What is the difference between a single-band and a dual-band router?

You would have stumbled upon terms like "single band" and "dual band" as you attempt to get a WiFi router for home broadband internet or office internet connection. And, most of the time, the dual-band option might have made a better appeal without you even getting a clear picture of what it means. This is why this article has been put forth to enlighten you on all that single-band and dual-band routers are about - and ultimately, the distinguishing factors.

But before we proceed further; you should understand that the word "band" as accompanying a router is indicative of the frequency on which the router operates. It also has to do with the speed of the internet connection.

What is a single band router?

As the name suggests, a single band router is designed to operate on one frequency, 2.4Ghz, and its maximum speed is 300 Mbps as it is built on a wireless-N standard known as 802.11n. This type of router can only cover a small range of area, and this is about the reason those using it often go for a WiFi range extender. Owing to its low frequency, its signal can penetrate through doors, walls, and furniture. Again, the single band router will work just fine for some basic things like checking/reading emails, online chatting, surfing the web, and watching YouTube videos on laptop or mobile device.

What is a dual band router?

A dual band router is such that can operate at two different frequencies at the same time. In addition to the 2.4GHz – which is built on 802.11n – it also has 5GHz built on 802.11ac. With the 5GHz frequency, a dual-band router can have a maximum speed of 2 Gbps. To this end, you may not even need to buy a Wi WiFi booster if you have this type of router available in your home or office. The dual-band router has an appreciably wide coverage, and it would guarantee excellent WiFi connection for homes where heavy (internet) traffic is required – for instance, online gaming and video streaming. So, from the foregoing, it is obvious that the major differences between the two routers are hinged on 3 factors – speed, frequency, and coverage. Plus, the price for a dual-band router is usually higher than that of a single-band router.

Pros and cons of a single band router:

Pros

- Inexpensive - Signal can penetrate certain obstacles

- High rate of interference - Not suitable for Wi-Fi dense areas - Small coverage area

Pros and cons of a dual band router

Pros - Reliability - Faster/High speed - Strong signal quality - Wide coverage - Can provide Wi-Fi connection for up to 10 devices - Appropriate for Wi-Fi dense areas Con - May not work with some old devices

Conclusion

Now that you know these differences, you should be able to determine what is best for you before reaching out to the WiFi service provider to subscribe to WiFi plans for home or office use. And, once you get your router, you can look for an identifier like the frequency band number to be sure you have what you requested for – a single band router or dual band router.