What is 5 GHz Band?
As the 2.4 GHz band
becomes more crowded, many users are opting to use the 5 GHz ISM band. This
band not only provides more spectrum, but it is not as widely used 2.4 GHz
band.
5
GHz spectrum are broken into four bands providing a 555 MHz of spectrum, with
23 non-overlapping channels.
Band
A (Lower) : UNII-1 (The Unlicensed National
Information Infrastructure)
Band
A (Middle) : UNII-2 (The Unlicensed National
Information Infrastructure)
Band
B (Extended) : UNII-2 (The Unlicensed National Information
Infrastructure)
Band
C (Upper) : UNII-3 (The Unlicensed National
Information Infrastructure)
Table: overlapping Channel Classification
of 5 GHz Band
Band (Domain)
|
Channel
|
Range (in MHz)
from Lower to upper frequency
|
Center Frequency (in MHz)
|
Band A, UNII-1, Lower
|
38
|
5170-5210
|
5190
|
Band A, UNII-1, Lower
|
42
|
5170-5250
|
5210
|
Band A, UNII-1, Lower
|
46
|
5210-5250
|
5230
|
Band C, UNII-3, Upper
|
165
|
5815-5835
|
5825
|
Graphical
representation of channels in 5 GHz ISM band
Fig-6:
Graphical representation of 5 GHz band channels non-overlapping
* Channel 116 &
132 are Doppler Radar channel that may be used in some cases
Table: Non overlapping Channel
Classification of 5 GHz Band
Band
(Domain)
|
Channel
|
Range (in MHz)
|
Center Frequency (in MHz)
|
Bandwidth
(20
MHz channel Planning)
|
Bandwidth
(40 MHz channel Planning)
|
Consumer
or Enterprise
|
Restrictions
|
Band A
UNII-1
Lower
|
36
|
5170-5190
|
5180
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Consumer
|
|
40
|
5190-5220
|
5200
|
20 MHz
|
Consumer
|
|||
44
|
5210-5230
|
5220
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Consumer
|
||
48
|
5230-5250
|
5240
|
20 MHz
|
Consumer
|
|||
Band A
UNII-2
Middle
|
52
|
5250-5270
|
5260
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
56
|
5270-5290
|
5280
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
||
60
|
5290-5310
|
5300
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
|
64
|
5310-5330
|
5320
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
||
Band B
UNII-2
Extended
|
100
|
5490-5510
|
5500
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
104
|
5510-5530
|
5520
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
||
108
|
5530-5550
|
5540
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
|
112
|
5550-5570
|
5560
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
||
116
|
5570-5590
|
5580
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
|
120
|
5590-5610
|
5600
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
Radar
|
||
124
|
5610-5630
|
5620
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
Radar
|
|
128
|
5630-5650
|
5640
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
Radar
|
||
132
|
5650-5670
|
5660
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
|
136
|
5670-5690
|
5680
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
||
140
|
5690-5710
|
5700
|
20 MHz
|
Enterprise
|
DFS
|
||
Band C
UNII-3
Upper
|
149
|
5735-5755
|
5745
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Consumer
|
|
153
|
5755-5775
|
5765
|
20 MHz
|
Consumer
|
|||
157
|
5775-5795
|
5785
|
20 MHz
|
40 MHz
|
Consumer
|
||
161
|
5795-5815
|
5805
|
20 MHz
|
Consumer
|
DFS: Dynamic Frequency Selection
Which ISM Band to be
used?
Conditions
|
Suitable Radio Frequency Band
|
|
Choice 1
|
If you want faster
speeds
|
then, 5GHz is usually a better choice
than 2.4 GHz.
|
Choice 2
|
If wireless range is
more important
|
then, 2.4 GHz is usually a better
choice than 5GHz.
|
Choice 3
|
If you have a lot of
devices that use 2.4 GHz and you are experiencing interference issues
|
then, 5 GHz is probably a better option
to choose.
|
Brief
Differences Between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
Band/ Features
|
2.4 GHz
|
5 GHz
|
Channel
|
Total 14 channels, in
which three (3) are non-overlapping channels
|
Total 27 channel in which 23 are non-overlapping channels
|
IEEE 802.11 Standard
|
Wireless-80.11 b/g/n
|
Wireless-802.11 a/n/ac
|
Network Coverage
|
Wider Range
|
Shorter Range
|
Interference
|
Higher
|
Lower
|
Date Rate
|
2.4GHz offers coverage for long distances, but may perform at
slower speeds
|
5GHz provides faster data rates at a shorter distance
|
Bandwidth
(Faster transmission of data)
|
Downloading, Uploading and video streaming is slower as
compare to 5 GHz
|
Downloading, Uploading and video streaming is faster
|
List of unlicensed frequencies in India for
Wireless usage [5]
S. No.
|
Frequency Range
|
Carrier Bandwidth
|
Uses Description
|
1.
|
865-867 MHz
|
200 kHz
|
Low power RFID
equipment or any other low power wireless devices or equipment
|
2.
|
2.4-2.4835 GHz
|
10 MHz or Higher
|
Low power equipment,
cordless phones,
wireless medical
telemetry equipment
|
3.
|
5.150-5.350 GHz,
5.725 - 5875 GHz
|
1 MHz
|
Low power equipment
for Cellular telecom systems including Radio Local Area Networks, Indoor
applications
|
4.
|
5.825 to 5.875 GHz
|
10 MHz or Higher
|
Low power equipment
for Cellular telecom systems including Radio Local Area Networks, Indoor
applications
|
5.
|
26.957-27.283 MHz
|
10 MHz or Higher
|
Wireless equipment
intended to be used while in motion or during halts
|
6.
|
335.7125 MHz,
335.7375 MHz,
335.7625 MHz,
335.7875,
335.8125 MHz
and
335.8375 MHz
|
10 kHz
|
Low power equipment’s
for the remote control of cranes
|
References:
[1]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_frequency
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_band
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11
[4]:
https://yourstory.com/2015/07/unlicensed-spectrum-broadband-revolution/
[5]:
http://www.indiasemiconductorforum.com/wirelesss/321-list-licence-free-frequencies-india-wireless-usage.html
[6]: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/3700-series-access-point/data_sheet_c78-729421.html
