Moving? Home Internet & Wi-Fi Tips

The excitement is palpable, and whether it’s your first home or apartment or you’re upgrading to bigger digs, moving into a new place involves many details. These details include moving all of your belongings, which is easy with the help of local moving companies or moving services, and setting up the utilities like water, gas, and electricity. But there’s also the detail of setting up home internet.

To help with this aspect, we’ve gathered a few essential tips for streamlining your internet connection. In addition, this article provides some obvious and not-so-obvious tips you can use to set up high-speed internet throughout your new home or apartment while in the midst of your move.

So, whether you’re moving across the street or moving home from out of state, a new internet connection is an important aspect.

Selecting the Best Provider

The internet performance in your new home or apartment will heavily depend on the Internet Service Provider(ISP) offering the connection. There are many providers to choose from, with various types of internet packages and deals available. Keep in mind some basic necessities that play a huge part in your internet’s performance.

Most internet providers tend to have their own modems and routers, which they provide to the subscriber for a monthly fee. Unfortunately, however, these are often used devices with out-of-date technology. If you need more performance than the internet provider’s equipment can provide, you can buy your own, return theirs, and save the monthly charge. The router is the bridge between your wireless devices and the internet connection from the modem; the more advanced, the better.

The speed required by a user depends on their online activities. Whether you work from home or enjoy streaming and gaming, providers have packages with the right speed for every kind of internet user. Typically, speeds ranging from 12-25 Mbps are generally considered suitable for professional and entertainment purposes. However, if you’re a heavy internet user, you may want to consider faster speeds to reduce the possibility of lag times.

A provider is responsible for securing a customer’s internet connection with the type of router they provide. However, not all providers take this job seriously. You’ll always want to ensure your new home network is secure from hackers or neighbors who might want to “borrow” some internet. An unsecured network can easily allow hackers to access personal data by accessing connected devices. These devices can include phones, laptops, and even smart gadgets such as security cameras. To ensure that network security is never compromised, ensure that the provider and their equipment are reliable.

One of the most reliable ways to learn more about a provider is to seek out the advice of those with first-hand experience. In addition, homeowners can find the best internet provider based on other customer experiences, which can be quickly accomplished through online forums and reviews. Even your new neighbors may have a great answer for how to get Wi-Fi at home in that particular area.

Customer service is also an essential factor when selecting an internet provider. No matter how reliable an internet connection is, problems can often arise; it is best to ensure that any connection issues will be handled as soon as possible.

What to Keep In Mind

A new home may require a Wi-Fi connection that differs from your old house. Keep these thoughts in mind before deciding what type of internet connection works best for your home or apartment.

More often than not, the Wi-Fi will run into dead spots within the home. Dead spots are places where the wireless connection cannot reach or is weaker than in other areas. Mesh systems eliminate dead spots and ensure a reliable and robust connection throughout the home. In addition, mesh systems, such as the Google Wi-Fi router or the Linksys router, can boost the wireless coverage. Finding the best Wi-Fi router is a significant factor in the type of internet performance you can expect to see.

Typically, larger homes are more prone to signal obstructions than smaller ones since there is more area for the wireless signal to cover. But this isn’t always the case. Walls block wireless signals, especially block, brick, or metal wall studs. But, mesh systems and directional router antennas with dual-band or tri-band technology can help maintain signal quality. An excellent way to reduce signal obstructions is to improve the reach of the router’s signals by placing the router in a central location for better coverage.

The number of connected devices will also play a role in the efficiency of your Wi-Fi network. Phones, tablets, gaming consoles, smart TVs, digital assistants, and other devices contribute to network traffic and slower speeds. Mesh systems are great for congested networks because they allow you to add additional Wi-Fi “nodes” later if needed, ensuring your signal can reach throughout the house and even into the backyard. Also, it’s essential always to choose the latest technology to ensure that your router provides the longest lifespan, best performance, and most valuable features.

Types of Connections

The following information on the different types of internet connections available may answer some of your questions, such as how to get internet without cable or what kind of internet is best for a home.

Fiber is the fastest type of internet available, suitable for gaming, streaming, uploading, downloading large files, and any other internet activity. While this type of connection has excellent coverage and is incredibly reliable, it is not readily available in all parts of the country. The speed generally varies based on location, but fiber at its best can offer speeds up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps).

Cable internet may not be as fast as fiber, but it is still the second most reliable type of internet connection. A cable connection is not as popular as fiber since streaming services have become the norm. Regardless, homes with cable internet can experience speeds up to 500 Mbps, which is excellent for gaming, streaming, or heavy downloading. Despite being a reliable connection, cable internet is susceptible to throttling due to shared bandwidth with other homes in the area; this makes it wise to opt for this connection in less populated areas, provided better options aren’t available.

For homes with a landline connection, DSL internet becomes a possibility. This connection is helpful for users living in areas where other types of internet are not as readily available. Some people prefer to have this connection as a backup, and although it is not as fast or reliable as cable and fiber, DSL connections can be helpful for light internet usage. The drawback to DSL is that the further away from the telephone provider, the weaker the connection gets.

Satellite internet may be the slowest due to the distance the signals must travel before reaching the satellite dish receiver at your home. This type of connection is primarily found in remote and rural areas where no other type is available. Satellite speeds and reliability depend on various factors, such as how clear the sky is and the provider’s infrastructure. However, satellite internet is available in almost every area of the country.