One of the most important aspects of having a good smart home setup is making sure that devices have access to a fiber-fast Internet connection. In addition to having a fiber-fast wireless home connection through PLDT Fiber Plus plans, it’s crucial that we utilize a feature on our router called band steering.
What is band steering?
Instead of having to manually choose between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, your trusty router can do that selection for you automatically. This process is called band steering, a feature integrated on most modern WiFi routers.
Both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands have their fair share of perks and disadvantages. With band steering, your router attempts to determine which WiFi band is more suitable for the devices connected to it based on the following factors:
- Distance. A router with a band steering feature can measure signal strength. From there, it can identify if the device is close enough to the 5GHz band, or if it’s better off directing it to the 2.4GHz band, which provides better obstacle penetration and wider coverage.
- Compatibility. Almost all modern tech, including your smart home devices, supports 2.4GHz. However, not all devices can utilize the 5GHz WiFi band. As such, your router analyzes what WiFi technology is supported on a particular device and automatically connects it to that frequency.
- Network load. Band steering can also monitor the number of devices that are connected to a particular frequency at any given time. This would allow the router to automatically switch a device from one WiFi band to the other to minimize network congestion.
Band steering effectively eliminates the guesswork from the user by identifying which frequency a device should be connected to. If the unit supports the 5GHz WiFi band, is close enough to the router, and there are fewer gadgets connected to the 5GHz frequency, then the device is automatically directed to that band. Meanwhile, devices outside the 5GHz range will be relegated to the 2.4GHz frequency.
Band steering
On paper, band steering should seamlessly manage your smart home’s wireless connection and provide the best possible connectivity for the devices on the network. However, the effectiveness of band steering varies greatly based on the types of devices connected to the network, the environment, and the algorithm that makes the decision-making for the router.
In some cases, 5GHz-capable devices will stay on the 2.4GHz band, even if there’s enough signal and there are no other devices using the faster frequency. On the flip side, there are reported instances wherein the algorithm tends to prioritize the 5GHz band, despite having a sizable distance or obstruction between the client device and the router.
Get a better home WiFi experience with PLDT Home
Band steering is a smart way to ensure that your devices are connected to your router as best intended. A PLDT Home Fiber Plus plan includes an upgraded modem that supports band steering, along with WiFi mesh units that ensure zero dead spots. Make sure to get the most out of your smart home by subscribing to the fastest Internet in the Philippines as recognized by Ookla.