5 Ways To Improve Your Home Network

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Home networks have never been more important than they are now. We have more connected devices than ever (smart TVs, laptops, smart plugs, etc.). We work and school from home now. We stream our TV, video calls with friends and family, and our music. All of these activities rely on our home networks. Here are five ways to improve your home network.

Get a better Internet connection

Do all your uploads and downloads seem slow? Does web browsing slow to a crawl when someone is watching streaming TV? Do your Netflix movies buffer when your kids start gaming? If any of these happen you may need to upgrade your Internet connection.

I was so glad I upgraded to CenturyLink fiber a few months before the pandemic. It took some time to research, but I decided it was the right option and plan for me. You should take some time to check out what options you have, both with your current Internet service provider (ISP) and with others. You can also negotiate lower prices while getting faster upload and download speeds. A good resource for finding ISPs and plans in your area is highspeedinternet.com.

And, if you’re paranoid about your Internet connection like me, consider a cellular backup solution.

Upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router

Wi-Fi 6 Router

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is here and it offers many improvements over Wi-Fi 5 such as faster speeds, the ability to better handle multiple devices, and better security. I’ve recommended some Wi-Fi 6 routers and you can use our Wi-Fi 6 router technology advisor (scroll down on the page to find it) to find the right router for you.

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If you like your router and don’t want to replace it, you can add a Wi-Fi 6 access point as I did.

Also, be sure to configure these settings in your Wi-Fi router.

Eliminate your Wi-Fi problems

Do you have dead or slow Wi-Fi spots in your home? Is your Wi-Fi really slow? Do your devices constantly drop your Wi-Fi connection? If so, you’re not alone. Bad Wi-Fi is a common downside for aspiring smart home creators.

Fortunately, there are fixes to all of these problems. My free Wi-Fi Tuneup Guide can get you on the right track to fixing all of these problems and more!

Upgrade your network switches

home network switch

Are you still using fast ethernet (100 Mbps) switches? These days 1 Gbps switches, which are 10 times faster than that 100 Mbps switches, are extremely affordable. Since most new devices today support at least 1 Gbps speeds, having a 100 Mpbs switch might be slowing down your network. Considering upgrading to newer and faster switches. You can find some switch recommendations for any budget in my buyer’s guide.

Improve security

Home Network Security

Having good home network security is no longer optional. The proliferation of online services and working from home has also increased the market for cybercriminals. These cybercriminals are constantly sniffing the Internet for vulnerable home networks. Make sure you follow these security tips to ensure your network is protected.

Final thoughts

Your home network is almost as important as electricity and plumbing in your house. Imagine how miserable your family would be without it (or maybe you already know from when it has not worked!). Take the steps here to improve your home network. And, if you want to learn even more about speeding up, increasing the reliability, and securing your home network, check out my book The Home Network Manual, which is available in Kindle, paperback, and audiobook formats.

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5 Ways To Improve Your Home Network

by HomeTechHacker time to read: 2 min