Is WiFi better on 2.4 GHz or 5.8GHz?

Question

I know phones are supposed to be better on 2.4 GHz, but what about wifi? Is it the same?

Answer 1

Actually circumstances determine this. If there is a lot of 2.4 GHz traffic near you and little 5.8 GHz, you are most likely better off going with the 5.8 GHz - and vice versa. Cordless phones can be 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz.

Remember that this is a frequency and not wavelength. As frequency goes up, wavelength goes down. Broadcast difference tends to follow wavelength so shorter frequencies have longer distance ranges because of the longer wavelength. (For the Physics Majors remember that c = fw where f = frequency, w = wavelength, c = velocity of light.)

Many people incorrectly believe that the higher the frequency the longer the range - it is just not the case.

See http://telecom.hellodirect.com/docs/Tutorials/5.8GHzFrequency.1.031903.asp

this article discusses the frequencies as applied to cordless land line phones but the general concepts apply.

Answer 2

It isnt better or worse...

The routers stay the same "speed wise"

The GHz on a phone or router is talking about the DISTANCE the signal can go.

For example a 2.4 GHz lets say you can walk with a phone 300FT from its base till the phone loses signal...

a 5.8 maybe 600 feet... (those are just examples, I dont know the actual footage...)

Basically its only better based upon distance.

Most people still have or use a 2.4GHz, and if you dont have a 3 story house or something, you dont need a 5.8 Ghz.


Just ask yourself, do I want to use my laptop in the house, or do I want to use it in the house, and be able to go out in the backyard and use the laptop by the pool etc...