Read this before setting up a 5G WiFi network at home

There are more and more ways to get internet connection at home: You can use wired broadband, connect satellites in Earth's orbit, or connect 5G wirelessly to your property.

This internet connection is used in roughly the same way as it is on a phone. All you need is a router with a 5G SIM card slot that will connect to the nearest base station and give you all the speed and convenience of that mobile network.

A 5G WiFi network looks exactly the same as a standard broadband network as your laptop, cell phone and other devices. You may find that the time (also known as latency) it takes for a request to return from your device to the server and then back may be higher than normal WiFi, but faster download speeds may make up for this.

If you are a gamer, the latency issue may be a good reason to abandon 5G home connectivity, but this technology will continue to improve as more base stations are built. If you have enough budget, you can even run a broadband WiFi network and a 5G network at the same time to provide a backup network if needed.

1. Check 5G coverage in your area

If you can hardly receive 5G signals at your address, then setting up a 5G home network is meaningless. If you have a 5G phone, you can easily use it to check the coverage of your location – just turn off WiFi and visit sites like Speedtest to see how much download and upload rates your location is.

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You can also find 5G coverage in your region by looking at the coverage map provided by operators such as T-Mobile and Verizon. Even if this guide focuses on 5G, be aware that 4G LTE is an option – if your router falls back to 4G LTE, you won’t be able to get maximum speed.

2. Select a 5G package that suits you

T-mobile is reportedly leading the way with its best 5G coverage in the United States. You can purchase a kit and subscribe to a package that starts at $50 per month. You can also purchase the all-in-one kit from Verizon, starting at $25 per month. Other providers have not joined yet, but they still offer 4G LTE packages you can consider.

You can also set up your own 5G network. You need a 5G router (such as the Netgear Nighthawk M6 that costs up to $800) and a 5G SIM card with a data plan. Just make sure to confirm with your provider that the SIM card you want is suitable for your router and not your phone. Also, you should remember that you need a lot of data to support all devices.

3. Place the router correctly

After installing a 5G router, all commonly used WiFi optimization techniques are applicable. The way you connect the internet to your home may be different, but the router generates a WiFi network that is roughly the same as a traditional network.

This means that the location and placement of the router is very important: it is best to be placed in the center, away from the walls and floors. The good news is that a 5G router doesn't have to be pinned to a broadband entry point, so you can keep it wherever you want it, as long as there is a power outlet nearby.

4. Extend your network

Speaking of maximizing coverage, you can also connect to a mesh WiFi system to connect wireless internet to all corners of your home. These systems work in conjunction with your 5G router to support more devices in a larger space.

As far as your mesh node is concerned, it doesn't matter whether the incoming internet is provided via 5G, 4G LTE or broadband - these units will still optimize coverage in your home and keep your device stable connect.

5. Use wired connection if necessary

Part of the appeal of 5G home internet is that it lacks a wire: you don't need to connect your router to a local fiber network, because it communicates directly with 5G towers in range.

However, most 5G routers and mesh WiFi nodes offer alternatives to onboard Ethernet ports, which is very convenient for devices that are critical to speed, such as gaming consoles and streaming boxes.

6. Split your device

Having both broadband and 5G WiFi networks at home is expensive, but if you absolutely need a reliable connection, you can still access the internet even if someone accidentally cuts the internet cable at the end of your street.

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In addition, you can connect a large number of devices to the network without worrying about network congestion or interfering with each other. However, you need to make some strategic considerations about where each device is placed. For example, if your phone controls your smart home lights and thermostats, all of this needs to be on the same WiFi network. Similarly, if you are moving movies from your tablet Chromecast to your TV, they also need to share a WiFi network.

Any device can connect to a 5G WiFi network, but if you use it as a backup, consider connecting devices that don't use too much bandwidth or do not require a continuous internet connection. Devices that don't necessarily need to be connected to any other hardware in your home are also suitable for your 5G network.

7. Configure your router

As with standard WiFi routers, your 5G router will also come with many onboard configuration options. They will vary depending on the model you choose, but most include parental controls, speed testing, device management, and software updates.

For example, in the case of a router provided by Verizon 5G home internet, you can view the currently connected device and set up the guest network.

Correction — March 2, 2023: This story has been updated to reflect as of the time of writing, T- mobile reportedly has the best 5G coverage in the United States.

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