As you probably already know is the 5GHz band for wireless access points the faster way of connection your wireless devices with your internet. However the actual distance the 5GHz waves can travel is less than the distance 2.4GHz travels. But there is no need to choose one above the other, especially not if you have an Ubiquiti Unifi access point using band steering
In this very short tutorial I will show you how to add band steering which is the technique to encourage devices connected to 2.4GHz to connect to the way quicker 5GHz band. This 5GHz band is also likely to be less congested by your neighbours as the 2.4GHz band tends to be.
- Go to your UniFi controller.
- Go to settings in the left hand bottom.
- Enable advanced features in the Sites > Services screen.
- Go to the Devices tab and select your Ubiquiti UniFi Access Point.
- At the right hand of the screen the properties tab for that access point will show. Click on ‘config’ in the bottom and then search for the Band Steering part.
- Tick the box next to ‘Prefer 5G’ and hit ‘Queue changes’
- Go to the bottom of the right hand screen and check for the box ‘apply changes’, hit it, wait and you now have band steering to 5GHz activated.
Now enjoy the freedom of your devices automatically selecting the 5GHz band if they believe that is better for the connection. Your standard 2.4GHz still works as it always did, so even your older wireless devices without 5GHz still work as they always did.