How to Design a Network for the Home of the Future

Do you remember the days when your home network just connected a few desktops and laptops to the internet? Everything has changed in the past five years with the Internet of Things, as more and more smart devices use the internet to communicate with each other. While this concept has revolutionized home technology, it has made many networking solutions obsolete.

Systems initially tasked with connecting just a few devices are now facilitating communication to almost every device in your San Antonio or Texas Hill Country home: gaming consoles, thermostats, TVs, speakers, lights and more. Streaming services now also offer 4K Ultra HD video and high-resolution audio, resulting in much larger bandwidths. In this blog, we highlight some of the ways we can make sure your network is ready to handle all these changes.

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Update Your Router Technology

Since the router is the heart of your home networking, it’s no surprise that the changes need to begin here. It’s important that you invest in a router designed to handle large bandwidths. Many manufacturers like Cisco offer dual-bandwidth routers specifically designed to stream Ultra 4K HD resolution. These routers will be better equipped to address the rise in traffic and bandwidths associated with a smart home.

Create a Smart Path for Traffic

A dual-bandwidth router divides traffic between two different frequencies to increase network speed. Our expert technicians can also create dedicated subnetworks called VLANS to enhance your traffic management. These VLANs each correspond to a particular type of data and can be prioritized according to your needs. For example, an AV channel can be prioritized when watching a movie but be placed further down in the pecking order when going about your day-to-day activities.

Don’t Rely on Wireless Connections

Part of the allure of the Internet of Things is that everything has gone wireless. From speakers to security cameras, you can eliminate the need for hard-wired connections. It’s important, however, that you still use a hard-wired connection whenever possible. Wireless speakers serve great purposes, but if you don't plan on moving them regularly, it’s best to connect them via an Ethernet cable to enhance the quality of the sound and diminish the traffic on your network.

Extend Your Wi-Fi Coverage

In some cases, wireless coverage is necessary. If you live in a larger home or plan on having a lot of connected devices, there are a variety of ways we can strengthen your Wi-Fi system. We can place indoor and outdoor access points throughout your property to extend the reach of your signal. As we mentioned earlier, we can also design VLANs to improve performance.

When it comes to your network, you can't settle for the standard solutions offered by your internet service providers. Contact Sterling Home Technologies to see how you can enhance your current and future network performance.