• Suggestion search
  • Suggestion search

What’s the difference between the 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless band?

Learn the difference between the 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless band and Wi-Fi networks, and how to switch between them on your Viasat modem. A simple rule of thumb is that the 2.4 GHz has greater reach, while the 5 GHz has a stronger signal.

When setting up a router to create your home network, you may have noticed there’s a choice between 2.4 or 5 GHz frequencies.

Difference between 2.4 and 5GHz

Image of Ground Stations

2.4 GHz Frequency

  • It has a wider range/reach and can easily pass through walls. Because most devices use this, though, the connection may be slower or less stable due to interference from other devices.
  • Other devices that use this frequency include: baby monitors, garage-door openers, car alarms, microwave ovens, security cameras, wireless headphones, and cordless phones, to name a few. The 2.4GHz band includes 3 channels.
    • Longer range, better obstacle penetration
    • Used by most devices
    • High traffic makes it prone to interference
    • Good for email, some browsing, and similar low-bandwidth consuming functions

 

Image of Ground Station

5 GHz Frequency

  • This band can move a lot of data quickly but has a shorter reach. As a result, it may be harder to connect when you are farther away from your modem.
  • Because it’s used almost exclusively by Wi-Fi, it performs better than 2.4 GHz. It also has 23 non-overlapping channels, which in simple terms means it has more capacity and can move more data faster than the 2.4 GHz band.
  • The 5 GHz frequency is more like expressway: broader, less crowded, and faster. It’s ideal for laptops, phones, tablets, and other data devices you’re using in small, open spaces.
    • Short-range, can’t easily penetrate solid objects as well.
    • Less congested and higher throughput for streaming functions
    • Not all the devices are 5GHz compatible
    • Ideal for use indoors

How to use the 5 GHz band on the Viasat Wi-Fi Modem and Viasat Wi-Fi Gateway

Viasat Wi-Fi Modem (SB2+)

If you’d like to use 5 GHz, first check the manual that comes with each of your devices to see if it supports 5 GHz. Even if all your devices aren’t compatible, you can still switch to 5 GHz. Those that aren’t compatible will continue to work just as well on either band, and the compatible devices will perform even better. 

  1. Type the IP address 192.168.1.1:8080 into your internet browser.
  2. When prompted, log in using the username “admin” and password “admin.”
  3. Click on the Router tab.
  4. Click on the Wireless button.
  5. Locate the Configuration View section, then use the drop-down menu to switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

NOTE: 

  • While some routers with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz capability allow you to use both channels at once, you’ll have to pick one or the other with the Viasat WiFi Modem. Our suggestion is to give them both a try and stick with the one that seems to work best in your location.
  • You can download free or inexpensive apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play that allow you to walk around your home and see how good your WiFi signal is. The free app “Wi-Fi Sweetspots” is one example.
Image of SB2+ Modem
Image of Wi-Fi Gateway

Viasat Wi-Fi Gateway (VS2)

  1. The Viasat WiFi Gateway defaults to displaying 2 different WiFi networks.
    1. One will have “5G” in the name and is the 5 GHz option.
    2. The other will have “24G” in the name for 2.4 GHz.
  2. Simply connect to whichever band works best for you, based on the information above.
  3. If both WiFI networks are not displaying, then login to the admin portal on your modem to change the configurations:
    1. Type the IP address 192.168.100.1 into your internet browser.
    2. When prompted, log in using the user name “admin” and password that's printed on the sticker on your modem (Tip: Take a picture of the password and expand it to make the password easier to read).
    3. Click on the Router tab.
    4. Click on the Wireless button.
    5. Locate the Configuration View section. The Viasat WiFi gateway supports using 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz simultaneously -- so you don't have to choose! 
Related articles you may be interested in: