Enjoy superior smart home performance with the latest wireless networking solutions

One of the most common issues you will face with any of the technology in your home has nothing to do with the devices themselves. If you’re experiencing glitches, dead zones or other issues involving how your devices talk to each other, chances are your home network is to blame. And when it comes to home automation, stable network performance is crucial.

The components of your home network make a major difference in how you experience home automation. Today we’ll look at the components of a home wireless network and how they can impact the performance of your Miami, FL, smart home.

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HOME WIRELESS BASICS

Three key devices form the basis of your home wireless network: Your modem, your router and the cables that tie everything together.

Your modem is what connects your home to the Internet via your Internet service provider (ISP). That’s what you heard making that awful dial tone in the days of dial-up Internet service. Many ISPs rent modems to customers, but modems aren’t terribly expensive. You’re better off buying a modem to save money long-term.

Typically, a modem only allows for one connection, so what do you do to expand your network? Usually, you use a router. A wireless router connects to your modem and lets you create additional network connections. A typical router comes with four ports for wired connections, and they generate a Wi-Fi signal that other devices can use to connect to the Internet.

The final crucial component in your network is your cables. We’ll get to the different types of cables further on, but broadly speaking there are two categories of cables that will impact your home network: The cables connecting your devices to each other, and the cables connecting your network to the Internet.

MODEMS, ROUTERS AND SWITCHES

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into more detail. For modems, the most important factor is that your modem can handle the maximum speeds on your ISP service plan. If you’re paying for 500 megabits per second (Mbps), for example, your modem needs to be rated for that speed. A modem that allows for speeds faster than what your ISP offers (i.e., a 500 Mbps modem when you only have a 250 Mbps plan) won’t improve your performance, but it’s a way you can prepare for future upgrades.

This principle is also true of wireless routers. Again, it’s crucial that your router can handle the maximum speeds from your ISP. In addition to raw speed, however, you also want your router to use the latest wireless communication protocols. More modern routers may be able to handle the same speeds as older models, but newer routers have software that helps them maintain stronger, faster connections. The fastest Wi-Fi standard is 802.11ac (you’ll probably see it listed simply as wireless ac), so be sure your router is up to date.

Once you have a modem and router in place, there are additional devices you can add to boost performance or coverage. Wireless extenders amplify the range of your network by repeating the signal they receive from the base router. Network switches can help you manage your data more effectively by programming your network to prioritize certain devices or functions. For example, if you’re streaming 4K video to your home theater, your network can make sure that system gets priority over everything else.

CABLES

Picking the best cables for your network is a straightforward task. Ethernet cables, which are the most common way to create a wired network connection, are rated by category. A cable with a higher number indicates higher network speed thresholds. Any cable with a rating of Cat5e, Cat6 or higher has a maximum speed of 1 gigabyte per second or more, which is plenty for most homes. Making the switch to Cat5e or Cat6 cables is a quick upgrade if you haven’t looked at your network components in a while.

More important than the cabling in your home, however, are the cables that connect your home network to your ISP. The best option here is fiber optic cabling, with transmits data as light instead of electricity. This allows for much larger amounts of data to be distributed much more quickly. However, fiber optic Internet is unavailable in many areas, rendering fiber optic cables in your home useless if you can’t get fiber speeds from your ISP.

If you can’t go with fiber optic cabling, coaxial cable is the next best thing. This is the same type of cable you use to connect to cable TV, which makes it easy to run both signals across the same cable.

 

Ultimately, the best way to make sure your home network meets your needs is to get a professional installation. To learn more about our network services, call (305) 910-2890 or visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you!