5GHz WiFi Is Not 5G Cellular

5GHz WiFi Is Not 5G Cellular


Some people have health concerns about 5G Cellular technology, and the millimeter wave technology it uses. Additionally, there is some confusion around the belief that 5GHz WiFi is the same thing as 5G Cellular. While both are wireless technologies, these similarly named technologies are not the same. The G In 5G Cellular is short for "Generation" while the G in 5 G(hz) WiFi refers to the a frequency band: five gigahertz. While some people may call it 5G WiFi, this is merely simpler to say than 5Ghz WiFi. The G in WiFi has nothing to do with Generation or 5G Cellular.

Want to know more? Nerd alert!..

5GHz Wi-Fi is a short range, home networking system that operates in the five-gigahertz radio band. It's been around since 1999, but it became more popular when 802.11n home routers were released in 2009. WiFi has it's own set of versions including: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4), 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).  "N" and "AC" are most commonly used today, with AX devices available on newer/higher end devices.  Newer versions of WiFi can support faster transmission speeds, usually at the expense of shorter range. The WiFi devices StreamWise Solutions installs support 802.11 ac/n/a 5GHz, and 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz.

5G cellular is the fifth generation technology standard for cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019. StreamWise Solutions does not install any products incorporating any type of cellular technology; 5G, 4G, or otherwise.

For reference, in the USA ,older cordless (not cellular) home phones and Bluetooth devices operate in the 2.4 Ghz band, which can cause interference with WiFi devices. Newer cordless phones operate in the 5.8Ghz band or DECT 6.0 phones operate in the 1.9Ghz band (but in this scenario, 6.0 does not refer to the spectrum band, since they decided DECT 1.9 might have confused consumers).


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