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You may see a lot of our smart home products talking about 2.4Ghz frequencies. What does this mean for your smart ecosystem?

All smart home devices must be connected to the internet to function, and they all take up a little bit of bandwidth. In particular, any device that’s uploading pictures or videos (like a security camera) will be using a lot of data. This could lead to knock on effects to other tech you enjoy in your day-to-day life.

By understanding a little more about how your network runs, you can optimise things for a smooth and seamless smart home experience.

The Science!

Every Wi-Fi signal transmits data along a radio wavelength. The two most common frequencies are 2.4Ghz and 5GHz. You don’t need to know how they work, but it’s helpful to know what each signal can do for you so you know which is the best fit for your home.

The crucial difference between the two signals is that 2.4GHz signals go further, but 5GHz signals are faster.

Which Is Better?

It depends on your home, and what you need your Wi-Fi to do.

If you have a larger home, then 2.4GHz is the best choice. Its longer range ensures it can get to more of your house without needing extenders. For more intensive activities, like online gaming or streaming, a 5GHz signal is a better fit.

What does this mean for your smart home? Well, there’s an important caveat.

Many smart home devices must be used with a 2.4GHz frequency, and won’t be able to connect to a 5GHz signal. Since a lot of smart home devices (particularly lights) don’t have very complicated functions, they don’t need a faster signal.

5GHz potential is becoming a little more common as an option, but it’s nowhere near ubiquitous, and it’s not remotely close to becoming the definitive choice. If you’re currently creating a smart home setup, it’s best to ensure you have a source of 2.4GHz.

Note that if you connect your phone to a 5GHz signal, it may struggle to properly interact with your 2.4GHz exclusive devices.

The Best Of Both With Two Band Routers

Most modern routers offer a ‘dual band’ set up, which simply means you can use both 2.4 and 5Ghz connection. This lets you get the best of both worlds, as you can assign different devices to different signals.

This is a great option for keeping on top of your network traffic. You can make sure your smart home devices are keyed into your 2.4Ghz channel, while your more intensive devices like your games consoles and streaming devices use the faster 5Ghz.

This means you have fewer devices competing for the same signal, improving performance across the board. It won’t make your Wi-Fi faster, but it will streamline how it handles traffic.

Need More Help?

Don’t worry! Our team is at hand to help guide you through everything you need to know to get your smart home set up smoothly. Just get in touch by giving us a call on 0116 321 4120 or by sending an email to cs@wled.co.uk.

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