Which Ring and Nest Devices Support 5 GHz WiFi?

Phone screenshot showing the WiFi selection of my Ring Indoor Cam, with the prompt asking me if I want to connect to a pre-existing WiFi network.

When it was first released, 5 GHz WiFi was advertised as being faster and sometimes ‘more reliable’ than 2.4 GHz WiFi. Whilst this is broadly true, many Ring and Nest devices still seem to only support 2.4 GHz WiFi. This got me wondering whether this can lead to worse connections for your smart devices, and … Read more

Do Any Smart Plugs Work On 5 Ghz WiFi?

A marketing image of the TP Link's HS105 Kasa Wi-Fi Smart Plug, which leaves the second outlet free for use.

You may have heard that 5 Ghz WiFi is faster than 2.4 Ghz WiFi, but many smart plugs only seem to support 2.4 Ghz WiFi. Does this mean that your smart plugs won’t be as efficient as possible? And if so, why aren’t more 5 Ghz smart plugs available to buy? Many smart plugs support … Read more

Smart Bulbs With 5Ghz Wi-Fi Support (Are They Any Good?!)

A dual band smart bulb with 5 GHz WiFi support sold by serversdirect in the UK

New Wi-Fi standards are rolling out and this is shaking up smart devices across the board. One of the types of devices that are facing their biggest change is the humble smart light bulb. The increasing popularity of 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks is causing some trouble for 2.4 GHz-only smart bulbs. There are currently very … Read more

Does Ring Work Better on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi? (Can You Force it to One or the Other?)

Ring Spotlight Cam installed outdoors

Though it’s been around since about 1999, the 5 GHz band of Wi-Fi has become increasingly popular more so in the years following 2009 when home networks were first becoming popular. 5 GHz Wi-fi is a short-range, but high-speed band of Wi-Fi, and is often praised as being the best band to connect your devices … Read more

Can LIFX Connect To 5Ghz WiFi? Or Is 2.4Ghz Better For Smart Bulbs?

A LIFX full RGB B22 bulb in its box

Debuting in 2012, LIFX (pronounced Life – X) introduced a line of smart bulbs that would prove to be a game-changer in the homes of many. Coming to the fore near the beginning of the ‘smart home era’, these lights became a fun and intuitive way to add color, atmosphere, and additional functionality to your … Read more

Can Phillips Hue Connect to Wi-Fi (5 Ghz or 2.4 Ghz)?

A recently installed Philips Hue v2 bridge which is setup in my loft.

Today, almost everything is connected by the most popular wireless network protocol – Wi-Fi. Whether it’s the standard 2.4 Ghz frequency, or the newer, faster, 5 Ghz – Wi-Fi is the standard form of wireless communication for most. Wi-Fi is used for most things; from the apps on our phones, to many of the smart … Read more