Today’s American household boasts over well 20 internet-enabled devices in today’s hyper-connected world. While Wi-Fi offers undeniable convenience, a robust wired infrastructure is still the backbone of a reliable home network. Here’s why hardwired connections remain essential:
The Wi-Fi Struggle: When Wireless Networks Are Overloaded
Wi-Fi networks, though convenient, can falter under the pressure of numerous connected devices:
Bandwidth Limitations: As more devices share the same Wi-Fi network, each device gets a smaller slice of the bandwidth pie, leading to slower speeds and annoying buffering.
Signal Congestion: Wi-Fi networks often become congested in densely populated areas, causing reduced performance.
Distance and Obstacles: Wi-Fi signals weaken as they travel, and walls, floors, insulation, metal brick or stone can obstruct them, leading to spotty connectivity.
Interference: Everyday household items, like microwaves or cordless phones, can disrupt Wi-Fi signals, causing intermittent connection issues.
Inconsistent Performance: Wi-Fi can be unpredictable, with performance that varies depending on the time of day, distance from the router, and interference.
The Rise of Fiber and the Limitations of Older Wiring
As fiber optic internet becomes more common, offering speeds of up to 1 Gbps or more, many homes are still burdened by outdated internal wiring, like Category 5 (Cat5) Ethernet cables, which creates a significant bottleneck:
- Speed Cap: Cat5 cables max out at 100 Mbps, far below the potential speeds fiber offers.
- Distance Limitations: Cat5 is only reliable over distances up to 100 meters.
- Interference Susceptibility: Unlike fiber, Cat5 cables are prone to electromagnetic interference, which can degrade performance.
This mismatch between cutting-edge fiber internet and outdated wiring can result in underutilization of your connection’s potential and inconsistent speeds throughout your home.
The Benefits of Hardwired Connections
Opting for a hardwired network offers numerous advantages:
- Reliability and Stability: Wired networks are immune to interference, ensuring:
- Uninterrupted video streaming
- Lag-free online gaming
- Consistent performance for smart home devices
- Superior Speed and Bandwidth: Essential for enjoying 4K/8K content and supporting multiple smart home devices.
- Enhanced Security: Wired networks provide an extra layer of security, crucial for protecting sensitive data.
Future-Proofing Your Home with Atlantic Audio Video
- At Atlantic Audio Video, we recognize the importance of preparing your home for tomorrow’s technological advancements. That’s why we go beyond the basics when we prewire a home. Our bundled cable package includes:
- Fiber optic cable
- Coaxial cable
- Two Category 6 cables
- One Category 6A cable
This comprehensive setup ensures your home is equipped for current and future networking needs, supporting:
- Gigabit (Cat6) or 10 Gigabit (Cat6A) speeds.
- Efficient handling of multiple high-bandwidth devices.
- Enhanced resistance to crosstalk and interference.
The Best of Both Worlds: Wired and Wireless Together
A well-designed home network seamlessly integrates both wired and wireless elements. Hardwired connections are the backbone of your Wi-Fi network, boosting overall performance and coverage across your home.
Investing in a thorough wiring solution today means you’re not just keeping up with the present—you’re readying your home for the future. This approach allows you to fully leverage the benefits of fiber internet and support the ever-growing number of devices in modern homes.