3 Smart Home Issues Caused By a Poor Network
And How We Can Fix Them!
When a smart home is installed correctly, devices seamlessly communicate with each other and respond intuitively to the environment around them. But if your home network can’t support all the devices in your house, you’ll run into slow or unresponsive technology.
Today, a typical home has ten or more electronics connected to the internet, including PCs, mobile devices, and IoT smart devices. If you want to experience the luxury and sophistication of whole-home automation, you’ll need a robust network that covers every area of the house. Weak Wi-Fi signals won’t cut it in modern smart homes.
Here are three common issues that a poor network can cause in smart homes and how our home network solutions improve the automation experience in Richmond and Henrico County, VA.
SEE ALSO: A Comprehensive Guide to Whole-House Automation
1. Smart Devices Are Slow or Unresponsive
Poor network connection is one of the most common problems people encounter with their smart devices. Smart lights may fail to turn on, security camera feeds drop, and remotely controlling the house won’t work as it should. This is understandably frustrating—after all, what’s the point of a smart home that doesn’t really work?
The Solution: Sophisticated smart homes are too complex to trust with Wi-Fi alone. If certain devices aren’t reaching a Wi-Fi signal, it’s best to wire them to the network instead. In new home builds, we recommend wiring in-ceiling speakers, cameras, thermostats, and smart lighting controls to the network and smart home controller. Even in retrofits, we can find ways to neatly install wiring so devices are guaranteed connectivity.
If you still prefer wireless products in certain areas, updating your router will allow it to communicate with more gadgets simultaneously at faster speeds. We recommend installing wireless access points to extend the Wi-Fi network to any ‘dead zones.’
2. Wireless Devices Drain Batteries Too Fast
Wireless smart home devices are handy until you realize the batteries need frequent replacing. Low-energy products like door sensors may only require new batteries every year or two, but solutions like motorized shades, cameras, and motion sensors drain batteries much more quickly. And what’s the use of a dead smart home device?
The Solution: For a superior smart home experience, skip the wireless devices and instead invest in a wired whole-home solution. Wiring devices to power will ensure they’re always on and running. Power over Ethernet solutions deliver power to your devices without requiring an outlet cable for every device.
3. IoT Devices Are Vulnerable to Hacking
You may have heard rumors that smart home devices can be more susceptible to cyberattacks. And once hackers are on your network, they can easily reach your computers and mobile devices. Indeed, DIY smart gadgets are often an easy gateway to the network. So what can be done?
The Solution: If you’re using smart devices, it’s important to put your IoT gadgets on a separate network from your computers and phones that host any sensitive information. Most routers allow users to create a second guest network that can be used for any Wi-Fi-connected devices. A network professional can implement firewalls and update router encryptions to keep your network safe.
And we can’t emphasize enough the benefits of wired networks! Wired connections are much more difficult for hackers to access than wireless ones.
Smart Homes & Networking in Henrico County
Interested in smart home solutions? Need a stronger, faster network? Sound + Images and implements tailored network solutions that address all these challenges and optimize the performance of your smart home.
Contact us here to get started with your new smart home today!
