Why Your Network Isn’t Working As It Should

Smart home automation is a lot of fun, and it can help make your lifestyle easier. From the moment you wake up in the morning to the time your head hits the pillow at night, you interact with technology. Automation streamlines the devices you use, allowing them to fall into the background of your daily life while providing even greater access to their benefits.

 

But if there’s one area that often goes overlooked in adding automation technology to the home, it’s the home networking system. While it’s relatively easy to add some individual devices to your property, you need to make sure your network can support them. How do you do that? Distinctive Audio-Video can help. Find out below.

 

See Also: IS YOUR HOME NETWORK READY FOR SMART TECHNOLOGY?

 

 

Dead Spots

Perhaps the most common networking problem is the dreaded "dead spot." That's when you move a device to a part of your home where you can't get a signal. Whether it's your smartphone, laptop, or a home automation component, it won't work unless it has a fast, reliable connection to the internet.

 

There are a few solutions for resolving dead spot issues. In smaller spaces, a range extender helps you get the most out of a Wi-Fi network. Range extenders don't add anything to your network's ability. They receive the signal and broadcast it further and can help a signal from a router reach every room in the house.

 

Of course, if you’re interested in upgrading with a full home automation system, you're going to need a network that can support it. A mesh network is a perfect solution. Mesh networks don't broadcast a signal; they connect to each other via nodes placed throughout the space. Each node connects to the other with a network signal, and an expertly designed system will offer full coverage of any area. The result is faster speeds and more stable connections, without dead spots.

 

Slow Connections

Slow connections can be the death of a smart home automation system. After all, what's the point of motorized shades if it's faster to raise them manually?

 

Often, the problem with slow connections comes from adding too many devices to your network. Whether you have a hardwired or wireless network, too many devices can cause traffic jams. Fiber-optic cables and robust wireless mesh networking solutions will offer the bandwidth you need to facilitate all your devices.

 

But just because the signal has enough space doesn’t mean it will work appropriately. In those cases, network prioritization software can help. This software acts as a kind of traffic cop -- it determines which signal is the most important and allows that to move through first. That way, you never have to worry about your security system failing while you’re streaming the latest Netflix show!

 

Retrofit

Adding a network to old construction can be so complicated that many homeowners don't even do it. But there's a solution that fits your needs! We can craft a reliable, easy-to-use hybrid network that takes care of all your needs.

 

In most cases, a hardwired network will offer the strongest, fastest connections and be the easiest to maintain over a long time. But in older construction, you may not have the luxury of running ethernet or fiber-optic cabling through every wall.

 

If that’s the case, a hybrid network -- which uses both hardwired and wireless -- can help reach every room. We can also help you find wireless devices compatible with hardwired devices and integrate everything into a single system, so you don’t have to deal with a lot of apps to control everything.

 

Scalability

Once you've established a network, you can't assume your system will never change. You'll likely add devices regularly over the months and years, once you get used to the fun and convenience of smart technology.

 

Ensuring your network is not only reliable today, but will remain so as you install more devices, is an essential aspect of any networking system design. That way, you don't have to upgrade your network every time you want to enjoy a new component.

 

We can help you design, build, and install the network that will make your smart home dreams come true. If you’re looking for a technology partner to guide you through the world of automation, click here now.