By Melissa Daley
In today’s world, having fast and reliable internet is important for most homes. There are many daily activities and devices that depend on access to the internet. In the past few years, use of the internet has expanded for job applications, accessing services, sharing forms and documents, learning and working together, communicating with family and friends via voice and video, and entertainment.
There are a lot of choices that aren’t always clear. It’s important to have the right internet setup for your needs. A typical setup will involve an internet “router” (often wired) for connecting to a provider network, and a wireless transmitter/receiver (“wifi”) for sharing the connection with your personal equipment. Here’s a simple guide to help you get the best affordable internet for your home.
Step 1: Figure Out Your Internet Needs (measured in Mbps, or megabits per second): Think about how many devices you have and what you use them for. Here’s a basic idea:
Light Use: Email, web searching and browsing, basic audio-video entertainment streaming for one or two screens at a time, and voice calls. (Plus, you may get better cell phone calls at home using your wifi calling).
Moderate Use: High resolution video streaming, online gaming, and working from home with video meetings, for up to a few users.
High Use: Lots of devices streaming high resolution video on big screens, interactive online gaming, and heavy downloading/uploading of files, especially video files.
Step 2: Estimate or calculate the Bandwidth You Need: Based on your needs, figure out how much internet speed you need.
Light Use: 3-8 Mbps for one or two devices at a time.
Moderate Use: 12-25 Mbps per device.
High Use: More than 25 Mbps per device.
For example, if you have four devices for moderate use at the same time, you may need at least 50-100 Mbps.
Step 3: Check Internet Providers and Plans
Look up the internet service providers (ISPs) in your area. In the Washington area, the largest providers include Xfinity/Comcast and Verizon (Fios). Compare their residential plans, speeds, and customer reviews to find the best one for you. They usually offer basic plans with speeds at 100 Mbps or less, moderate ones in the 100-500 Mbps range, and high bandwidth ones.
Most of these plans won’t have a monthly data cap, or only a very large one, unlike most cell phone data plans. The plans usually include renting wireless (wifi) hardware from the provider, but if you are willing to become familiar with some tech options, you can save some money over time (and sometimes improve performance) by providing your own wifi hardware. The providers often offer a discounted rate for the first year, but you might want to explore options for cheaper offers once your initial agreement period is completed.
Step 4: Test Your Current Internet, and Optimize Your Home Network
Once you get home internet connected, or if you already have internet, you can use online tools like Speedtest.net to check your speed. This helps you see if you need an upgrade. If you notice slow speeds, lots of dropouts, or failed connections, consider adjusting or upgrading your plan or equipment.
If you’re experiencing slower performance than expected, several adjustments are available. You may want to explore options like:
Moving your wifi router: You can put your router in a central spot for better coverage. You can also reduce interference by keeping your router away from other electronic devices.
Upgrading your equipment: Most people are fine with the wifi routers included by the provider, but often modern routers that support the latest Wi-Fi standards can be substituted for better covering hard to reach areas. You can monitor and adjust as needed by keeping an eye on your internet usage and performance.
With these steps, you can make sure your home has the right internet speeds at the right price for you to support all your devices and activities, and make online experiences smooth and enjoyable.