When you set up your home Wi-Fi, you might notice that these days there are two networks. Usually, they have the same name except the second one has “5G” or “5GHz” at the end. What’s up with that, and what’s the difference? The answer is signal frequency, and which one you choose can make all the difference in terms of speed.

There are two signal frequencies for Wi-Fi; 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

2.4 GHz

The 2.4 GHz frequency has the lower maximum speed of the two. It’s also crowded; cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, older laptops or phones, and many smart home appliances use this wavelength. Any device connecting to a 2.4 GHz network is going to have a lot of competition.

You’ll want to keep devices that don’t need as much speed on your 2.4 GHz network; think of it as the lower priority track. Additionally, some devices, like printers, smart plugs, or robotic vacuums, can only connect to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. It’s also a great option for the network you let guests use.

5 GHz

The 5 GHz frequency has a higher maximum speed and is less occupied. It’s mostly used only by newer computers, cell phones, and other networking equipment. The only drawback is that it has a bit less range than 2.4 GHz, but you can get around this by using a mesh Wi-Fi router, which has multiple endpoints to connect to throughout your home, or just by making sure you put your wireless router in the best possible location.

The 5 GHz network should be your priority track; connect the most important devices to it to ensure that they get the best possible speeds. 

If 2.4 GHz is Coach and 5 GHz is First Class, a wired connection is your own private jet with a full-service bar. The capacity of a wired connection exceeds even the best wireless one, and there’s not much to negotiate in terms of range or placement; if you can run an ethernet cable from your router to your computer, it’s going to work. If you can set up a wired connection for your work computer, it’s definitely the way to go.

Pick the Right Cable

Be sure to use the right cable for the job, though. These days, you want to look for at least a Cat 5e ethernet cable (make sure you look for that ‘e’; just Cat 5 is not the same thing!), but you can really take advantage of the top speed of modern internet plans with a Cat 6 cable. The type of cable will be written on the packaging, or printed on the side of the cable itself at regular intervals.

It may feel like a hassle to figure out which Wi-Fi frequency you’re using or to set up a wired connection, but the programs you use to do your job need a certain amount of internet speed for their best performance. By setting up the best possible connection for your work system at home, you’re setting yourself up for success. While it can be a pain to get going, once you set up the fastest connection you can manage, it will start paying off dividends right away.