How to change from 2.4Ghz to 5Ghz broadband

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How to change from 2.4Ghz to 5Ghz broadband

I am suffering from excruciatingly slow wifi, and because my wife isn’t I conclude it must be because i am using additional devices like a USB Hub and Apple wireless mouse which are competing for the bandwidth and choking the internet signal to my new MacBookAir (M1, Big Sur, Sky broadband).

I read that these smaller devices commonly work on the 2.4Ghz band, and because I have a dual band router which also offer 5Ghz band, I should change to 5Ghz.

But how? There doesn’t seem to be an either/or option in System Prefs / Network

MacBook

Posted on Feb 6, 2021 7:26 AM

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Answer 1

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VikingOSX

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116,639 points

Feb 6, 2021 7:46 AM in response to alex hall

Your M1 mini is capable of both wired ethernet, and 2.4/5 GHz wireless connectivity. However, you need to configure the router to offer a 5 GHz 802.11n/ac/ax SSID that your mini can then connect and actually use when you select that SSID via Network preferences. See your router user guide.

There may be other issues in your home that are impacting wireless connectivity, but it would not be a USB hub or Apple wireless mouse, or I would have limitations of my own here — that is not present.

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Answer 2

alex hall Author

Level 1

122 points

Feb 6, 2021 8:09 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for the prompt response Viking, I can access my BB account and see that the router offers both 2.4 and 5, and I can elect to change 'channels' on either, but I don't see that I can cherry-pick a device (say my MacBookAir) and either switch off the 2.4 feed or assign ONLY 5Ghz feed to it.

It i interesting and disheartening :( that you say USB Hub and Mouse do not affect speed with you, then again maybe your BB strength is amazing whereas mine is pitiful so any impact on the meagre headroom will be a major one. My BB provider (Sky) says most small older devices use 2.4 and can throttle the band, so I am assuming this to be the cause. I can't think what else I have in close proximity to the Mac can generate any fizz that might interfere.

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Answer 3

Feb 6, 2021 8:36 AM in response to alex hall

Your Mac will automatically adapt to the 2.4 or 5GHz bandwidth as configured in the available router SSID. When you attempt to connect to a new 5GHz SSID, the Mac will prompt you to enter the router password for that SSID, and then makes the 5GHz handshake. I have an IP Desk phone and other devices that connect to my local configured 5GHz SSID.

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How to change from 2.4Ghz to 5Ghz broadband

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