Megahertz to gigahertz: matching a channel table to a radio
What this conversion does
It divides by a thousand, restating a frequency given in millions in billions instead. This is the single most common unit mismatch in networking documents: a router specification says it operates at 2.4 GHz while the channel table in the manual lists 2412 MHz. Nothing is inconsistent — one document rounded the band name, the other listed a channel — but a reader comparing the two needs the conversion.
Why the same channel has two names
A band is named for the round number at its centre, so 2.4 GHz is a label covering a stretch of spectrum that actually begins a little above 2400 MHz. Individual channels inside it are listed at their exact frequencies, which is why the table says 2412 and not 2400. The band name is approximate on purpose and the channel figure is exact; mixing them up is how a device gets said to run on a frequency that no channel occupies.
Megahertz to gigahertz conversion table
Wi-Fi channels and neighbouring services in both units, with the boundaries of the named bands marked out.
| Megahertz (MHz) | Gigahertz (GHz) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 10 | 0.01 |
| 88.5 | 0.0885 |
| 100 | 0.1 |
| 900 | 0.9 |
| 2400 | 2.4 |
The bands that are not where their names say
The 5 GHz band is the clearer example: it is named for a round figure but its channels start around 5.15 GHz and run above 5.7, so the name sits below almost everything it describes. Networking equipment quoting both the band name and a channel is therefore quoting two different things, and only one of them is a frequency you can tune to.
Three places, one direction
Going from megahertz down to gigahertz moves the decimal point three places to the left: 2412 becomes 2.412. A result above a thousand means the point went the wrong way, since almost nothing in consumer radio sits above a few gigahertz.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert megahertz to gigahertz?
Divide by a thousand. Wi-Fi channel 1 at 2412 MHz is 2.412 GHz, and a 5 GHz channel at 5180 MHz is 5.18 GHz. The conversion moves the decimal point three places to the left.
Is 2400 MHz the same as 2.4 GHz?
Numerically yes. But no Wi-Fi channel actually sits at 2400 MHz — the band starts at 2412 in most of the world, with a small gap below it to keep the transmission from spilling into neighbouring allocations. The 2.4 figure is a band name, not a channel.
Why do routers say GHz and channel tables say MHz?
Because they answer different questions. The specification is telling you which band the radio works in, and a single decimal is enough for that. The channel table is telling you exactly where each channel sits, which needs the finer resolution of megahertz.
Does Bluetooth use the same frequencies?
It shares the same 2.4 GHz region, hopping rapidly between channels rather than occupying one, which is why it coexists with Wi-Fi by moving out of the way rather than by taking a reserved slot. Both are described in the same pair of units.
Can I convert a 6 GHz frequency with this tool?
Yes. Any value converts the same way, so 5955 MHz is 5.955 GHz. The tool is not restricted to a particular band or standard, and it accepts frequencies well outside anything consumer equipment uses.