Many Charlotte, NC smart home owners have a limited understanding of the terms and equipment associated with Wi-Fi and networking. Understanding how your home network is setup and operates is the first step towards ensuring your smart home performs reliably and effectively. Then, you need a trusted home network installation partner to provide the essential pieces of equipment and services you need to ensure a secure connection in your house. Our goal is to educate our customers and clients on all things related to home technology, and the network is a large part of that discussion. Read this guide on Wi-Fi to learn about the basics of a network in a smart home.

See Also: Reasons to Consider a Wireless Networking Professional

The Essentials

What pieces of equipment do you need for a reliable connection? We start this guide on the smart home network with a look at some the essential components that make up a robust Internet connection. You probably already have some of these pieces of equipment in your home already, but do you have an understanding of their purpose and how they work? 

Routers and Access Points: We use wired routers to establish a strong connection in your home and wireless access points so you can get a signal at any location. Access points work by connecting to the network cable and converting it into a radio signal. That signal is picked up by network cards in your wireless devices in order to connect to the Wi-Fi. Routers need to be upgraded regularly—both the hardware and software. Work with a local professional like us to find the right one for you.

Have you heard of Wi-Fi 6? It’s the next generation of Wi-Fi, which has faster speeds than ever. While the current Wi-Fi 5 runs on 3.5 Gbps (gigabits per second), Wi-Fi 6’s speeds reach 9.6 Gbps. But the new Wi-Fi offers much more than a speed boost. The way it’s programmed makes it possible to run more devices at once without slowing or crashing your network.

But how? We dive into the ins and outs of Wi-Fi 6 so you can understand all that’s to come in home networking. If your Charlotte, NC house currently includes multiple smart devices, the internet upgrade will be especially beneficial to you.

SEE ALSO: Smart Home System Trends to Watch Out for in 2020

Is It Really Faster?

Although Wi-Fi 6’s maximum speed is 9.6 Gbps, it’s unlikely you’d ever reach or need that speed in the real world. The standard download speed in the US is 72 Mbps—less than 1 percent of Wi-Fi 6’s maximum speeds! But that 9.6 Gbps is valuable because it can be split across a whole network of smart devices. Your router can only communicate with so many gadgets at once, often causing the system to overload. The more in-demand your network is, the more it is going to slow down.

If you’re like most people, you’re currently renting a router and modem from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). You may be wondering if that’s the best option the world of technology can offer you. The short answer is no—renting from your ISP is not always the best option, and there are several reasons purchasing your own has its advantages.

As a home networking company in Charlotte, NC, we specialize in all things network and home technology. If you’re looking to make the most of your smart home or want better connectivity, continue reading our pointers below.

SEE ALSO: Is Your Smart Home Up to Date?

Lower Cost

Even if renting a router only costs around $10 a month, you can easily make up for the cost by owning in a year. You’re probably planning on using the internet indefinitely, so why pay unnecessary fees and continue to rent? If you decide to buy a modem too, that might take up to two years to match the cost of renting, but eventually, you’ll be saving. Plus, you’ll enjoy the rest of the benefits below.

Better Performance

Although some ISP routers provide exceptional speed and reliability, it’s hard to know what you’ll get. If your provider doesn’t send you a brand-new model, you may unknowingly be using outdated equipment. Some routers are built to provide better Wi-Fi in hard-to-reach places to eliminate dead spots. If your Charlotte, North Carolina home includes lots of signal-stopping walls, you may be better off with a custom router.