Open the WiFi settings on your phone near a fairly new router and you’ll often see two networks with almost the same name — one ending in something like “2.4G” and another ending in “5G”. They aren’t two separate connections or two separate bills. They are two radio bands broadcast by the same router, and knowing which one to use for which device can make your WiFi noticeably faster and more stable.
What the two bands actually do
Your router broadcasts on two frequency ranges. The 2.4GHz band travels further and passes through walls and floors more easily, but it is slower and far more crowded — cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, microwaves, and every neighbour’s router tend to sit in the same space. The 5GHz band is much faster and far less congested, but its signal is weaker over distance and struggles more with solid walls.
Neither band is “better” on its own. They are built for different jobs, and most homes and offices get the best result by using both deliberately.
When 2.4GHz is the right choice
Reach for the 2.4GHz network when range matters more than raw speed:
- Devices far from the router, or separated from it by two or more walls
- Smart-home gadgets, CCTV cameras, printers, and other devices that only need a light, steady connection
- Older phones, laptops, and tablets that do not support 5GHz at all
When 5GHz is the right choice
Use the 5GHz network for anything that moves a lot of data and stays reasonably close to the router:
- Streaming in HD or 4K on a smart TV or laptop
- Video calls for work
- Online gaming, where a stable, low-latency connection matters
- Large downloads and file transfers
If your desk or living room is within a room or two of the router, 5GHz will almost always feel faster.
“Band steering” and the single network name
Many newer routers hide both bands behind one network name and decide for each device which band to use. This is called band steering, and when it works it is convenient. When it does not, you get devices clinging to the slower 2.4GHz band even while they sit next to the router. If a specific device feels slow, it is worth splitting the two bands into separate named networks — for example “Home” and “Home-5G” — so you can put each device exactly where it belongs.
A few practical tips
- Give each band a clear name you will recognise, then connect each device to the right one and let it remember.
- Keep the router out in the open — not in a cabinet, behind a TV, or on the floor. Height and clear line of sight help both bands, but especially 5GHz.
- If 2.4GHz is unreliable in a flat with many neighbours, logging into your router and manually setting the channel to 1, 6, or 11 often clears up interference.
- If large parts of your home still have no usable signal on either band, the fix is usually a mesh system or an access point on a cable — not a bigger package.
The connection behind the WiFi
Sorting out your bands only helps if the line coming into your home is solid to begin with. Every WebSpace Internet package is unlimited with no throttling, installation is free, and plans start from Ksh 1,500 a month — so once your WiFi is set up well, the speed you signed up for is the speed you keep. If your WiFi still isn’t behaving after some tuning, call us on 0702 447 334 or visit our contact page and our team will help you get it right.