The 5GHz antenna works in the 5GHz frequency, one of the unlicensed wireless spectrums that is the most popular alternative to the 2.4GHz frequency. The "free and legal" band of 5GHz is 5700MHz through 5825 MHz. The 5 GHz band, used in the 802.11ac WiFi standard, is one of the best wireless frequencies to use because you will have less signal noise interference.

Advantages of 5GHz Frequency Band over the 2.4GHz Band

5 GHz wireless frequencies are less crowded than the 2.4 GHz frequencies as they have more non overlapping channels at 24 as compared to only 3 for the 2.4GHz frequencies.

The higher frequencies and more bandwidth mean that 5GHz is more efficient, meaning you can have faster speeds and transmit more data over the band.

5GHz has less traffic and hence it is more efficient as you do not have to deal with interference from video devices, car alarms, microwaves and IoT most of which crowd the 2.4GHz band.

In a nutshell the 5GHz frequency provides:

1. Higher speeds
2. More non overlapping channels and
3. A clearer signal

Not As Effective for Passing Signal through Obstructions

The higher the frequency of a wireless signal the higher the strength of the signal and the lower the range and vice versa. As such, 5GHz which is a high frequency signal is not very effective at passing through obstructions as it does not have the range that the lower frequency 2.4GHz does. However, the tradeoff is that the higher frequency has a stronger signal, and hence can transfer more data faster over short distances.

As such, devices using the 5GHz frequency will have a hard time going through objects or walls when connecting to WiFi as compared to its 2.4GHz counterpart.

Types of Wireless Applications that Use the 5GHz Frequency Band

The 5700 to 5900MHz frequency bands are useful in applications that require fast data transmission. They are also a popular alternative in instances in which you do not want to deal with the interference and noise of the 2.4GHz band. Moreover, modern routers using the 802.11ac protocol can switch between the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz frequencies and are typically used in W-Lan and Wi-Fi applications.

The 5GHz frequency band is used in applications such as:

1. 5.8GHz ISM applications
2. Wireless video and audio systems
3. Network access points
4. WiMAX networks
5. Wireless LAN and Wi-Fi applications
6. Radio local area networks