How do I change my TV from 2.4 GHz to 5GHz?

Posted on: 09 Aug 2024
How do I change my TV from 2.4 GHz to 5GHz?

Some of today’s LED, LCD, and OLED television sets and media streaming devices are dual-band WiFi enabled, that is, they support both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz bands. The 5 GHz band is often less congested and offers higher maximum throughputs because there are fewer channel bonding and interference issues. It also has more supported channels which can be useful to minimize congested channels for improved communication reliability. Therefore, if possible, you may wish to link your TV to the 5 GHz system of your home network. Here are the steps to change your TV's WiFi connection to the 5 GHz band: Here are the steps to change your TV's WiFi connection to the 5 GHz band:

1. Locate the SSID or network name and WPA or WPA2 passwords

First, you shall have the name (SSID) of the WiFi network that operates in the 5 GHz band together with the WiFi password. Most of the routers send out two networks one being at 2.4 GHz while the other is at 5 GHz using the same SSID. The 5 GHz network usually has a label ‘5G,’ ‘5GHz,’ or any other similar word. For instance, your router’s SSIDs could be ‘Network’, ‘Network-2.4GHz’, and ‘Network-5G’.

If you do not know or cannot easily discover your 5 GHz network name and password, consult the router’s guide or configuration panel for more information.

2. Locate the menu which is typically administered under the television’s network settings.

The specific ways of how to get to the WiFi settings of your TV depends significantly on the make and model of your television. Usually, it should be in the main settings of your TV and it should have its own “Network” or “Internet” tab. This submenu contains further settings and this one is dedicated to your wireless network.

The option that says “Set up WiFi” or “View available networks” will offer to complete the process of the WiFi connection.

3. Look for a list of connected networks available

To gain access to the WiFi of your television, you need to open the settings of your television and find the option where you can scan for existing networks. This will list all the network names you in the list, including both the 2.4 GHz and the 5GHz hopefully.

4. Connect to the 5GHz network that you want to connect to.

From the list on top, identify the name you want for your 5 GHz network. If you are asked to input a correct password for the WiFi, then do so.

5. Connect back applications and equipment in case if necessary

You can now change your TV’s WiFi connection and that is what you have learnt in this topic. There is always the possibility that the internet connection they depended on will temporarily disconnect, causing any apps that are connected to a device to be unavailable. If reconnected then restart or reconnect that application and devices when the connection is lost. In some cases, you may simply need to exit the page go back to the main page of the smart TV app, and re-open the app.

Depending on your setup, you might also need to switch WiFi for other media streamers or smart devices connected to your TV (like a Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, video game console, etc.) – generally, changing from one WiFi to another is the same for most of these devices. Just navigate to the device’s network settings, input 5G WiFi networks to scan again, and connect to the correct 5 GHz band.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you don't see a 5 GHz network available for your TV to connect to, here are some things to check: If you don't see a 5 GHz network available for your TV to connect to, here are some things to check:

• Make sure your wireless router always transmits at least two networks, one on the 2.4GHz frequency and the other on the 5GHz frequency. Nearly all modern routers supply dual-band, yet older routers are single-band 2.4 GHz only. In case you are facing network problems, then first verify your router settings and the specifications of your devices. Perhaps your router is too old and does not support the 5 GHz band.

  • Open your web browser, enter the router IP address in the address bar, and log in to the router administrator interface where you should check whether the 5 GHz radio is on or off. Occasionally this gets turned off in the settings and we don’t even notice it has happened.
  • The place where you locate your TV does matter. 5GHz provides much faster data rates as compared to 2.4GHz but has less coverage area. Ensure that your TV is not placed too far from the router especially if all you can access is the 2.4 GHz. If you have WiFi extenders or mesh satellite units nearby, you may need to move them nearer to your TV.
  • Some devices may not be compatible with the software, or they may be old models that need an upgrade to the latest version. A few extremely old smart TVs or streaming devices might, in the strict technical sense, not support 5 GHz connections at all. Make sure you have the latest firmware and software to help in taking care of the computers. In some cases, you may encounter a situation where you need to upgrade devices to include 5 GHz compatibility.
  • This includes unplugging all your devices and your router, waiting for a few minutes, then plugging them back in again. Switch them off for at least 30 seconds then switch them on again to clear the memory and restart. After that make sure that the router and TV successfully connect with other devices to rule out the troubleshooting area.

In this article, you are going to learn the following: The advantages of using 5 GHz WiFi

Changing the wifi connection of your smart TV to make use of the 5GHz band instead of 2.4GHz has some significant results. Changing the wifi connection of your smart TV to utilize the 5GHz band instead of 2.4GHz has several noticeable results:

5GHz networks offer a greater maximum data throughput than the 2.4GHz band spanning from 433 Mbps on WiFi 5 to over 7 Gbps on WiFi 6. For 4K or 8K streaming, for instance, this reduces buffering, therefore improving the viewer's whole experience.

Less interference – Few home appliances utilize 5GHz at the current period to avoid cluttering bandwidth that interferes with the neighbors’ WiFi connection.

More Capacity – Several extra 5GHz offers more networks or devices to operate simultaneously without interference and subsequent interruption of activities.

Higher Quality – Better video and audio quality of a streaming video as compared to VCD. Very important in fast-paced online games where split seconds may decide the outcome of the game.

Wireless Future – The latest WiFi standards development prioritizes 5GHz for future upgrades. These include the current WiFi 6 standard and the future WiFi 7 standard for the year 2023.

The problem of a shorter range of the 5GHz frequency is not critical in the majority of contemporary small apartments and houses. Based on the performance gain it should be the best band for media streaming and gaming. Just make a note that sometimes 2.4GHz may be required to connect devices that are located farther from the primary router, for example, smart home devices. In case you need to have the 5GHz signal to cover larger areas in your home, it is best to explore the mesh network or the use of WiFi extenders.

Upgrade to faster, more reliable AT&T Fiber Internet today! Call us at +1 844-905-5002 and get connected with speeds that keep you ahead.

Related Stories