Guys, i keep hearing stuff like this and i have to interject. Hereâs the deal with 2.4ghz vs 5ghz. 5ghz is a weaker signal, thus its weakness is its strength! The fact that it is weaker means your neighbors 5ghz wifi is also weaker, which means less noise on that channel.
2.4ghz is a monster! It can travel through thick pine trees and other brush, homes and Far⌠far far far away to a galaxy⌠You get the idea! So itâs very noisy. Not to mention all the other non-WiFi based noise thatâs created from things like vacuum cleaners to microwaves. That on top of other neighbors wifi and additional ambient noise is a perfect cocktailic cacophony of horrible connectivity that will impact things not just your doorbell. Iâm not saying it never works⌠just that if you are having problems, my money is on the fact your using 2.4ghz. This is why they invented 5ghz⌠it was for a reason many actually!
Baring extremely dense neighborhoods and especially apartments, 5ghz will almost always be a cleaner, and higher quality connection. However, you need to evaluate your home network and consider the following:
-
Wireless router (in MANY cases one single router will not cover a home efficiently in itâs 5ghz spectrum.) I donât care what the box says, Seriously i have no idea where they get those specs but name one person you know that gets 100% of the results an off the shelf router claims it can achieve.
You may need a mesh router.
To find out if you need one:
With an android phone âsorry appleâ, download a wifi analyzer. I prefer the one by farproc, navigate to wifi analyzer for 5ghz within the ap. Now, in your wifi analyzer app check how loud other signals are.
You need the following:
- A signal strength of around -60db or better. Better being -55, -40, etcâŚ
- A signal to noise ratio of roughly 30db difference. For example if my neighbors wifi is -70 near where my ring doorbell will be, then i need my signal to be -40db stronger. This is rarely possible hence why Wifi6 or AX is coming out! 5ghz is even suffering but way less than 2.4. If you can get at least 15db difference you should be okay-ish
If you canât get a good signal like that with your current router, Iâd recommend a mesh router because once you move your router, the rest of your house will have a problem. Your mierly shifting the problem elsewhere.
**One last thing⌠There is the goldilocks zone that no one really knows about! Itâs called Channel 165! Off the shelf routers automatically broadcast to 80mhz and this my friends is the primary reason or cause if you will, for alllll the horrible nightmares we are facing. In order to BUFF their stats, router manufacturers are sending them out hard coded 80mhz routers in droves. Unless your surrounded by a few acrâs this will not give you the performance youâre looking for.
Solution: Hard code your router to 20mhz and then youâll be able to static it to channel 165. Donât be surprised if your the only one there.
Hope this helps and Iâll step off my soapbox now. Letâs all hope wifi6 comes soon!!! I mean⌠itâs here but i mean devices capable of it