dslreports logo
 story category
Why the 5 GHz Frequency Is About To Get Crowded

Wi-Fi networking uses two frequencies: 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz frequency goes back to the 802.11a specification, back in 1999, so it has been around for over a decade. The 5 GHz frequency was also incorporated into the 802.11n spec as well as the current 802.11ac standards.

Click for full size
In far too many cases, the 2.4 GHz frequency gets crowded. Let’s look at my home environment using the Killer Network Manager which is part of the Killer NIC Software Suite.

The results displayed to the upper left are fairly typical, with routers that span three channels, and overlap each other. Recall that due to these overlaps, there are really only three distinct channels: 1, 6 and 11. It’s no wonder at times that the 2.4 GHz becomes unusable, with compromised speeds. As an aside, my router is set to “Auto” to choose the channel, but it would be better to have it manually tuned to channel 11.

Click for full size
As a result of the crowding in my area on the 2.4 GHz channels, I preferentially send more of my wireless network traffic through one of the the 5 GHz frequencies. To the lower left is what the 5 GHz spectrum looks like in my area.

There is only a single 5 GHz SSID, which happens to be mine, and scrolling across reveals nothing else. Hence, there is no interference, and it is a wide open highway without the interference that plagues 2.4 GHz from the other competing networks, as well as Bluetooth, microwaves, wireless mice and keyboards and older 2.4 GHz cordless phones.

Unlike other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, both Wi-Fi frequencies have been set aside for unlicensed use by consumers and businesses, although power limits are regulated. Many other portions of the radio frequency are regulated, and controlled by the FCC for radio, television, military, astronomy and wireless communications among other purposes.

The quest for faster wireless data connections, so-called 4G and 5G LTE smartphones, has come at the price that these radio frequencies are getting crowded, and running out of available space. With technologies such as channel bonding that use several frequencies to simultaneously transmit a single data stream, while the throughput has increased, the frequency crowding and shortage has only gotten worse.

In a coming standard developed by Qualcomm, cell carriers plan to use the 5 GHz frequency as a second frequency for downloads to increase speeds. Most of us connect our smartphone to our router via Wi-Fi to increase the download speeds, avoid the mobile data caps, and to enhance coverage while inside our homes.

However, this plan is going to use 5 GHz Unlicensed LTE (LTE-U), which will connect the smartphones to carrier owned access points via the 5 GHz frequency. T-Mobile is particularly interested in this Unlicensed LTE technology, and plans to use it in malls, and sporting events for starters. It is unclear if it will be used on main cell towers. Verizon also plans to deploy LTE-U, and the remaining carriers cannot be far behind.

There is a real concern that all of this use of the 5 GHz frequency will create interference. In fact, Google filed with the FCC their concern of the congestion that will result from the combining of licensed and unlicensed frequencies. Don’t get me wrong- we all benefit from a more stable and speedy cellular data connection.

However, facing a shortage of new frequencies for cellular use, and at higher prices at the FCC auctions, we should not have the narrow portion of frequency that the public was given for Wi-Fi get crowded out by “The Big Four” of mobile phone carriers.

While it is unclear how this will move forward, it looks unlikely that we will continue to have the 5 GHz frequency all to ourselves. Let’s hope the tradeoff is worth it, and we don’t end up with the same interference issues that has plagued the 2.4 GHz signal.

Feel free to share your experiences with 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and your opinions on its use by mobile phone carriers.

This article was contributed by the DSLReports.com community. If you'd like to receive payment for writing content like this for our front page, please drop us a line.

Most recommended from 61 comments



OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

31 recommendations

OSUGoose

Member

Hell No!

There is absoutely NO reason to let the big 4 use our 5GHz for their use.

Anonf2a9f
@cox.net

23 recommendations

Anonf2a9f

Anon

What the hell happened to wires?

The amount of people absolutely hostile to using any form of wire is getting ridiculous. They view wireless as the panacea for everything. Wireless router, wireless speakers, wifi remotes, wireless HDMI, wireless casting, wireless everything. Unlicensed spectrum is destined to become unusable with this attitude.

Technology is not going to disappear. Bandwidth demands for local networks will only increase. Use wires as much as possible or wire your home.
Bryantf1982
join:2016-08-18
Kent, WA

9 recommendations

Bryantf1982

Member

Ethernet is much, much, much better than Wi-Fi

Ethernet has always and will alway be much, much, much faster and completely interference free over Wi-Fi until the end of time.

Darknessfall
Premium Member
join:2012-08-17
Motorola MG8725
Asus RT-N66

1 edit

8 recommendations

Darknessfall

Premium Member

Leave 5 GHz Alone!

My 2.4 GHz is pretty much trash at the moment, basically unusable. 5 GHz is really all that's left.

I'm worried about the future of 5 GHz. With talks of LTE-U and 160 MHz AC(not mentioned here), I'm kind of concerned that 5 GHz will start to become cluttered.

I feel that it's wrong for these companies to use 5 GHz for a for profit service. It may end up being something only used in locations such as malls, but who knows what will happen.

As for 160 MHz AC, I think that it's just taking up way too much of the available spectrum. 5 GHz was supposed to be something that was 'virtually' interference-less due to its lower range and wide channel use. With 80 MHz, it was kind of pushing it. With 160 MHz, that's just to the extreme, at least in my opinion.

There are already multiple 5 GHz networks in my neighborhood(mainly from Comcast gateways).
zod5000
join:2003-10-21
Victoria, BC

1 edit

7 recommendations

zod5000

Member

Please don't:

Me neighborhood isn't really that noisy for Wi-Fi traffic, but Shaw (the local cable company) created a big Wi-Fi Network. Their signal broadcasts on all 3 channels (1, 6 and 11) that overlap with all the other channels. If they were using a single hotspot on one of those channels we'd be ok, but by using all 3 there's interference all over the band (their wifi signal is stronger in my house than my cell phone signal). I ended up buying a router with 5ghz to avoid that. I really hope corporations can't start using it. We need to have a few customer frequencies left solely for our home devices.

KA0OUV
Premium Member
join:2010-02-17
Jefferson City, MO

2 recommendations

KA0OUV

Premium Member

Same Rules apply to all users of the Spectrum...

Have to keep in mind that the same rules apply to all users of the Spectrum. Part 15 and Part 18 of the FCC Regulations governs the majority of the users in all ISM Bands, including the cell folks. Just wait until they take down a TDWR system. That will cause real problems.

In general, in some places it will become a wild west free-for-all and an RF wasteland. The LTE-U services deployed in the band won't work well. (Every time you walk past an iPhone, you drop your call. Really?) This is just BPL on steroids, but it has the potential to annoy lots more than just Amateur Radio Service licensees.

SysOp
join:2001-04-18
Atlanta, GA

4 edits

2 recommendations

SysOp

Member

What do you consider "crowded"?

Click for full size
I wouldn't worry too much. The range is limited. I doubt the 5 GHz is going to make it past the parking lot from inside the mall or venue. The image above is from TamoGraph, showing RF coverage in the MetaGeek office.

2.4 GHz
802.11b/g/n
Greater Range (~300 ft)
Universal Compatibility
3 non-overlapping channels
Congested with WiFi
Plagued by non-WiFi interference

5 GHz
802.11a/n/ac
Lower Indoor Range (~90 ft)
Limited Compatibility (a/n/ac devices only)
24 non-overlapping channels
Little WiFi congestion
Very little non-WiFi interference