Which band generally has a greater range, 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz?

The 2.4 GHz band generally has a greater range compared to the 5 GHz band due to its lower frequency. Lower frequency radio waves can travel longer distances and penetrate obstacles such as walls and furniture more effectively than higher frequency waves. This means that devices using the 2.4 GHz frequency can often maintain connections at greater distances from the Wi-Fi access point.

While the 5 GHz band can support faster data rates and serve more channels, which can help reduce congestion in environments with many devices, its higher frequency limits its range and ability to penetrate physical barriers. In practical terms, this means that areas farther away from the router may have a stronger signal when using the 2.4 GHz band than when using the 5 GHz band. This characteristic makes the 2.4 GHz band more suitable for coverage in larger areas, though it may be more susceptible to interference from other electronic devices that also operate on the same frequency.