Amazon’s Fire Stick is one of the most popular streaming devices available, thanks to its wide range of applications and openness unmatched by almost all other streaming devices on the market today. Amazon has made sure to regularly update all three models of its acclaimed device, ensuring they are always up to date with the latest technology. That includes support for 5GHz networks, something essential to increase speed and performance.
For people who stream and game, these network speeds are very beneficial. This means fewer hiccups and shorter buffering times on your videos. You will also have less peripheral “noise” at 5 GHz, such as from microwaves or Bluetooth devices.
Let’s look at this topic in more detail.
How to set up your Fire Stick
If you’re new to using the Amazon Fire Stick, you’ll need to set it up first. To link your Fire Stick to your 5GHz follow these simple steps:
- Connect your Fire Stick to the power adapter.
- Connect your Fire Stick to the HDMI port on your TV.
- Turn on your TV and press the Home button on the remote control.
- Press the Play/Pause button to advance to the next screen.
- Choose your language.
- Select your Wi-Fi network. Make sure you have a dual router set to 5 GHz.
- Enter your password.
- Select the Connect button.
- If you do not have an Amazon account, select the “Create an account” option and create your Amazon account. If you have a registered Amazon account, go to “Sign Up”.
What is 5 GHz?
5GHz refers to the power of your router. Routers have two speeds, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. 5GHZ is the faster of the two, 2.4GHz is a slower speed. Single-band routers only output 2.4 GHz, while dual-band routers allow you to select your speed. GHz refers to gigahertz per second. One gigahertz is equivalent to one billion microprocessor cycles.
5GHz is newer and faster. If speed is your main concern, opt for the 5GHz speed. This allows you to download more files, stream more media, and link more devices to your WiFi. 2.4 GHz can do those things, but you’ll find that the download speed is much slower and having multiple devices on your network bogs it down. 2.4 GHz has a wider range, meaning you can use WiFi at greater distances from routers.
Not all devices are designed to support 5 GHz speed at this time. If you are using an older computer or phone, it will not support that speed on the router. Older TVs may also have problems with this. Newer devices are designed to work with either, but may work best with 5 GHz.
How to switch your router to 5 GHz
If you want faster transmission speeds or want to avoid congestion from neighboring Wi-Fi networks, it’s time to switch to the 5 GHz speed. There are a few steps you’ll need to take to make this switch.
- Open the browser on your computer or mobile device and enter http:/192.168.1.1 in the address bar. If you have a Ubee router, the address should be http:/192.168.0.1. Other brands may have other default addresses. Alternatively, you can go to Fire Stick Settings, open the Device section, and then go to the About section. There, in the Network section, you will find the IP address of the gateway. Type that address and enter it in your browser’s address bar.
- Log in with the password and username provided on your router label. If you cannot reach them, contact your ISP.
- Once you’re signed in, look for Change Wireless Settings or another button with a similar name. Click on it.
- You should now see the 5GHz settings. Switch to 5 GHz and select a channel. 36 is the most commonly chosen option.
- Save your changes.
- Restart the router and it will automatically switch to the 5GHz network. Your Fire Stick should connect automatically.
- Go to the Fire Stick’s Wi-Fi settings and check if the 5GHz network is available.
2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz
Conventional wisdom says that faster is always better. In this case, however, the choice should depend on what you need your Wi-Fi for. 5 GHz is faster and there is no doubt about it.
If you stream a lot and want to connect multiple devices, then 5 GHz is the way to go. You’ll be able to stream online content to your TV and browse the web on your phone or computer at the same time. You will also be able to carry out other activities that require a large amount of bandwidth.
As stated above, 2.4 GHz is the slowest option. If you stream a lot or have multiple devices on your network, you may notice that it is somewhat slow and slow. However, if you have a single device and a moderate streaming habit, the 2.4GHz connection might work.
Tie up any loose ends
The 5 GHz network is much faster than its 2.4 GHz counterpart. That means faster transmission with less buffering time, the ability to have more devices connected, and fewer hiccups. There is also much less interference from other devices such as Bluetooth and microwaves at this speed.
Have you switched to 5 GHz? But because? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.