What are 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands and how do they work?

What are Wi-Fi bands?

Most modern broadband routers use two Wi-Fi bands called 2.4GHz and 5GHz. These bands are like two wireless lanes that your devices can use to connect to the internet.

Your router runs both bands at the same time. Even if you only see one Wi-Fi name, both bands are active in the background.

Why does my router only show one Wi-Fi network?

Routers often use a feature called band steering. This combines both bands into one Wi-Fi name and automatically chooses which band your device connects to.

The goal is to make Wi-Fi setup simple, especially for non-technical users.

The difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz

2.4GHz Wi-Fi has a longer range and passes through walls more easily. It is slower and more likely to suffer interference from other devices like baby monitors and microwaves. Typical maximum speeds are up to around 300Mbps, depending on the router.

5GHz Wi-Fi is much faster and more stable but has a shorter range. It is best for streaming, video calls and gaming. Typical maximum speeds can be up to around 1200Mbps, depending on the router model.

📝 Note: Actual speeds depend on your router, device and broadband package.

Why do some devices choose the wrong band?

Many devices choose a Wi-Fi band based on signal strength, not speed.

This means a device may connect to 2.4GHz because the signal looks stronger, even though 5GHz would give much faster performance at that distance.

This is common with phones, laptops, smart TVs and games consoles.

When should I split my Wi-Fi networks?

Splitting your Wi-Fi can help if you experience slow speeds near the router, buffering when streaming, or devices connecting to the wrong band.

It is also useful if you want to control which devices use 5GHz for speed and which use 2.4GHz for range.

💡 Tip: Smart home devices often work better on 2.4GHz, while phones and laptops usually perform best on 5GHz.

What does splitting Wi-Fi networks mean?

Splitting your Wi-Fi means turning off band steering and giving each band its own name.

For example:
HomeUnity_AB12
HomeUnity_AB12_5GHz

This lets you manually choose which band each device connects to.

Do I have to split my Wi-Fi?

No. Many homes work perfectly with band steering left on.

Splitting Wi-Fi is optional and is only recommended if you notice speed or connection issues.

How to split Wi-Fi bands on a Zyxel router

If you have a Zyxel router, you can do this using a web browser by following these steps.

With your device connected to Wi-Fi, open a web browser and go to 192.168.1.1
Enter the router username (admin) and login password (found on the grey panel on the back of your router)
Once logged in, open up the menu in the top right by clicking on the 3 black lines
Click on Network Setting, then click Wireless
Click on the MESH tab, toggle off MPro Mesh (if turned on) and click Apply
Once complete and the circle has stopped swirling, click on the Zyxel Logo (top left)
Go to the WiFi Settings panel and click on the arrow symbol (>)
Untick Keep 2.4GHz and 5GHz the same
Rename the 5GHz network to include _5G at the end
Save your changes

⚠️ Caution: Changing Wi-Fi settings will briefly disconnect your devices.

How to split Wi-Fi bands on a TP-Link router

If you have a TP-Link router, you can do this using the Aginet app by following these steps.

Open the Aginet App
- If you haven't set up the Aginet app yet, please click here
Go to More, then Wi-Fi Settings
Click on the arrow (>) next to 2.4 Ghz & 5 Ghz Network
Tap the Band Steering toggle to switch it off
Rename the 5GHz network to include _5G at the end
Press the back arrow (<) in the top left corner
Save your changes