When you close your eyes and think “smart home,” images of 8K TVs, elaborate lighting control, surround sound and outdoor theaters might spring to mind. When integrators like us at BRAVAS Dallas conjure up Colleyville-area smart homes, our first word association is a little less glamorous, simply because we know what’s behind every successful installation – a network.

You know your home wireless network is essential, but that might not occur to you until something goes wrong. Maybe you’re watching a movie and it lags during your favorite part. Or you keep getting cut off during a Skype call because someone else is streaming shows right outside your home office.

It’s almost 2020, and we think that a network should nimbly manage all that modern life throws at you. That’s why we can’t wait to show you what’s just around the corner for your Texas residence. Keep reading to learn about Wi-Fi 6 and see if it’s right for you.

SEE ALSO: Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Home Network Soon

Why Smart Homes Need Stronger Networks

Smart homes contain many moving parts, especially as you consider expanding them for the future. Someone might start with a modest, one-room audio setup, for example, and end up drenching every room and outdoor space with AV later. You can’t do that without a network that supports that setup. With Wi-Fi 6, you can now enjoy entertainment, interference-free.

Also, roughly half of Americans work from home and require a speedy connection to hold video conference meetings while another family watches Netflix in the media room. You’ll see why that matters soon.

Welcome, Wi-Fi 6!

With Wi-Fi 6, numerous users on the same wireless network can enjoy the same speed. With earlier Wi-Fi technology, multiple users competed for bandwidth and some got higher priority. This improvement means that someone can stream 4K movies or VR games while another takes a video conference call from their home office, all lag-free. Wi-Fi 6 offers speeds four times faster than previous versions while cutting latency by 60 percent, handling more devices and expanding the reach of each access point.

How does it work? Wi-Fi 6 uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to squeeze more data into the available spectrum compared with Wi-Fi 5. OFDMA compartmentalizes the available radio spectrum into smaller units to increase throughput (up to 10Gbps) and efficiency based on the data traffic flow. It can also extend the life of battery-powered devices by pinging the router only when necessary.

Businesses took advantage of this networking service early, and it’s now giving homeowners a taste of a true “enterprise-grade network.” Hospitality areas like hotels will benefit the most since they deal with multiple people streaming entertainment and using modern elements like smart lighting on the same network.

How To Snag This New Network

The only bad news is that Wi-Fi 6 isn’t compatible with every device yet. Apple’s newest iPhone lineup, the iPhone 11, boasts Wi-Fi 6 capability, as do several new laptops. We can start by setting up a Wi-Fi 6 router and optimize your network. After that, there’s virtually no limit to what you can add to your integrated home.

Can your home handle the next decade of smart home technology? Whether you want to invest in the latest Wi-Fi 6 trend or something simpler, BRAVAS Dallas can help.

You can get in touch by calling (817) 380-2000, or check out our contact page. You can also click on the chat box in your browser to speak with a customer service associate.