{"id":11434,"date":"2023-06-30T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routerctrl.com\/?p=11434"},"modified":"2023-11-22T15:18:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T15:18:08","slug":"what-ghz-is-my-wi-fi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routerctrl.com\/what-ghz-is-my-wi-fi\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Know What GHz Is My Wi-Fi? (Wi-Fi Frequency Bands Explained)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Accessing the internet over <\/span>Wi-Fi<\/span><\/a> is common in many homes and businesses. The advancement of wireless technology resulted in <\/span>routers transmitting signals over different frequency bands<\/span><\/a>. For that reason, we look into <\/span>what a frequency band is<\/span><\/a> regarding your router’s signal transmission. Also, we will list and explain different ways to determine your router\u2019s frequency.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

What is GHz?<\/h2>\n

Unit measurements can be confusing at times. Hence, to understand Gigahertz (GHz), we have to know about <\/span>Hertz<\/span><\/a> (Hz) first. Hertz is a unit of measuring frequency, and it is usually abbreviated as Hz. It is the unit for measuring frequency in the <\/span>International System of units<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hertz measures the rate of a cycle per second. We can use Hertz to measure the number of times something happens within a second. However, we use Hertz to measure frequencies of particular concepts more than others until it has become a measurement standard for said concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, Hertz is used for measuring wave frequencies such as sound waves, light waves, and radio waves. Also, Hertz can measure computer speeds concerning how many instructions cycles the processor can conduct within a second.<\/span><\/p>\n

In wireless connectivity, we use Hertz to measure the oscillation of <\/span>electromagnetic waves<\/span><\/a> that carry data from the router to a device with Wi-Fi capabilities. Electromagnetic waves consist of electronic and magnetic waves with varying intensities during transmission. <\/span><\/p>\n

The variation leads to the formation of separate but related waves perpendicular to each other. When the electronic wave is oriented horizontally, the magnetic wave orients vertically, and the cycle continues as the waves are sent from the transmitter to the receiver.<\/span><\/p>\n

A single perpendicular to horizontal orientation change is what we refer to as an <\/span>oscillation<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, the number of oscillations per second is measured in a unit called Hertz. <\/span><\/p>\n

Gigahertz (GHz) is a measurement of frequency that equals one billion Hertz. Other measurements include Kilohertz (kHz), equal to a thousand hertz, and Megahertz (MHz), equal to a million hertz.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wi-Fi signals<\/span><\/a> are measured in GHz and MHz because communication signals usually have very high frequencies.<\/span><\/p>\n

What GHz Can Wi-Fi Transmit?<\/h2>\n

The range of the <\/span>radio waves<\/span><\/a> spectrum is from 3kHz to 300GHz. However, to minimize signal interruptions from other transmitters, the governments regulate radio wave frequencies through communication authorities in various countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is responsible for frequency allocation in the United States. The allocated or licensed frequencies are long-range frequencies and are mainly used by various organizations to speak to their client devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, some unlicensed frequencies are intentionally left free for use by different gadgets and transmissions. These frequencies fall under the <\/span>Industrial, Scientific, and Medical<\/span><\/a> (ISM) purposes frequencies. That means you do not need a license to use those frequencies hence why they are commonly used in router and access point transmissions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ranges of radio wave frequencies that <\/span>Wi-Fi<\/span><\/a> can use to transmit data are known as the Wi-Fi frequency bands. <\/span><\/p>\n

Routers and access points use two Wi-Fi bands: the <\/span>2.4GHz Wi-Fi and the 5GHz Wi-Fi band<\/span><\/a>. The recent addition of the 6GHz band is less susceptible to signal interference and is faster, although by a small margin. <\/span><\/p>\n

What GHz Is My Wi-Fi?<\/h2>\n

Since Wi-Fi uses electromagnetic signals to transmit data, we can determine what GHz an access point is transmitting. <\/span><\/p>\n

Before finding out what GHz your Wi-Fi is, we must know the different common Wi-Fi frequencies used. They include:<\/span><\/p>\n

2.4GHz<\/h2>\n

Every router supports a <\/span>2.4GHz frequency band<\/span><\/a>, which is the most common on all devices. It consists of frequencies ranging from 2401 to 2484MHz. The range might slightly differ depending on the frequency regulations of your area. <\/span><\/p>\n

The 2.4GHz band is preferable because it is cheap to install and use. Additionally, it can penetrate obstacles, increasing the distance over which the frequency band can still be helpful. For this reason, 2.4GHz devices have evolved to include microwaves, baby monitors, and security cameras.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only downside of this Wi-Fi frequency is that it\u2019s overcrowded, and many devices use the frequency range to carry out their normal functions. The congestion is also caused by the few channels available on the 2.4GHz frequency band.<\/span><\/p>\n

Channels<\/span><\/a> in wireless internet connectivity entail smaller bands within a more prominent band like the 2.4 and 5GHz. Channels in the 2.4GHz band have a 5MHz width and a 16.25 to 22MHz range per channel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, with the common 5MHz width and 22MHz range per channel, we have 13 channels.  Unfortunately, we cannot use all those channels. Instead, we would use non-overlapping channels 1, 6, and 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2.4GHz<\/p>\n

While determining the available channels, we should remember that 2MHz is left out to act as the channel spacing to reduce signal interference from older routers that might occupy those frequencies. The <\/span>802.11 b\/g\/n<\/span><\/a>\/ax standards are built to work with the 2.4GHz frequency band.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wi-Fi Bands and Channels<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n