How to Tell If It’s Time to Upgrade Your Home Network

Technology advances at such a rapid pace. Six months after you buy a smartphone, there’s a newer and better version available! Because there are so many upgraded devices out there, it can be tough to identify when is the right time to swap out your old equipment for newer versions. This is especially true for networking devices like routers.  So let’s look at some tell-tale signs that your current home network installation isn’t cutting it anymore.

1.    Spotty Connection

Sometimes you can connect to the internet, sometimes you can’t. If that’s true for you, then you should know that there’s a better way. Your network should give you reliable connections every time you open up an internet browser on your phone or try to stream music on your home audio system.

2.    Limited Range

You’ve got internet in the office and the living room. The bedroom, patio, kitchen, or garage? Not so much. Your network installation might not be designed to accommodate the full range of your home, or the router might simply not be powerful enough to do so. Either way, you’re paying for internet that you can’t access in every area of your home.

SEE ALSO: 5 COMMON HOME NETWORKING MISTAKES (AND HOW TO FIX THEM)

3.    Slow Performance

You’re able to connect, but pages load at a snail’s pace, especially when multiple devices are running at the same time. You shouldn’t have to wait 5 minutes for a streamed video to finish buffering. Instead, it’s refreshing to have the information or media you want instantly.

4.    Lax Security

When was the last time you updated your router’s firmware? If you’re like most homeowners, you probably didn’t even realize your router needed to have its firmware updated! Router companies routinely release firmware updates that contain security patches against vulnerabilities, and if you don’t incorporate those patches into your network, you’re leaving holes for hackers to get into your network and expose sensitive information.

Even brand new networking equipment might cause problems for you if it doesn’t have the right capacity and features for your home. If you’ve experienced any of the issues listed above, regardless of the age of your network, an upgrade will be well worth it.

At Smart Systems, we know networks. They’re the backbone of any smart home automation system, which is why we take great care in setting up networks that are reliable, secure, and built to last. If you’d like to learn more about our network design and installation services, please call (972) 488-5100 or fill out this brief contact form.