5 Questions to Ask When Upgrading Your Home Network

Connected devices have exploded in popularity in recent years. With the rise of the Internet of Things, devices communicate with each other throughout your Southlake, Texas home, from your refrigerator to your speakers. Many times when these products malfunction, it's not because of faulty manufacturing but rather a bad network. As people upgrade their technology, they fail to improve what matters most: the home network that serves as its foundation. In this blog, we guide you through some of the questions you need to ask to make sure your network is up to the task.

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How Do You Plan to Use Your Network?

The first step is knowing what you want out of your network. The hardware offered by your internet service providers works fine for basic functions: checking emails, browsing the web, watching videos on your computer, etc. However, if you are planning on using it as part of a connected home, you’re going to need an upgrade.

Sometimes, it may be enough to add a couple of routers and invest in a more expensive internet package to bolster your signal. Sometimes you need to upgrade to a router that can handle bigger bandwidths (if you expect to do a lot of media streaming, for example). In the case of a connected home, you may even need subnetworks called VLANS to divide up your traffic.

Do You Want a Wired or Wireless Solution?

We recommend going with a hard wired solution that allows you to carry larger files, get greater dependability and higher internet speeds. However, we know there are certain situations where a wireless connection may be required. It may be due to space constraints or devices that don't include hardwired options (like smartphones). We find the right balance for your system depending on the needs of your family and the type of technology you're looking to incorporate.
How Far Do You Want Your Network to Extend?

Another reason families struggle with connected devices is not only that the signal is not strong enough, but it’s not far reaching enough either. Internet service providers are tasked with bringing a signal into your home, not necessarily making sure it fills every nook and cranny. That's our job! Depending on your system requirements, we can add routers or wireless access points to ensure you have a reliable signal everywhere, including your outdoor spaces.

Where Will You Use Your Network Most?

While we do our best to get you even coverage throughout your home, the closest you are to your network devices (be it a bridge, access point or router), the stronger the signal will be. You have to take into account where you’ll use it most. This doesn’t mean where you’ll spend the most time, but rather where you’ll use the most connected devices. For example, media rooms and home offices may not be used every day but, usually, rely a lot on your network.

How Will You Protect Your Network?

With so much of your technology connected to your network, it could be easy for your devices or information to fall into the wrong hands. Make sure you include firewalls, virus protection, and dedicated VLANs to protect your network from any possible attacks. Also, be weary of which smart devices you buy. Some developers focus on great features and not on security concerns. We can advise you on which companies are reputable and which should be avoided.

Ready to upgrade your home network? Contact DB Media Solutions for a consultation.