One of the greatest sociological changes experienced in recent years has been that of Internet access. At the end of the last century, it was already common to have a computer with a connection at home, but the speeds were limited, the offer was restricted and, above all, there was a certain incompatibility with the simultaneous use of the telephone . All this changed with the arrival of ISDN first, then ADSL, although it was optical fiber that was a revolution in Europe.
The router became the most important element of home communication, even though it was often relegated to a space under or behind the television. But this also meant that the priority connection with the rest of the devices was not via cable, but via WiFi.
The quality of this wireless connection has been a headache for many users, and even today, in 2024, it often causes problems. One of the reasons isKnow the differences between the two most common types of WiFi in homes2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Some router models are starting to use 6 GHz networks, but at the moment there are very few of them, and there are even fewer compatible devices.
Security buttons on a router
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Choosing between a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi network may seem complicated, but understanding their differences will help us make the best connection decision based on devices. Both groups have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the ideal choice will depend on our needs.
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi: wide coverage, moderate speed. The 2.4 GHz band provides greater coverage and can better penetrate through walls and other physical obstacles. This makes it a great option for very fragmented or multi-story homes, where having a strong Wi-Fi signal in all areas is important. Of course, because it’s a network that’s been on the market longer, many devices only connect to it, making it more crowded. This may cause interference and reduce connection speed. Furthermore, the The maximum speed of the 2.4 GHz band is lower than that of the 5 GHz band. The former can reach 100 megabits per second (Mbps) while the 5 GHz band can deliver up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps).
Samsung Smart Wifi
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5GHz Wi-Fi: Moderate coverage, fast speed. The 5GHz band offers much higher connection speeds, making it ideal for bandwidth-intensive activities such as online gaming, HD video streaming, and large file downloads. Less used by other devices, the 5 GHz band experiences less interference and offers a more stable and faster connection. The main disadvantage of the 5 GHz band is its shorter range. 5GHz signals have a harder time passing through walls and other obstacles, which can limit coverage.
The choice between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz depends on our needs and priorities. If you need a Strong Wi-Fi signal in every room of your home, the 2.4 GHz band is the best option. If, on the other hand, we give priority to a very high connection speed for activities requiring a lot of bandwidth, the 5 GHz band is ideal. The best thing is that most routers are capable of generating two networks, one from each band, so we can connect to the one we want. Even some models like Google’s generate a single network with both bands and determine what each device connects to, trying to maximize the user experience.
Por último, siempre es buena idea estudiar dónde poner el router para tener una mejor conexión. Lo mejor es colocar el router en un lugar central y elevado para mejorar la cobertura de ambas bandas. SI detectamos ciertas interferencias puede ser una opción modificar la configuración del mismo para utilizar los canales menos congestionados en ambas bandas. Por último, siempre que sea posible, es mejor usar dispositivos que se puedan conectar a ambas bandas, aunque muchas veces (sobre todo en domótica) esto no sea posible.
También es importante ser conscientes de que en una casa todos los dispositivos se conectan al mismo router, por lo que la velocidad de conexión se reparte. Si un ordenador está descargando archivos de gran tamaño es normal que la conexión WiFi del streaming se resienta. Hay algunos modelos de router que pueden dar prioridad a un tipo de tráfico u otro o a unos dispositivos sobre otros.
Eso sí, siempre que se necesite la mayor velocidad posible es mejor usar una conexión por cable. Esto se hace mediante cables Ethernet que se conectan al router y al dispositivo. Los ordenadores de sobremesa suelen tener esa conexión de serie y los portátiles y smartphones, además de tablets, necesitan un adaptador que no cuesta mucho dinero y que se enchufa al puerto USB-C de carga del aparato siempre que el sistema operativo esté acondicionado para ello.
