While most Wi-Fi routers nowadays can work on dual bands. Determining which broadband option between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi signals can be mind-boggling. On the one hand, 5 GHz Wi-Fi is the high-speed band. Faster speeds mean faster downloads, uploads, and even gaming. On the other hand, however, it has a very short range.
Whereas 2.4 GHz has a longer range but is relatively slower, especially if you use it for many other devices. If you are trying to find the best Wi-Fi for a Ring doorbell camera, you have come to the right place.
Should Your Ring Doorbell be on 5GHz or 2.4 GHz?
Every single router in existence offers 2.4GHz connectivity. Therefore, most wireless devices work with this frequency and can perform fairly well using it. Ring Video Doorbell isn’t an exception here.
The newer Ring doorbells work with 5ghz Wi-Fi. But, this band often creates more headaches than the standard 2.4GHz frequency. So, if you are using a 5GHz connection, you may need to set up a separate SSID for your doorbell.
When it comes to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, more devices and manufacturers support connection because it’s been around much longer. In addition, it has a greater range than 5 GHz.
Every single Ring product is fully connectable to 2.4GHz wireless networks and tends to work just fine with it. 2.4GHz is also better at penetrating obstructions such as walls or floors if you happen to be in a home with more than one floor.
But of course, there are also downsides to using the 2.4 GHz band. First off, it isn’t as fast as the 5 GHz band. Because everyone is using it, their channels tend to be more congested, resulting in slower speeds for your devices.
As with many other things, there are pros and cons to both bands of Wi-Fi. The best Wi-Fi channel for a Ring doorbell will depend on your needs, your home, the space you have, and whether your doorbell can even connect to the 5 GHz band of Wi-Fi in the first place.
Most older Ring smart home cameras support only the 2.4 GHz band of Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, this means that even if you were to try and set them up on the 5 GHz band, it would most likely fail.
If you want to know whether your Ring camera or one you plan to buy supports the 5 GHz band of Wi-Fi, first visit the product page on Ring.com. Scroll down to the section where you can view the device Tech Specifications, then look under the entitled Power and Connectivity.’ Under ‘Connectivity,’ it will indicate which bands of Wi-Fi that particular device supports.
Some of the most common Ring devices that many people own, such as the Ring Doorbell 1 and 2 and Ring’s Indoor cams, do not support the 5 GHz band of Wi-Fi.
ProTip: If you want all your IOT devices to communicate, consider connecting even the new ones with WiFi 5 support to the older 2.4GHz network. Talking to and managing all the devices on the same network will be easier.
Being some of their newer devices support 5 GHz, it’s likely that Ring will continue to incorporate the ability to support the 5 GHz band in the future in any non-budget devices they produce from here on out.
There is no word on whether Ring will retrofit older devices with the ability to support 5 GHz bands via a software update or other. But it seems very unlikely.
If 5 GHz support is necessary for you, you’ll be better off purchasing a new Ring camera or doorbell, unfortunately.
If your family members are online a lot, it will help connect to the 5GHz network. Therefore, if there’s such an option in your home and you own a Ring Video Doorbell Pro or Elite, go with the 5GHz connection for the sake of allowing more wiggle room than the 2.4GHz alternative.
How to get the best Wi-Fi signal on your Ring doorbell
Doorbells are generally located on the exterior wall of most homes and often have thick walls and a door between the doorbell and a Wi-Fi router. Unfortunately, these logistics prevent the Wi-Fi signal from being strongest at the front door. As a result, there’s a good chance the Wi-Fi network isn’t optimized for a device located outside your home to upload high-quality video.
Below are steps to help you improve your Wi-Fi signal to optimize the performance of your doorbell camera;
Test the performance of your doorbell indoors
Try operating your Doorbell Cam Pro running indoors. If your Doorbell Cam Pro can stay online and stream video more consistently in this configuration, your Wi-Fi signal may not be strong enough at your door.
Install a Wi-Fi network extender
You can also improve Doorbell Cam performance by extending your network’s range near your door. The ideal placement is often halfway between your router and your Doorbell Cam. Try different locations and compare results to determine the best final placement.
Upgrade your Internet service plan
If you have an Internet service plan on the slower side, keep in mind that all of your connected devices share that signal, and in some cases, this can affect the Doorbell Cam’s connection.
There’s a good chance your connection may improve when your overall Internet service is robust. Consider upgrading to a new router, especially if yours is more than a few years old.
Change the position of your wireless router
If your wireless router has been installed on the floor or behind a TV or a sofa, get the wireless router up off the floor. Move it away from the big metal TV, blocking some signals to and from the router.
Position your wireless router 1-2 feet off the floor, away from any big metal objects or other wireless devices, such as baby monitors or game consoles.
If your wireless router is at the opposite side of the house from your Ring device, you can move your wireless router closer to the Ring device using broadband or cable extension kit. Moving the wireless router even a few feet closer can have a big impact on connectivity, especially if there are other objects in the way.
If you have big metal or structural objects like boilers or water tanks between your router and your Ring device, move your router so that the object is no longer in direct line of sight of the Ring device.
Reset your Modem or Router
If you’re still unable to improve connectivity successfully, try resetting your modem and router. To do this, follow the instructions below:
- Unplug your router or modem from its power supply (don’t just turn it off).
- If your router and modem are separate, unplug both of them.
- Wait 15-20 seconds, then plug them back in.
- Wait a minute or two for the internet to be restored.
- Confirm that your internet has been restored by connecting another device to your Wi-Fi network and trying to access a website, then repeat the setup process.
Note: If you have a wireless router separate from the modem, unplug both devices. Then wait for the internet to be restored, taking around 3-5 minutes.
Use a Ring Chime Pro
The Chime Pro is a Ring product designed to extend the range of your wireless network to your Ring Video Doorbell and Cameras and notify you about doorbell and motion alerts within the home.
Plugin the Chime Pro as close to your Ring device as possible, and follow the simple steps in the Ring app to set up Chime Pro.
After completing one or more of these steps, run the connectivity test through the Ring app again. Again, you will be set if the speed and quality have improved.
Use a Mesh Network
If you want to improve your Wi-Fi coverage for your whole home, a mesh network may be a good option, especially if you have a larger home. These systems work by having multiple units plugged in throughout the house and allowing devices like mobile phones to connect to the strongest signal as you move around the house.
Turn off or unplug some of your electronics.
Electronic devices such as PCs, TVs, and video game consoles can be wired directly into your router using an Ethernet cable. Attaching these devices to a wired connection will free up bandwidth on the Wi-Fi.
Check your signal strength
Ensure you’re connected to your Wi-Fi network, then try a service such as fast.com, speedtest.net, or speedof.me to check your network’s upload/download speeds.
Measurements on your phone might differ from the Doorbell Cam, in part because the Doorbell Cam typically sits flush against the exterior surface. In addition, your internet should have an upload speed reading of at least 3Mbs on your mobile device for best performance.