News
By John Cox
Senior Editor, Network World |
Is iPhone 5 the first smartphone to support 5GHz?
No. A few Android-based rivals, such as the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III, offer dual-band Wi-Fi. A growing number of new phones will have 5GHz support.
iPhone 5 buyer's guide: What you need to know before heading to the Apple store ]
What is 5GHz Wi-Fi?
5GHz is the "other frequency" that Wi-Fi client radios can use, besides 2.4GHz, to connect to an access point or hotspot.
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Why would I want to use it?
First, because the 2.4GHz band is crowded, and therefore has a greater chance of interference. There are lots of devices are using it: Lots of other Wi-Fi devices, including embedded Wi-Fi radios, but also non-Wi-Fi radios like Bluetooth, cordless phones, baby monitors, and stuff like microwave ovens.
Client Wi-Fi radios that support only 802.11g can only connect on 2.4GHz. 802.11a, which so far has not been widely used, runs on 5GHz. 802.11n, which has much higher data rates, can run on either band but most smartphones today that have 11n, such as iPhone 4 and 4S, only run it on 2.4GHz.
And even when the client radio could run on either band, a lot of them today still "decide" to connect on 2.4GHz and stick with it, even when a better connection is available. Vendors and IEEE are working on various technologies to address this, including shifting more control over the connection, and optimizing it to the access point/network, instead of the client.
Second, the 2.4GHz band has only three non-overlapping, 20MHz-wide channels: In crowded environments -- lots of access points, lots of clients -- that can make it hard to get a channel connection. And fewer channels means lower aggregate capacity on the network side.
So what's different about 5GHz?
By contrast, the 5GHz band has, for now, many fewer Wi-Fi clients, and 23 20MHz-wide, non-overlapping channels.
In the 802.11n radio standard, one way that data rates increase dramatically is by combining (or "bonding") two of these channels into a wider 40MHz wireless "pipe." In 2.4GHz, you only have the three channels, and can create only one 40MHz channel.
Apple says that iPhone 5 will deliver a maximum 150Mbps data rate. This would mean using 802.11n, with a single data stream, and a 40MHz channel. Actual throughput will be much less.
How does 5GHz affect network capacity?
"5GHz support on an iPhone is a wonderful thing for Wi-Fi," says William Kish, CTO and co-founder of Ruckus Wireless. "It increases aggregate capacity in challenging environments by something like a factor of 10-12 compared to 11n on 2.4GHz."
Kish defines aggregate capacity as "the total capacity available to all simultaneous users across all of the APs in a given area."
"The higher aggregate capacity is mostly a function of the much larger amount of bandwidth (e.g., the [much greater] number of channels) available in the 5GHz band as well as the more capacity-favorable propagation characteristics of the 5GHz spectrum," Kish says.
For example, an 802.11g network offers 54Mbps of capacity on each of three 2.4GHz channels, for a total capacity of 162Mbps. 802.11a offers the same 54Mbps, but in theory its capacity is much larger due to the larger number of 5GHz channels.
For 802.11n, the numbers are even greater: 150Mbps per channel, for 450Mbps in the 2.4GHz band, and 3.45Gbps in 5GHz. In all cases the actual throughput users get is much less.
What does that mean for throughput?
Kish was recently at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C., where a Ruckus Wi-Fi network had been installed, for a live event. He speed-tested his Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone in the network: 60.33Mbps download, and 58.78Mbps upload.
"60Mbps is a serious amount of throughput to a mobile device under real-world conditions!" he says. "I have my fingers crossed that the iPhone 5 delivers similar results."
Are there any drawback to 5GHz?
At the same power level, a 5GHz signal has a shorter wavelength than a 2.4GHz signal. That means it propagates shorter distances. From a client perspective, for example using a Starbucks hotspot or a well-designed hotzone or enterprise WLAN planned for 5GHz, users often may not be affected by either of those characteristics.
Higher-gain antennas and/or increased transmit power (though this is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission) can offset the 5GHz propagation.
Another issue is how the phone will decide which band to use: Will it be set (or settable) to "prefer" 5GHz over 2.4GHz, so the choice is automatic? Or will you be prompted for your preference? Or do you have to manually select one or other?
A June 2012 blog post at WLAN vendor Aruba Networks noted that the vendor's testing of 5GHz mobile devices found "that handover performance [from one access point to another] for a fast-moving device is not quite as good when both bands are enabled as it was for 2.4GHz only ... this is probably due to the larger number of channels that must be scanned. The chip vendors will need to tweak their probing and selection algorithms to tighten this up, and there are some new standard features coming that will help. But this is a minor concern."
What Wi-Fi chip is in the iPhone 5?
We don't know exactly, yet, until the phone is released and it gets the "tear-down" treatment. But historically, Apple has sourced the radio from Broadcom. The iPhone 4S uses the Broadcom BCM4330 -- at the time last year Broadcom's newest WLAN -- Bluetooth, and FM combo chip. It was also used in the Samsung Galaxy S II and, according to Kish, in the newer S III.
That chip supports both bands, but only the 2.4GHz band has been "turned on" in the past in most smartphones.
Can Apple make any other tweaks to boost Wi-Fi performance?
In their in-depth review last year of iPhone 4S, Anand Lal Shimpi and Brian Klug, of AnandTech.com, found the 4S Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antenna, repositioned to the top corner of the phone, had "slightly better received signal strength ... compared to a [iPhone] 4 side by side, and upon checking the FCC documents learned the 4S' WLAN antenna has a peak gain of -1.5 dBi compared to -1.89 dBi on the 4, making it better than the previous model." The higher gain, loosely understood as sensitivity, improves the signal strength and helps sustain the higher throughput connection.
For iPhone 5, Apple has added two glass "RF windows" on the back, at top and bottom. There might also be antenna improvements. Together, these could improve signal strength for the phone.
The more powerful A6 CPU, Apple's system-on-chip or SoC, in the iPhone 5 may also have an impact. In their review of the 4S, the authors noted: "I'm starting to think that the bigger boost is actually thanks in part to a faster SoC." Apple says the A6 delivers twice the performance for new phone as for the 4S.
John Cox covers wireless networking and mobile computing for Network World.Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnwcoxnwwEmail: john_cox@nww.comBlog RSS feed: http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/2989/feed
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This story, "FAQ: iPhone 5 and 5GHz Wi-Fi" was originally published by Network World.
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Bing’s AI chatbot came to work for me. I had to fire it.
FAQs
Does iPhone 5 support 5GHz Wi-Fi? ›
The iPhone 5 is Apple's first to support Wi-Fi connections on the 5GHz band.
Is my iPhone 5 2.4 or 5GHz? ›Tap and hold the Wi-Fi icon in the top-left corner. The name of your Wi-Fi access point appears below "Wi-Fi" on the left side of the panel. If you see either "2.4GHz" or "5GHz" here, you'll know that you're connected on that frequency.
How do I choose between 2.4 and 5GHz on my iPhone? ›- Open the Settings app for your iOS device.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the Wi-Fi switch to the on position. Note: Wi-Fi is enabled when the Wi-Fi button is green.
- Select a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. ...
- If prompted, enter the password for the network.
If you want the phone to switch from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz, you will have to manually do this by temporarily turning on Airplane Mode on the phone when it is back in the house and then turning off AirPlane Mode. Then.....the iPhone will usually.....but not always..... connect at 5 GHz.
Which iPhone can take 5GHz? ›iPhone 12 models or later work with the 5G cellular networks of certain carriers.
How do I know if my iPhone supports 5GHz Wi-Fi? ›There is no native feature to check your iPhone's WiFi GHz (2.4GHz or 5GHz). Instead, you can check the network name, use WiFi analyzer apps, or use your Mac or Windows PC.
How can I tell if my phone is connected to 2.4 GHz or 5Ghz? ›- Connect to the network.
- Go to Settings > Network & internet > WiFi > Select the network properties (tap the gear icon or menu icon). ...
- Read the frequency setting.
A force restart usually solved the issue and it was able to connect to my 5Ghz network after the restart instantly. I also have a CarPlay device in my car which only runs on 5Ghz. So every time I had to force restart the iphone to make it work.
What is the speed limit of iPhone 5 Wi-Fi? ›The iPhone5 maxes out at around 92Mbps (the rest of the 150Mbps is error correction) with a 5ghz router. You need a router that provides a strong signal, because the antennas on the phone are a good deal smaller than those on a laptop.
How do I switch between 2.4 and 5Ghz? ›- Click Start > Device Manager. ...
- Select View > Show hidden devices to make sure Windows 10 displays all drivers.
- Expand the Network adapters list.
- Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter > Properties.
- Open the Advanced tab.
- Set Property to Band or Preferred band.
Can I force my iPhone to use 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi? ›
If your router doesn't have two different bands, it will switch to 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz automatically to give you the best connection. You can't manually switch your iPhone to 2.4Ghz if this is the case. Other suggestions include buying your own router and making sure it features both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz connections.
Why wont my iPhone connect to 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi? ›Reset your Network Settings. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you've used before." As previously mentioned, you do have the option of connecting with Apple Support for assistance at Get Support.
Why some devices Cannot connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi? ›If you haven't updated your network adapter driver in a while, that outdated driver could cause issues with accessing your 5 GHz network. Try updating your Wi-Fi adapter drivers. If Windows can't find the latest driver, try downloading and installing it from the manufacturer's website.
Why is my phone not connecting to 5GHz Wi-Fi? ›Reboot your Android mobile. Make sure that your Android device is within reach of the WiFi router. Check your 5GHz wireless connection with another device. Update the firmware on your router.
What is the difference between 2.4 GHz and 5ghz? ›2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz: Which frequency should you choose? A 2.4 GHz connection travels farther at lower speeds, while 5 GHz frequencies provide faster speeds at shorter range. Your choice of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz will depend on where and how you use your WiFi connection most.
What is SSID for Wi-Fi? ›How to find SSID on Android: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi. An SSID you are connected to will be shown above Connected.
What devices should be on 5GHz? ›Type of Device and How it's Being Used
Ideally, you should use the 2.4GHz band to connect devices for low bandwidth activities like browsing the Internet. On the other hand, 5GHz is the best suited for high-bandwidth devices or activities like gaming and streaming HDTV.
- Open the Google Home app .
- Tap Favorites Wifi .
- At the top, tap Devices.
- Tap a specific device and a tab to find additional details. Speed: Real time usage is how much data your device is currently using. Usage is how much data the device has used over the selected time frame.
Why does my Android™ device automatically connect to the 2.4 GHz band. Most Android™ devices prefer range over speed. If the Wi-Fi Name is the same on your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band network, by default, your Android device will automatically connect to the 2.4 GHz band.
Why is my iPhone unable to join a network? ›Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and make sure that Wi-Fi is on. Tap the name of your Wi-Fi network to join. A blue checkmark beside a network name means that you're connected. If you see Auto Join disabled under Settings > Wi-Fi > [Your Network], tap the More Info button and then tap Auto-Join.
Which iPhone has the fastest internet speed? ›
The iPhone 14 Pro Max and 14 Pro had the fastest median 5G download speed at 373.25 Mbps and 366.28 Mbps, respectively, while the iPhone 14 followed at 329.46 Mbps. The iPhone 13 Pro Max was the fastest iPhone 13 model at 319.53 Mbps, followed by the iPhone 13 Pro (298.37 Mbps) and iPhone 13 (272.79 Mbps).
What is the Wi-Fi range for iPhone? ›Experiment With Router Placement
The average Wi-Fi signal has a range of about 150 feet indoors. A longer distance between your iPhone and the router results in a weaker signal, so consider moving your router closer to where you use your phone the most.
Simultaneous dual-band routers are capable of receiving and transmitting on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies at the same time. This provides two independent and dedicated networks which allows more flexibility and bandwidth.
What happens if I change WiFi from 5GHz to 2.4 GHz? ›If you want a better and a longer range for your devices, use 2.4 GHz. If you need higher r speed and could sacrifice for range, the 5GHz band should be used. The 5GHz band, which is the newer of the two, has the potential to cut through network clutter disturbance and interference to maximize network performance.
How do I force a device to connect to 2.4 GHz? ›A simpler method is to move far enough away from your router (make sure to unplug the nearest mesh node); this might force your phone to connect to the 2.4-GHz band. Since this band has a better range, your smartphone will eventually switch from 5 GHz with enough distance.
How do I change the bandwidth on my iPhone? ›A settings panel appears. Tap the Bandwidth link. A Select bandwidth panel appears with four options appears - Low, Medium, High, and Maximum. Select the value lower than the currently highlighted value.
What band is my iPhone using? ›To find out what cellular band(s) your iPhone is connecting to, follow the steps below: 1) Launch the Phone app from your Home Screen. 2) Dial *3001#12345#* and then tap on the green Call button.
Is my iPhone hotspot 2.4 or 5? ›Personal Hotspot uses a 5 GHz connection by default. On iPhone 12 or later, you can turn on Maximize Compatibility for Personal Hotspot to use a 2.4 GHz connection. Turning on Maximize Compatibility might reduce internet performance and Wi-Fi security for devices connected to the hotspot.
Why is my 2.4 GHz not working but 5ghz is? ›You have to make sure that your router is entirely up to date. So, due to outdated versions, many problems might occur on your device. The problem might also come from this reason if your router Firmware is not updated. In routers, manufacturers have the option of releasing updates for the device.
Why does my phone only connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi? ›Why does my Android™ device automatically connect to the 2.4 GHz band. Most Android™ devices prefer range over speed. If the Wi-Fi Name is the same on your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band network, by default, your Android device will automatically connect to the 2.4 GHz band.
Why is my phone not connecting to 2.4 GHz? ›
You can check this in the router's settings. If the router is not broadcasting on 2.4GHz, it will not show up in the list of available networks. Another reason why your 2.4GHz network might not be showing up is if there is interference from other devices in your home.
How many GHz is iPhone 5? ›| iPhone 5 in Slate | |
|---|---|
| System-on-chip | Apple A6 |
| CPU | 1.3 GHz dual core 32-bit ARMv7-A "Swift" |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP3 |
| Memory | 1 GB LPDDR2-1066 RAM |
From Notification Panel press and hold the WiFi icon until you enter WiFi settings screen. Select the network properties (tap the gear icon or menu icon). Depending on the Android version check: Read the “Frequency” setting – shows as 2.4 or 5GHz.
Why does my iPhone not connect to 5Ghz? ›A force restart usually solved the issue and it was able to connect to my 5Ghz network after the restart instantly. I also have a CarPlay device in my car which only runs on 5Ghz. So every time I had to force restart the iphone to make it work.
How do I know if I have 2.4 or 5Ghz? ›- Connect to the network.
- Go to Settings > Network & internet > WiFi > Select the network properties (tap the gear icon or menu icon). ...
- Read the frequency setting.
Connectivity options on the Apple iPhone 5 include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth v4. 00, 3G, and 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India).
What GHz is best for iPhone? ›Cisco and Apple strongly recommends a 5 GHz-only (802.11a/n/ac) wireless network for iOS devices and Mac computers. This document focuses completely on a 5 GHz network layout as a best practice for all iOS devices and Mac computers.
What devices need 5GHz WiFi? ›Type of Device and How it's Being Used
Ideally, you should use the 2.4GHz band to connect devices for low bandwidth activities like browsing the Internet. On the other hand, 5GHz is the best suited for high-bandwidth devices or activities like gaming and streaming HDTV.
Select 'SIM & network' option. You will see a header named 'Preferred Network' and all the cellular technologies which the phone supports will appear here. If the list states 5G, your phone is 5G ready!
Why can't I connect to my 5GHz WiFi? ›Modem-Router doesn't support 5Ghz
Before you can think about connecting your devices to a 5Ghz WiFi band, you first need to make sure that your modem router can send out a 5Ghz signal. Often this is just a matter of looking at the information written on the back or bottom of your device.
How do I switch between 2.4 and 5GHz? ›
- Click Start > Device Manager. ...
- Select View > Show hidden devices to make sure Windows 10 displays all drivers.
- Expand the Network adapters list.
- Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter > Properties.
- Open the Advanced tab.
- Set Property to Band or Preferred band.
- Move away from the router. Move further away from the router when setting up the camera, but not so you are out of WiFi range. ...
- Change the settings on your router* ...
- Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Simultaneous dual-band routers are capable of receiving and transmitting on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies at the same time. This provides two independent and dedicated networks which allows more flexibility and bandwidth.