tech
Your Wi-Fi Has Two Names, and You're Using the Wrong One: A Simple Change That Doubles Internet Speed
Have you noticed that your Wi-Fi often appears twice in your phone's settings, once with a regular name and the other with a 5G or 5GHz addition? Most users randomly connect to one and never think about it again. However, choosing the wrong frequency is the most common reason why your internet 'slows down' while watching movies or playing games, even though you're paying for the fastest package.
TL;DR
- Wi-Fi networks often appear twice: once with a standard name and another with '5G' or '5GHz'.
- The 2.4GHz frequency has a longer range and penetrates walls better but is slower and prone to interference from other devices.
- The 5GHz frequency offers much higher speeds but has a shorter range and struggles to pass through walls.
- Connecting to the 2.4GHz network when the 5GHz is available is a common reason for slow internet.
- Users should 'forget' the 2.4GHz network on their devices for activities like streaming or gaming, and connect exclusively to the 5GHz network.
- If the router combines both frequencies under one name (Smart Connect), it's best to separate them in the router settings for manual control.
- For areas with weak Wi-Fi signals, the 2.4GHz network is more reliable despite being slower.
- Assigning specific devices to specific frequencies (e.g., laptops/TVs to 5GHz, smart bulbs/older tablets to 2.4GHz) can optimize network performance.