If you have just changed the router in your home, either because you have gone to another operator or because you have bought a new one on your own, and you see that there are now two WiFi networks available, don’t worry, there is an explanation. And, in this case, it all depends on whether or not the equipment you have at home has simultaneous dual band. Although, they do not always show two wireless networks.
Until now, when were you going to connect to the home network, was there only one option available? This is possible because you were using a router with Band Steering or intelligent Wi-Fi (as some operators have called it). With this technology, the devices are connected to a single connection and the band is automatically changed (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) depending on which one has better coverage.
However, not all computers have this particular tool. For this reason, many of the routers with WiFi 5 have two different networks: WiFi for the 2.4 GHz band and WiFi Plus for the 5 GHz network.
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Plus
For a few years now, the different operators have been adding simultaneous dual-band routers to their catalogues. What does this mean? Well, the devices use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz at the same time. However, these networks appear separate, with similar names, but in which there is an additional addition.
In those that are under the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the original name of the router’s wireless network will appear. Although, depending on the operator, they may have also added a 2G in the SSID of the connection.
On the other hand, for the 5 GHz network they will add an extra so that users can correctly distinguish the connections. In this case, you can find the following in the SSID of the network: 5G or Plus. And in the first case, it does not refer to the fifth generation mobile network, but rather it is a term that they have added so that people can identify the WiFi+ or WiFi Plus of the routers.
In addition, you will be able to connect to both wireless connections without problems. Although, keep in mind that the password is not the same, unless you configure it and put the same for both networks. But don’t worry, because both WiFi keys appear on the router’s label so you can use them from your devices.
I just want a WiFi network
In the event that you want a single Wi-Fi network to appear on your home router, here it will depend on the technology that we mentioned at the beginning: Band Steering or intelligent WiFi. If the new equipment that you have just released does not have this option that allows you to unify the frequency bands, then you cannot do anything.
To check it, enter the device configuration by typing 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in the address bar of your browser. Then it will ask you for the username and password. And finally, look for this specific function and activate it. Although, it is usually activated on routers by default, as long as it has that feature.
Note that this alternative is an available technology that allows devices to search for and connect to the best band for the router’s wireless connection. For example, the 2.4 GHz band gives more coverage, but the speed is lower. On the other hand, the 5 GHz network offers higher speed, but has less signal.
