A dual-band router is a modern router that can simultaneously transmit on 2.4 and 5GHz bands. When you connect a device that supports both 5 and 2.4 GHz, you will see two networks related to your dual-band router. For example, if you named your network Myhomewifi, you’ll probably see Myhomewifi, as well as Myhomewifi 5G or something similar.
So, which network should you connect your new device to? 5GHz is faster and is the preferred network for your computers, tablets, smart TVs, and game systems. However, 2.4GHz tends to transmit further and is great if you’re trying to use any outdoor devices in a larger yard. It’s also great for smart home devices like a smart thermostat or a Wi-Fi printer that don’t necessarily need a fast connection.
Some newer routers have a feature called band steering or smart connect that automatically decides which network to connect your device to. When you bring up the list of available networks, you’ll only see one network name even though it is still transmitting in both 2.4 and 5GHz. The band steering will attempt to steer your device intelligently to the band that will work best for it. In most cases, this is a convenient way to use your network, and it’s great for when friends and family come over because you don’t have to explain which one they should be connecting to.
However, if you prefer to connect your devices to each of the networks manually or you need to troubleshoot an internet connectivity problem, you may go ahead and disable that feature.
In summary, 5GHz is faster and is the preferred network for devices that require a fast connection. On the other hand, 2.4GHz tends to transmit further and is great for outdoor devices and smart home devices that don’t necessarily need a fast connection. If your router has the band steering feature, it will automatically decide which network to connect your device to. However, you can disable this feature if you prefer to connect your devices manually or need to troubleshoot an internet connectivity problem.