What is band steering

Band steering is a Wi-Fi technology that aims to move your Wi-Fi device onto the most optimal Wi-Fi frequency depending on your device's signal strength.

Wi-Fi uses two frequencies bands which optimise speed and coverage:

• 2.4GHz - slower but further range
• 5GHz - faster but shorter range

2.4GHz

The lower frequency of 2.4GHz means that Wi-Fi signals can travel further, penetrate objects with more ease, and thus provide a greater range in your home.

However there isn't much bandwidth/ spectrum available in the 2.4GHz band, so it doesn't offer the fastest speeds - even if you are really close to the Wi-Fi router.

2.4GHz therefore may provide coverage in most of your home, but it won't be the fastest speeds.

5GHz

The higher frequency 5GHz band has much more bandwidth/spectrum, and therefore has the means by which to offer much faster connection rates than 2.4GHz.

However you need a good signal strength to achieve this, and with 5GHz being a higher frequency than 2.4GHz, the signal is blocked or attenuated more easily. Therefore 5GHz signals will not travel as far as the 2.4GHz band.

5GHz therefore may provide faster speeds, but you need to have a very good signal strength to achieve this, usually in the same room as the UltraHub 2 router, or immediately next door or two.

Band Steering in action

2.4Ghz to 5GHz

• By default the UltraHub 2 router will steer connections that have a signal strength exceeding -60dBm to the 5GHz band.
• E.g. if the device reports a signal of -50dBm (stronger than -60dBm), then the UltraHub 2 router will attempt to steer your Wi-Fi device to the 5GHz band.

5GHz to 2.4GHz

• By default the UltraHub 2 router will steer connections that have a signal strength lower than -80dBm to the 2.4GHz band.
• E.g. if the device reports a signal of -85dBm (weaker -80dBm), then the UltraHub 2 router will attempt to steer your Wi-Fi device to the 2.4GHz band.

Band Steering Problems

Sometimes you may encounter problems with the band steering settings, and therefore you can either:

• Disable band steering - instructions here
• Adjust the thresholds

If you are frequently finding that your device is disconnecting and reconnecting, or generally unstable, even if you are close or in the next room as the router, then either options may help.