The three bands compared
| 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | 6 GHz | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Longest; best through walls | Medium | Shortest |
| Speed | Lowest | High | Highest |
| Congestion | Crowded: neighbours, baby monitors, Bluetooth, microwaves | Much less crowded | Least crowded; newest band |
| Devices | Everything | Almost every streaming device | Wi-Fi 6E and newer only |
| For IPTV | Last resort | Usual best choice | Best, if both ends support it |
Why 5 GHz suits streaming
A live HD channel needs a steady few megabits per second, and 4K needs far more. On 2.4 GHz, especially in flats where dozens of networks overlap, the usable speed swings up and down, and the player runs out of buffer. 5 GHz has more channels and more capacity, so the same stream stays steady, as long as the signal is strong where the TV is.
6 GHz and Wi-Fi 6E
Ofcom made the lower 6 GHz band (5925 to 6425 MHz) available for licence-exempt Wi-Fi in the UK in July 2020. Devices use it under the name Wi-Fi 6E (and later Wi-Fi standards). It’s fast and uncrowded, but its shorter range means it works best in the same room as the router or near a mesh point.
You need both a router and a device that support it. Among streaming sticks, Amazon lists Wi-Fi 6E on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen); many other sticks and boxes stop at 5 GHz. See Firestick models compared.
Putting your TV on the right band
- Check your router’s network names. Some routers use one name for all bands and steer devices automatically; others offer separate names, often ending “5G” or “5GHz”.
- Connect the TV or stick to 5 GHz (or 6 GHz if it supports it), and forget the 2.4 GHz network on that device so it doesn’t switch back. On Fire TV, see Fire TV network settings.
- Test on a busy evening. If streams still stall, the 5 GHz signal is too weak where the TV is. Move the router, add a mesh point or use a cable. See mesh Wi-Fi for IPTV and Wi-Fi vs Ethernet.
When 2.4 GHz is the right choice
If a device is far from the router, through several walls or floors, 2.4 GHz may hold a connection where 5 GHz drops out. That’s a sign the device needs a better connection, not that 2.4 GHz is good for streaming: a mesh point, a powerline adapter or a cable will do much better. See powerline adapters for IPTV.