selection automatically.
Could be. Try to restart your router and device. Verify the interference of other devices. If the problem persists, see the documentation of your router or communicate with the manufacturer of the device to obtain support.