The strength of your home network is a significant determining factor in how smart your home can be. A smart home is most intelligent when many products work together to create a whole home environment, but multiple devices mean stress on the network, slowing the entire system. An unreliable network will mean lag times, buffering, and annoyance. In addition, more and more of these devices are designed to connect to Wi-Fi, which can have many positives. For instance, you probably don’t want excess wires throughout your Chicago, IL home. However, this requires taking extra steps to ensure that your Wi-Fi system can handle the load across your entire property--inside and out. Read on to learn about three tips that will improve your Wi-Fi network and, thus, the quality of your home.

Tip 1: Start with Strong Wiring

Without a solid wiring foundation, your wireless system can only handle so much. Since, the incoming wire will connect to your router, one of the first considerations is where the wire enters your home. If you are constructing a new home, it’s best to select a centralized location for your main router. However, you may not have the luxury of choosing exactly where you would like the wire to be, or your home is too large to have just one central point. In that case, you may want to consider adding a second or third router that you connect via an Ethernet cord. To make these cords less visible, you may want to consider wiring in your walls. If you are working with a home integrator, they can help you with both selecting the locations and the installation.

SEE MORE: How to Avoid These 4 Common Wi-Fi Networking Mistakes

Tip 2: Invest in a High Quality Router

Did you know that Wi-Fi works on two separate wireless frequency bands? If you didn’t, then you probably don’t have a router that supports both 2.4GHz and 5Ghz, or the two channels. When the router only works on one band, it can significantly slow down your whole system. For instance, if you start to download a large file on your laptop, every other device connected to your Wi-Fi will be held back, like a traffic jam. If you have a router that can work on either band, those other devices can simply switch lanes and work at normal speeds. Having that second lane can also help if you live in a congested area, the 5Ghz band used less frequently, so you can bypass any neighborly interference.

Tip 3: Build A Bridge

Adding access points is the best way to ensure that you can connect to your Wi-Fi anywhere on your property, especially in larger homes. Since it’s connected to your home’s pre-wired network, an access point will extend the range of quality Wi-Fi to those hard to reach areas of your home. You can even find weatherproof models for a seamless outdoor wireless connection. One key feature of access points is that they don’t require a new SSID, or network name, you can roam throughout your space without disconnecting and reconnecting from one to another.

A strong Wi-Fi connection is the backbone of any smart home system. Follow these tips to help improve your wireless network, and, if you have any questions, contact a local BRAVAS partner for help.