Why Enhance Your Network and WiFi in Your Home?
WHAT IS THE NETWORK?
Your network is all the devices in your home that can communicate to the internet. It includes all the devices that are hard wired such as desktop computers and wireless devices such as your smartphone.
Your network is made up of the Shaw or Telus modem, a router, a switch and a WiFi radio. For smaller homes, the modem that Shaw or Telus provides also includes a built in router, switch and WiFi in the same device.
WHY UPGRADE YOUR NETWORK EQUIPMENT?
It can be a huge benefit to use your own equipment instead of using the ones that Shaw or Telus provide. Depending on the physical size of your home, how many people live there and how many devices are connected and being used will help determine what network equipment to upgrade.
Router: A router handles all the internet traffic in the home. For many people, the quality and features of the built-in router into the Shaw or Telus modem is adequate. However, if the house is larger with a big family or if the house is using a home automation system such as Control4, then we recommend upgrading the router.
Switch: A network switch has multiple ports to connect all of the hard wired internet devices in your house such as computers, security cameras, video doorbell, WiFi access points, TVs, game systems or Control4 home automation equipment such as touch screens. A hard wired connection is still the best even though WiFi has greatly improved.
WiFi: Additional Wifi Access Points are a must have for larger homes. The closer your phone or other device is to a WiFi access point, the better the connection and speed it will have. To have the best WiFi in the house, it’s best to have several access points throughout the house and on each floor.
DO YOU NEED THE NEW WiFi 6?
The new WiFi 6 protocol will give you a 20-30% bump in speed if you have a WiFi 6 compatible device. It will also help with multiple people connecting simultaneously. It will eventually become the new standard for all WiFi equipment.
