Top tips to get the best WiFi signal
WiFi signal, WiFi bands and WiFi channels made easy with our WiFi router.
Which WiFi band gives a better WiFi signal - 2.4GHz or 5GHz?
Help with WiFi bands and getting the best WiFI signal
Which WiFi band gives a better WiFi signal - 2.4GHz or 5GHz?
Most modern WiFi routers work across two frequency bands - 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
The 2.4GHz band is good for coverage as it can 'reach' further than the 5GHz band. It’s slower than 5GHz and there’s more chance of interference from things like competing WiFi networks, Bluetooth devices and microwave ovens. Almost all WiFi devices have support for 2.4GHz WiFi networks.
The 5GHz band can't reach quite as far as 2.4GHz so works better over shorter distances. It has much higher speeds and there’s less chance of interference.
Some older, WiFi-enabled devices don’t support 5GHz WiFi networks, so can only connect to the 2.4GHz band.
As a general rule, the 5GHz network is better, and provides a more reliable WiFi signal strength unless you’re too far away from your router or you’re using an older device that doesn’t have 5GHz.
The Plusnet Hub Zero and Technicolor 582n only operates on the 2.4GHz band and doesn’t have support for 5GH.
How do I choose which WiFi band my device connects to?
Everything you need to connect to different WiFi bands
How do I choose which WiFi band my device connects to?
Newer Plusnet Hubs are dual band so the decision on which band to connect to is left to the device. If your device is close to your router then it should prefer the 5GHz band as it offers the best speed and best WiFi signal. As you move a device further away from the router and the 5GHz signal becomes weaker, it will switch across to the 2.4GHz band to keep you connected.
If you want a device to connect to a particular band, you can disable either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio via your router settings. This will force all devices to only connect to the active band.
Some routers also provide the capability to split the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands so each has its own WiFi network name or Service Set Identifier. Often known as SSID. This lets you control which device to connect to which wireless band. So you’re maximising your WiFi signal strength for different devices in your home.
Our router features
Our handy cards show the main features of each hub, including those supporting split WiFi bands.
How do I get the best from my WiFi channel?
See how a Plusnet WiFi router can help boost performance
How do I get the best from my WiFi channel?
Both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are further split into separate chunks called channels.
The Plusnet router is designed to select the best performing channel for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. All of your connected devices will communicate over the channel that’s chosen.
The 2.4GHz band operates best on channels 1, 6 or 11. This is because they don’t overlap with each other. Using a different channel can increase the chances of interference or congestion which will affect your WiFi connectivity.
Most routers will allow you to manually select the WiFi channel. We don’t recommend this approach as your wireless environment can change from one day to the next. What might work well now could cause problems in the future. Instead, look for an option in your router settings to refresh or rescan your channel selection. This should automatically move you to a more reliable channel so you’re getting the best WiFi signal.
Which WiFi band gives a better WiFi signal - 2.4GHz or 5GHz?
Most modern WiFi routers work across two frequency bands - 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
The 2.4GHz band is good for coverage as it can 'reach' further than the 5GHz band. It’s slower than 5GHz and there’s more chance of interference from things like competing WiFi networks, Bluetooth devices and microwave ovens. Almost all WiFi devices have support for 2.4GHz WiFi networks.
The 5GHz band can't reach quite as far as 2.4GHz so works better over shorter distances. It has much higher speeds and there’s less chance of interference.
Some older, WiFi-enabled devices don’t support 5GHz WiFi networks, so can only connect to the 2.4GHz band.
As a general rule, the 5GHz network is better, and provides a more reliable WiFi signal strength unless you’re too far away from your router or you’re using an older device that doesn’t have 5GHz.
The Plusnet Hub Zero and Technicolor 582n only operates on the 2.4GHz band and doesn’t have support for 5GH.
How do I choose which WiFi band my device connects to?
Newer Plusnet Hubs are dual band so the decision on which band to connect to is left to the device. If your device is close to your router then it should prefer the 5GHz band as it offers the best speed and best WiFi signal. As you move a device further away from the router and the 5GHz signal becomes weaker, it will switch across to the 2.4GHz band to keep you connected.
If you want a device to connect to a particular band, you can disable either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio via your router settings. This will force all devices to only connect to the active band.
Some routers also provide the capability to split the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands so each has its own WiFi network name or Service Set Identifier. Often known as SSID. This lets you control which device to connect to which wireless band. So you’re maximising your WiFi signal strength for different devices in your home.
Our router features
Our handy cards show the main features of each hub, including those supporting split WiFi bands.
How do I get the best from my WiFi channel?
Both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are further split into separate chunks called channels.
The Plusnet router is designed to select the best performing channel for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. All of your connected devices will communicate over the channel that’s chosen.
The 2.4GHz band operates best on channels 1, 6 or 11. This is because they don’t overlap with each other. Using a different channel can increase the chances of interference or congestion which will affect your WiFi connectivity.
Most routers will allow you to manually select the WiFi channel. We don’t recommend this approach as your wireless environment can change from one day to the next. What might work well now could cause problems in the future. Instead, look for an option in your router settings to refresh or rescan your channel selection. This should automatically move you to a more reliable channel so you’re getting the best WiFi signal.
More ways to get help
Plusnet community
Our customers always have tips to share.
Talk to our community
Sign Language service
Contact us using British Sign Language
My Account
Manage your bills, packages and details.
Sign into Broadband
