Is Your Network Smart Home Ready?

4 Signs that Your Wi-Fi Needs Improvement 

In a smart home, so much of the performance relies on the home networking. If you want to watch streaming 4K picture, while someone in another room listens to the whole home audio, you’re going to need a robust system. As you connect more devices and smart technologies to your home’s Wi-Fi over time, the load only becomes more difficult to bear. Here are a few signs that you need to upgrade your Kansas City, MO home’s Wi-Fi. To learn more continue reading. 

Slow Load Times

Have you ever been surfing the web and everything’s going fine...until someone decides to play a videogame or stream a movie. If you’re experiencing lag times when multiple people are using the Wi-Fi that can be a sign that it’s time for an upgrade. Perhaps one place to start would be changing out your router. Often, homeowners will stick with the router provided to them by the cable company, and those are typically single-band models. For most homes, this won’t cover all the activity. It might be time to invest in a dual-band router. That way, when one of the radio bands is occupied, some of the traffic will be diverted to the second band.

See Also: What Can You Do With Smart Home Control?

Some Rooms Have Better Signal Than Others

Have you noticed that you can’t use your devices as well in certain areas of your home? These dead zones could be far from the router, or perhaps there is a thick wall between the router and this area. Either way, this can impact your ability to stream music to your whole home audio system in every space. One solution could be adding access points throughout your home. These devices pick up and boost the Wi-Fi signal to transmit the sound in the new area for a complete home networking solution.

Signal Strength Increases and Decreases Unexpectedly

Have you noticed that your Wi-Fi will be working perfectly fast and then, suddenly, your internet starts moving slowly? It could be that someone from outside your home is accessing your wireless network and taking away some of your bandwidth. Securing your network can help prevent any unwanted guests from reducing the quality of your home networking. Make sure that you have WPA or WPA2 encryption enabled on your router. Also, make certain that you’ve changed the password from the factory setting or if you believe you’ve been compromised. A professional home networking installation will take security into account.

Can’t Stream on the Patio

During the summer months, there’s nothing better than enjoying your media by the pool. However, outdoor entertainment requires a home network that is strong enough to extend beyond the home’s boundaries. This means bypassing many structural obstacles that could block your signal. A few solutions could be adding another router outside--one that is specially weatherproofed to withstand the elements. You could also run an ethernet cord through the wall to an outdoor access point that will extend your signal. Find the right solution for you with the help of a professional.

If you are experiencing any of these issues, it might be time to upgrade your home network. Not only will a strong Wi-Fi connection help you enjoy your smart technologies today, you’ll be preparing for tomorrow. Contact Applause Custom Sight and Sound today to get started.