How To Build The Best Home Network
San Diego, do you want to know how to build the best home network? A home network must have a solid infrastructure if you want to have fast, even coverage throughout your home. And, if you want to avoid some of the most common issues like slow Internet speeds or a weak WiFi signal. In many cases, when the WiFi signal is not strong enough, it means things like square footage, building materials, and the amount of devices connecting to the network have not been considered.
Unfortunately, most of the time, the important but ignored ISP provided router ends up being the source of your slow Internet connection. This doesn’t mean you need to increase your Internet plan. Most of the time, you just need better network equipment like a whole house mesh WiFi system.
To put things into perceptive, while your Internet Service Provider determines your Internet speed, your router is what has the most significant impact on it. Because there are so many things play into how well your home network is performing… The best way to teach you how to build the best home network is by pointing out all the things you need to consider when building one.
Start Here: Building Materials
Building materials that have an impact on Wi-Fi signal strength:
3dB loss = 1/2 of original strength
6dB loss = 1/4 of original strength
10dB loss = 1/9 of original strength
Consider The Use of Wired & Wireless Connections
Although WiFi make things more convenient, it doesn’t mean everything in your home should be using a wireless connection. Consider this: wired connections offer higher bandwidth, less latency and more speed than a wireless connection does. Because of this, you should always use a combination of the two methods. So, the question is not should I use a wired or wireless connection, but rather what you should wire that you need to be concerned with.
When To Use A Wired Connection
The best way to remember what you should wire: if the device has an Ethernet port, use it. But by doing so, you free up bandwidth for your other devices. Some examples of when to use a wired connection include cable and satellite boxes, security cameras, Apple TVs, Smart TVs, gaming PCs, gaming consoles and devices used for high quality entertainment like streaming.
Additionally, when your connection requires low latency (lag), it should always be wired. At the most basic level, getting the most speed out of a wired home network relies on three things: the router’s speed, the capabilities of the device that is using the data and, of course, the Ethernet cable’s data-carrying capacity.
When To Use A Wireless Connection
Obviously, no one’s connecting their smartphones to the Ethernet, so for mobile devices, a wireless connection is the clear choice. However, because a wireless connection is subject to a lot more interference (as shown in the diagram above) than a wired connection, there are a few things to consider if you want to build the best home network.
From the layout of your home to the materials it’s built with and objects that can block the signal to interference from electrical devices or your neighbors wireless networks, there are many things that contribute to a wireless connection being generally less reliable. For this reason, it’s important to consider everything that can have an impact on the performance of your home network.
Consider The Wi-Fi Channels You Use
You’ve probably seen Wi-Fi networks split into two selections: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. In fact, most routers these days are dual-band (which means they offer connections over both the radio frequencies). The point here is that many wireless routers will automatically select the channel for you upon initial setup, where depending on your wireless environment, it could lead to slow Wi-Fi speeds and interference.
As an example, most home networks utilize routers that by default, run on channel 6 (2.4 GHz). And, when neighboring home Wi-Fi networks run over the same channel, they generate radio interference. This can cause significant performance slowdowns for everyone running on that channel. To optimize your Wi-Fi signal, it’s best to find and use a Wi-Fi channel that no one else is using. If you’re using the 2.4 GHz band, channels 1, 6, and 11 are usually the best choices because they don’t overlap with each other.
2.4 vs 5 GHz Performance vs Reliability
| 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Distance | Travels farther | Less range |
| Speed | Slower | Much Faster |
| Interference | Very high | Low |
| Barriers | Less signal loss | More signal loss |
The Difference Between the 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz
The main difference between the two frequencies are the range (coverage) and bandwidth (speed) that the bands provide for your connected devices. The 2.4 GHz band provides coverage at a longer range but transmits data at slower speeds. Conversely, the 5 GHz band provides less coverage but transmits data at faster speeds. That’s because the range is lower in the 5 GHz band because higher frequencies cannot penetrate solid objects like walls and floors. This means, you’ll need to be close to your router to take advantage of it. Unless you have a mesh Wi-Fi system, see expiation below.
Upgrade Your WiFi System To Mesh
eero Pro 6E
Why eero?
eero replaces your router with a mesh-capable router to offer you a strong, reliable connection across your home. And the best part, you can manage everything right from an app, including ongoing updates for security patches and new features.
What are the benefits of eero Pro 6E?
eero Pro 6E supports fast Internet speeds and direct access to the new 6 GHz band when using Wi-Fi 6E devices, resulting in lower latency across your network, even for non Wi-Fi 6E devices.
What is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E stands for Wi-Fi 6 Extended. Wi-Fi-6E helps clear the way for faster speeds on more devices, thanks to recently authorized access to the 6 GHz band. In addition to 160 MHz channel support, the 6 GHz band offers a whole new wifi “lane,” freeing up the 2.4 & 5 GHz bands on tri-band systems to operate more efficiently, which is particularly helpful to mesh networks.
San Diego Home WiFi Network Installation
You’re already paying your internet provider for a fast connection. So, it only makes sense to have hardware that can deliver it, and the right team to install and configure it! We are a team of highly trained system designers and installers, qualified to help build the wireless home network of your dreams. Let us help you get the most out of your home network. We are happy to come out free of charge to assess your current wireless capabilities. For the best home network installation services in San Diego, call (760) 505-7461 to get started or click on the button below to fill out a contact form.
