We live in the 21st century where everyone is connected to the internet. This means that people are either using their mobile data or routers to access the WiFi to get access to the internet. Amid all this chaos, what we fail to realize is the fact that our internet connection is feeble. Sometimes it might be at the top of its range, offering superior connectivity, however, in other cases; you might be struggling to load a simple tweet on your account.
Unless you are a tech-savvy person who has a good idea about wifi, wireless technology, and routers, you are going to be confused about the network speed and its application and that is completely normal.
With wireless networks, the one thing that you will come across is terms like 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connectivity or channels. These determine the speed of the network and support what kind of upload and download speed you will have while using the router or the data service you are connected to.
This article explores the prospects of the best wifi 5GHz channels for the router and what it entails for your devices.
What is The 5Ghz Band?
Before we move and discuss the best wifi channel for 5Ghz, it is a given that you have to know what a 5Ghz channel entails. This is where most people go wrong or confuse the situation. If you are using a router for your wifi connection, know that routers are the network devices that are responsible for transmitting data using radio waves.
The radio wave travels Omni directionally and reaches the user’s device from where they can access the internet without any kinds of interruptions along the road.
When it comes to the available frequencies of these radio waves transmitted through the router, two options come up. You have the staple 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz frequency. While the 2.4 GHz variant has a higher outreach with lower bandwidth, the 5 GHz frequency is the complete opposite. It has a higher bandwidth but the coverage area is less.
The higher the channel, the wider the bandwidth of the router. This means that if you are using the 5Ghz router channel in your device, you will enjoy higher bandwidth connectivity as opposed to using a 2.4 Ghz bandwidth channel.
How to Find the Best WiFi Channel For 5Ghz?
Now that you have a basic understanding of the functionalities of a router and how they work, it is time we move ahead to other prospects. Be assured that when it comes to the 5Ghz spectrum, there are a few best Wi-Fi channels that you can connect your device to for maximum transmission and quicker network speed.
With 5Ghz channels, 25 predefined channels start from the series of 36, 40, 44, 48 and go up to 165, which is insane. However, not all of these 5Ghz channels are meant for open, public use. Some of these channels are used by the military and the scientific industry for seamless and prompt communication.
So, when it comes to talking about the best channel for wifi 5Ghz for public or domestic use, it is the first 4 options that we would emphasize. This includes 36, 40, 44, and 48. These four channels under the 5Ghz spectrum are termed UNII-1 and are solely operated for domestic purposes only.
So, if you are looking for the best channel for 5ghz wifi for your home or office use, these are the top four channels that every tech-savvy person would recommend to you. Besides home use, these channels also work equally well for software and mobile development services.
Besides these top 4 domestic use channels, another quite known one is 165. This is a military-specific channel and supports faster and clear communication between the military bases and radio operation rooms without obstructions. The higher channel ensures better bandwidth, which reflects in the clarity of communication.
Along with routers, other home appliances, and smart devices also work under the UNII-1 channel bandwidth since those are specifically limited to the use of domestic purposes only.
How to Find the Best WiFi Channel for 5Ghz in Home & Office
Simply knowing about the basics of the 5Ghz channels and their utility isn’t enough to go around with your work at home. Ideally, you also need to find out which wifi channel is ideal for your home or office use. If we had to suggest, we’d recommend that you assess the area you are using the internet from.
Ideally, if you are going to use the internet in the same room as the router without any major barriers or obstructions in between like a wall, window, mirror, etc., we’d recommend that you stick to the 5Ghz channel since it has a better bandwidth.
However, if you are not in the same room as the router and have any or some kind of obstruction in between, chances are that the 2.4 GHz wifi channel would work as a better option. This is because, despite the low bandwidth, the coverage is quite large.
Related | How to Calculate Network Bandwidth Requirements?
How to Overcome Congestion in Wi-Fi Channels?
Despite the UNII-1 channels under WiFi channels being the best wifi channels for 5Ghz, some restrictions come with it. For the optimal user experience, getting rid of the congestion is very important too. There are several wifi analyzer applications that you can get your hands on. These applications help you find the issues in the wifi channels and get rid of them for good.
The primary function of these analyzers is to check for channel congestion, find the causing reason behind the issue and resolve them accordingly.
Best WiFi Channel 5Ghz Conclusion
If you have been confused about the best channel for wifi 5Ghz and how they operate, we hope this article gives you all the insights that you need. Keep in mind that there are multiple channels when it comes to the best 5Ghz wifi channel. You just need to be mindful of using the connectivity that serves your purpose the best.