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How to tell if you have 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi
How to tell if you have 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi
Chris Tosi avatar
Written by Chris Tosi
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Pulse devices require a 2.4GHz only WiFi connection in order to work properly. 2.4GHz is ideal in growing conditions as 2.4GHz is able to travel further and penetrate surfaces such as walls, tents, etc better than 5G.

Most routers nowadays come with "dual band" WiFi. That means they have both 2.4G and 5G WiFi bands. Sometimes they are on the same SSID (SSID = network name), sometimes they have unique SSIDs, for example "YourWifi" and "YourWifi_5G". This guide will teach you how to figure that out.

Method 1: Look at your available networks

1. Open up your WiFi menu on your phone or computer, and see if there are multiple options with your WiFi's name:

2. See if there are multiple similar network names, for example "YourWifi" and "YourWifi_5G".

Above: iOS Example

3. If there are multiple similar networks, pick the one with either 2G, 2GHz, or nothing extra ("YourWifi") in the name. That is most likely the 2.4GHz WiFi network.

Method 2: Using Android

If you have an Android phone, you can definitively confirm whether the network is 2.4G or 5G.

1. Connect to the network

2. Go to Settings > Network & internet > WiFi > Select the network properties (tap the gear icon or menu icon). NOTE: Depending on your android version these steps might be different.

3. Read the frequency setting.

Above: Android Settings Example

Method 3: Using WiFi Analyzer App on Android

1. Go to the Play Store

3. Select 2.4GHz or 5GHz from the top bar in the app, search for the network among the names.

4. If your network shows up in the 2.4GHz, then it's a 2.4GHz network.

Method 4: Using a Windows Computer

1. Connect to the WiFi network.

2. Open your networks panel from your taskbar (click the WiFi icon in the bottom right).

3. Click on properties for your connected network.

Above: Windows WiFi Example

4. In the new window that opens, scroll all the way down to the properties section

5. Network Band will either say 2.4GHz or 5GHz

Method 5: Using an Apple Computer

1. Connect to the WiFi network.

2. Click on the WiFi icon in the top nav bar while holding down the Option/Alt key.

3. Look at the channel information written in grey text. It will say 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz.

Above: Apple WiFi Example

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