With every passing year, home Internet becomes more of a vital utility. But beyond partnering with a fast and reliable service provider like Green Light Wireless, there are some basic components and best practices to will ensure everyone in your household has access wherever and whenever they need it.
Necessary Home Internet Components
Modem
The modem is the equipment that connects your home to the Internet through your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Often a modem converts your data transmission from one technology to another. In our case, the modem or “receiver” converts our proprietary wireless transmission to hardline Ethernet for you to use in your house.
Router
Your router connects the devices in your home to each other, creating a Local Area Network (LAN), and then back to the Internet via the modem. You can think of the router like the old telephone switchboard operator for a large office, all calls go through the switchboard to get to the outside world. The router connects those devices through wires, or, can have an integrated Wi-Fi radio for broadcasting Wi-Fi.
Gateway
Often modems and routers are combined into one device called a gateway. These devices give you Internet access and create your Wi-Fi network all at once.
For home Internet services withGreen Light Wireless, the modem, router and gateway are combined into one device that we call a “receiver”, that’s installed outside and integrates your home network with our infrastructure..
Best Practices
Additional access points
As we have discussed, it is often difficult to get Wi-Fi signals to reach every corner of a home, especially old Pittsburgh homes with multiple floors and plaster walls. We recommend multiple wired access points around your home to make sure that you have a stable connection everywhere.
Router Placement
To ensure that your signal reaches every place it is needed, place it in a central location, out in the open, and, ideally, raised off the floor.
Wired or Wireless?
While Wi-Fi connections are convenient, you do want to think about any wired connections you want to make. A wired connection will always be faster than wireless.
Therefore, if you have a device that you use often but stays in one place, like a desktop computer or your gaming and streaming devices, it is beneficial to connect it to your router or gateway physically with a wire.
Security
Securing your network is crucial in protecting your personal information from unauthorized access by hackers and unwanted users. The easiest way to do this is by ensuring that your Wi-Fi is encrypted with a robust and easy-to-remember WPA2 password.
When to Replace your Home Internet Equipment
It is always frustrating when you can’t get a strong or consistent signal. It is a hassle if a laggy Internet interrupts movie night or makes your video work meeting unstable. But sometimes it’s difficult to know if that is your Internet connection or your hardware.
Typically, modems, routers, and gateways need replacing every 3-5 years. But you don’t need to worry about that with Green Light Wireless. We keep track of all of our devices and when they need replacing.
Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or working from home, Green Light Wireless has you covered. Contact us today to experience fast, reliable, and locally-owned business and home Internet service.