Wireless home networks aren’t only about computers anymore. The entire world around us is going wireless. Each new day reveals another device that has joined the wireless movement.
One of the driving forces behind the surging popularity of wireless networking is that the cost is very reasonable for consumers. In the past, a standard wired network would require several hundreds of feet of cable installed.
Immediate cost and hassle savings
This cable would have to reach every peripheral earmarked to be shared in your household. In many cases, the cost of the cable itself might be minimal compared to its installation cost. If you’ve ever fished wires or cables through walls, attics, and crawl spaces, you already know how painstaking it can be.
The good news is when you go wireless, the worst scenario might require mounting a few devices – and that’s it! Wireless technology takes it from there, and you can say bye-bye to all that cable.
Wireless security example
Let’s consider a wireless set of security cameras for the home. Typically, you will get a transmitter and 3-4 cameras. Each camera is battery-operated and communicates with the transmitter, connected to a USB port on your computer.
You first mount the cameras where you want on the exterior of your house. It is pretty much like hanging a picture – just a few screws. After that, you will download and install the system’s app on your phone.
Now all you have to do is open your phone app and start seeing what the cameras see. They typically have motion detectors that automatically record video clips and keep them in storage for later review.
And you can always get a live view from those cameras from anywhere with an Internet connection. How cool is that!!
4 Benefits of Home Wireless Networks
Whether buying or renting your home, there’s no reason not to set up a wireless home network. Let’s look at some of the significant benefits of using and installing one:
Wireless networks are portable
This is great news for renters. You don’t have to worry about upgrading the place you rent for the owner and leaving it behind when you buy your home.
The reason is that home wireless networks are entirely portable. Since all the components communicate through a wireless connection, there are no permanent fixtures to leave behind. You can have your entire network ready to move in less than 30 minutes.
Wireless networks are flexible
You can say goodbye to those days without a peripheral because there’s no jack or no connections. You only need devices that can receive a signal from the transmitter. It’s up to you where you’d like to use them.
Wireless networks are cost-effective
Imagine setting up such a vast network in your home for less than $200!
This is precisely what you can do with a wireless network. Most of us could do it all by ourselves. The only things stopping you would be not having the time or being physically unable.
They’re very inexpensive and straightforward to install. And it’s much quicker to install as well.
These networks are clutter-free
One massive benefit of having a wireless home network is that no aggravating wires or cables will be cluttering your house. Since everything is wireless – there are no wires!
So you don’t have to worry about fishing wires through walls, floors, and ceilings. Those days are over with these networking systems.
Some Valid Concerns with Home Wireless Networks
We’d be doing readers a disservice if we didn’t mention some things people are concerned about regarding these wireless networks. Such drawbacks can be placed into four categories:
Data speed
Wireless networking transmits data that’s a bit slower than wired networking. Many wired networks are already moving information at enormous speeds, and wireless systems always seem to lag behind them somewhat.
Considering the speed difference between wireless and wired networks, the question becomes how much speed do you need? In most cases, it’s not going to matter to most of us, and typical wireless speeds will be plenty.
Range of radio signal
Electronic signals always fade out over the distance traveled because of friction through the atmosphere. How far a signal travels depends on its frequency. So it stands to reason that wireless signals are also subject to this, and all of us have lost cell phone coverage in a remote areas because of this fact as well.
Another critical factor is the age of your home, believe it or not. Materials used to build homes years ago are much more resistant to radio signals than modern homes. One big issue is having plastered walls in your home that contain wire mesh – which interferes with and blocks radio signals.
Radio signal interference
A common issue with wireless network technology is that they use the same radio frequencies as other home devices. For instance, there are portable phones, microwave ovens, etc.
All these random signals can sometimes interfere with one another. However, a few savvy manufacturers are starting to address this problem in various ways – like offering the ability to switch frequencies.
Security
Electronic security has become a growing problem since the Internet was born. And guess what? It’s here to stay. This means that security measures continue to grow and become more sophisticated.
The best security starting point has a secured Wi-Fi signal.
Secondly, create random passwords for all of your online accounts. Too many people commonly use things related to them as their passwords because they are easy to remember. Never forget that you don’t need one of those randomly generated passwords that no one can ever remember to be secure. Just create something that is simple and makes no sense to anyone and includes all the typical characters required.
For example, look at these passwords, “16Zoo*Bacon” and “Title77Neck$$” each has numbers, lower and upper case letters, and special characters – simple and unrelated to you.
Finally, DO NOT store your passwords online. While many password-storing apps are great, they can also be your undoing because hackers constantly target them. If you must use one, use them only for accounts that contain no personal or financial information.
Final thoughts
In the end, we favor wireless networks over wired networks. If you review the items we discussed, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. A low-cost wireless system can be entirely replaced a couple of times, and you’d still be money ahead when compared to installing a wired network.
Why not go with a hybrid networking system if you’re still concerned? You can install wiring in places that need a strong signal or more robustness – such as in older homes. And then use wireless devices in the remaining spots in your home. This will allow you to get the best of both worlds!
