Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting your own router instead of using the one from your ISP.

Or maybe you just want to know whether a new router would make any difference!

One of the biggest differences between routers is which standard they use: Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, or Wi-Fi 6E.

These Wi-Fi standards determine the speed, range, and capability of your wireless network.

How? Because each one includes different Wi-Fi frequencies. So what frequency is Wi-Fi, exactly?

Here’s an overview of the terminology for Wi-Fi standards and frequencies. This quick read will help you make the best choice of router based on the speed of your internet plan and the layout of your home.

What is Wireless Frequency?

Wireless networks rely on transmitting data over specific radio frequency bands. Frequency refers to where a band sits on the radio spectrum. Frequency is the band’s rate of electromagnetic wave oscillations per second measured in Hertz (Hz).

Higher frequency bands can carry more data (higher throughput), but don’t travel as far as lower frequencies. The mix of Wi-Fi frequency bands a router uses affects its performance.

A Brief History of Wi-Fi Standards

New generations of Wi-Fi standards have added access to higher frequencies. These frequency bands have been named by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (I.E.E.E.):

Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) – Initial standard using 2.4 GHz band, released in 2009.

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) – Added 5 GHz band, released in 2014.

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) – Improved efficiency on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, released in 2019.

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) – Added 6 GHz band, released in 2020.

Each new standard builds on the capabilities of the previous standards.

2.4 GHz – The Original Wi-Fi Band

Ranges from 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz on radio spectrum

Supported by all Wi-Fi devices

Limited bandwidth – max speed 600 Mbps

Longer range, better through walls and floors

Prone to interference from other home devices

5 GHz – Faster but Shorter Range

Ranges from 5.150 to 5.825 GHz

Much more bandwidth than 2.4 GHz – max speed 6,933 Mbps

Doesn’t penetrate walls/floors as well

Shorter range from router

Minimal interference from home electronics

Dual-Band Routers – Best of Both Worlds

Dual-band routers support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. This allows your devices to use:

• 2.4 GHz when you need range and compatibility
• 5 GHz when you need faster speed

Dual band gives you flexibility to use the best frequency for your needs.

Tri-Band Routers Add More 5 GHz Capacity

Tri-band routers add a second 5 GHz band to reduce congestion. The second band will boost speeds if you have many 5 GHz devices contending on your home network.

Wi-Fi 6 Improves Efficiency

Wi-Fi 6 uses new technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO to transmit more data at once over 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. So, Wi-Fi 6 routers are faster than Wi-Fi 5 without requiring more bandwidth.

Wi-Fi 6E Unlocks 6 GHz Band

Wi-Fi 6E routers unlock the new 6 GHz band ranging from 5.925 to 7.125 GHz:

·       Huge spectrum of bandwidth means very fast speeds over 1 Gbps

·       No interference from existing home devices

·       Requires all new 6E capable devices to take advantage of it

A Deeper Technical Dive into Channels

Still with us? Want to understand even more about how this technology works? You may be aware that frequencies are also divided into channels.

Your router will pick frequencies for certain tasks. The router will also assign specific channels within those frequencies. This channel assignment can reduce network congestion.

2.4 GHz Band Channels

The 2.4 GHz band ranges from 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz and has 11 total channels spaced 5 MHz apart. However, adjacent channels overlap so only 3 non-overlapping channels are possible, limiting bandwidth.

5 GHz Band Channels

The 5 GHz band ranges from 5.150 to 5.825 GHz with a total of 19 channels spaced 5 MHz apart. Up to 25 non-overlapping channels are possible using channel bonding, enabling much speed (also called throughput).

6 GHz Band Channels on Wi-Fi 6E

The new 6 GHz band ranges from 5.925 to 7.125 GHz and adds 7 new 160 MHz channels or 14 new 80 MHz channels. The huge 1,200 MHz of spectrum enables extreme speeds with minimal interference.

Should You Choose Wi-Fi 6E?

Now that you know all the basics, we’re back to the original question.

Which Wi-Fi standard should you choose, if you’re buying your own router?

Consider Your Need for Speed, Range & Home Devices

When choosing a router, think first about your home’s layout, construction, and device mix. Then pick the frequency bands that will provide the best overall connectivity.

Wi-Fi 6E will undoubtedly give you the most power and flexibility.

Wise Budgeting with Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 for Routers

But if you don’t have endless room in your budget, you can save by choosing Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6.

This is an especially good move if you don’t do a lot of data-intensive activities at home. Are you mostly web browsing on a couple of devices? Do you stream video a few times a day, but in regular HD, not in 4K HD? You probably don’t need the highest-end router. But if you have six people gaming at once, you might need to budget more for Wi-Fi 6E.

Maybe you want to get more for your dollar by choosing Wi-Fi 5 or 6, but getting a tri-band router.

If you have a mesh router, for example, a tri-band router can really improve your performance. Tri-band allows a whole band just for direct network traffic between your mesh nodes. (This direct traffic is called backhaul.)

Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E For the Future

If none of your other devices are yet equipped for Wi-Fi 6E, it might also make sense to stick with a previous standard like 5 or 6.

Then again, you might have to start a general upgrade with your router. Do you want Wi-Fi 6E on your phone or laptop in the near future? Then consider upgrading your router now.

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