What is Dual Band Wi-Fi? | How it Works and Applications in Enterprises

What is dual band Wi-Fi and how it works? As the fifth generation of Wi-Fi transmission technology, it has a higher wireless transmission rate, stronger anti-interference, and wireless signal.

Introduction:

It took until 1997, after the establishment of the 802.11 committees, for the idea of using wireless transmitters and radio waves to connect a device to the broadband internet to become commercially viable. To define wireless local area network communication (WLANs), the IEEE 802.11 standard was created.

The 802.11 standards, which could only support 2 Mbps of bandwidth, quickly went out of date. The wireless standards for 2.4GHz (802.11b) and 5GHz (802.11a) were subsequently created. For the first ten years, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi remained popular due to its interoperability and lower price. However, this resulted in the frequency being utilized by all wireless devices, from laptops to Bluetooth headphones, slowing down and clogging up Wi-Fi networks. As a result, producers started making equipment that complied with the 802.11a (5GHz) standard.

Devices having dual-band capabilities, or those that could operate at both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequencies, were made available to facilitate compatibility with 2.4Ghz-based Wi-Fi networks. This strategy made it possible for companies to upgrade to the Wi-Fi standard (802.11b) while still maintaining compatibility with 802.11b-based equipment.

What is Dual Band Wi-Fi?

Dual band Wi-Fi is a term used to describe a wireless networking technology that simultaneously uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The 2.4 GHz frequency band was often the only one used by traditional Wi-Fi networks. However, the 5 GHz band was introduced to offer more network capacity and better performance with the introduction of dual band routers and devices.

Because of its wide device compatibility and long-range coverage, the 2.4 GHz band has been extensively used for Wi-Fi. However, it is also a congested frequency band that is shared by several other gadgets, including Bluetooth gadgets, cordless phones, and microwaves. In areas where there are many wireless devices, this might result in interference and decreased performance.

The introduction of the 5 GHz frequency for Wi-Fi helped to get around these restrictions. It offers more channels that are open, reduced device interference, and faster data transfer rates. Dual band Wi-Fi enables devices to select the frequency band that offers the best performance and the least interference in a specific environment by simultaneously utilizing the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Dual-band One on the 2.4 GHz band and one on the 5 GHz bands are the two different Wi-Fi networks that can be transmitted by Wi-Fi routers and other hardware. This enables devices to join the right network following their capabilities and the local wireless network. For instance, more recent devices that support 5 GHz can benefit from faster speeds and less interference on the 5 GHz network whereas older equipment that only supports 2.4 GHz can connect to the 2.4 GHz network. Aside from the question of What is dual band Wi-Fi, we need to look in its wide-scale applications as well. Dual-band Wi-Fi is very suitable for large enterprises, especially for the following reasons:

Reduced interference: Wireless devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices might all be functioning at once in a workplace setting. Microwaves and Bluetooth devices, for example, frequently cause interference in the 2.4 GHz band due to their high density and openness. Dual band Wi-Fi enables businesses to reduce interference and retain superior performance for crucial applications and services by providing the 5 GHz frequency.

Improved performance: When compared to the 2.4 GHz frequency, the 5 GHz spectrum delivers faster data transfer rates. It is especially helpful for activities that need a lot of bandwidth, such as video conferences, file transfers, and multimedia streaming. Businesses can increase productivity and user experience by utilizing dual band Wi-Fi to guarantee that their staff has access to quick and dependable connections for difficult jobs.

Increased network capacity: Employees and devices at large businesses are frequently connected to the Wi-Fi network at the same time. By using both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, dual band Wi-Fi increases network capacity. All users will have a faster and more dependable connection as a result of the network load being distributed and congestion being avoided.

Device compatibility: When it comes to Wi-Fi frequencies, different devices have differing capabilities. While newer devices frequently have dual-band compatibility, which enables them to connect to the 5 GHz network for improved performance, older devices may only support the 2.4 GHz band. Businesses can handle a variety of devices and guarantee flawless access for all users, regardless of the capabilities of their devices, by adopting dual-band Wi-Fi.

Prioritization and segmentation: With dual band Wi-Fi, businesses can build independent Wi-Fi networks on several frequency bands. This enables network segmentation, allowing for the assignment of key systems or departments to the 5 GHz spectrum while less important or guest networks use the 2.4 GHz band. Additionally, network management solutions can give particular devices or applications a higher priority status to guarantee that crucial processes get the performance and bandwidth they require.

Wrapping Up:

This article attempted to explain the very basic question of “What is Dual Band Wi-Fi”. The router offers dual band functionality, which enables it to function on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. To facilitate the transmission and reception of signals on both bands, it often has several antennas.

Overall, dual band Wi-Fi in big enterprises provides improved network capacity, reduced interference, enhanced performance, device compatibility, and flexibility in network segmentation and prioritization. These benefits contribute to a more efficient and reliable Wi-Fi experience for employees, leading to increased productivity and better overall connectivity in the enterprise environment.