One thing we’ve all learned since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: a strong and reliable home internet connection is more important than ever. From work and study at home to home telemedicine appointments and entertainment, almost all of us depend on a consistent internet experience more than ever.
But do you know what’s going on to make sure you have that consistent connection? First, of course, a reliable and consistent direct Internet connection. Second, it’s about making sure your connection has the bandwidth to meet your needs. Equally important, but perhaps less understood, is the need for a strong Wi-Fi signal throughout your home. And finally, you’ll only really have the best experience if it’s all backed up by responsive and caring customer support.
Step 1: Get the right connection
Your Internet experience begins with a reliable broadband connection that is transmitted to a modem in your home. Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Internet service is the fastest and most reliable broadband connection available. Depending on where you live, you may have access to an FTTH internet service provider. ImOn Communications offers FTTH Internet service in the Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Iowa City, Coralville and Dubuque areas. If this is not available in your area, be sure to purchase Internet service from a company that provides the bandwidth you need.
Step 2: Determine bandwidth: your need for speed!
We’ve all seen the adverts for “fast” internet speeds. But what you might not realize is that “speed” actually refers to the capacity, or bandwidth, of your connection. The “speed” you see advertised measures how much data can be transferred through your connection, measured in megabits delivered per second (or, in some cases, gigabits!).
There are so many things that go into determining how much bandwidth you need: how many people in your home are using the internet at the same time, how many devices you have connected to the internet simultaneously and the types of activities you do. online – surfing, streaming, gaming, zooming – all have different bandwidth needs.
ImOn offers a quick online speed analyzer at imon.net/analyzer to estimate how much bandwidth you need for your usage.
Step 3: Make sure the Wi-Fi signal is strong throughout your home
No matter how strong and reliable your broadband connection is, that alone is not enough to guarantee a consistent Internet experience. This is where the Wi-Fi signal comes in. The Wi-Fi signal is distributed throughout your home by a router attached to the modem that receives your Internet connection. In some cases, the modem and the router may reside in the same equipment.
Consider a modern family of four on any given weeknight. Mom works from home and completes an online search for clients in her office in the converted attic. Dad relaxes by streaming an episode of his favorite TV show in the downstairs family room. One of the kids is upstairs in a bedroom working online to complete homework, while the other is downstairs after homework enjoying the latest video game. Meanwhile, the family is protected by connected security cameras and the temperature is controlled via a connected thermostat that can be adjusted using a mobile app. The main broadband connection is to a modem that sits on a table downstairs.
How is this family able to do all of this simultaneously in every corner of their home with just that one downstairs modem connection? They each connect via a Wi-Fi network provided through a router. The strength of that Wi-Fi signal plays a key role in providing a consistent experience so those family members can complete their work or enjoy their entertainment without interruption.
Most Internet providers offer a Wi-Fi solution with their Internet service. However, the quality, strength and reliability of these solutions can vary widely. ImOn Communications Whole Home Wi-Fi delivers a strong signal to every corner of most homes, with optional mesh units available to help carry the signal into larger homes. This Wi-Fi solution is offered at no additional cost with ImOn’s FTTH Internet service. The equipment supplied by ImOn is considered “carrier grade”, which means that it is extremely reliable, well tested and proven to perform.
ImOn’s whole home Wi-Fi solution even comes with a mobile app that lets you perform accurate speed tests, add guest networks, set parental controls and more. Having control of your Wi-Fi network at your fingertips is another way to enjoy a better Internet experience.
Step 4: Get the support you need!
Another thing we’ve all learned since our home internet usage has increased exponentially: sometimes things go wrong. Even the most reliable connection can be affected by uncontrollable factors like weather, and even the best equipment can suffer damage and stop working. The difference is how your ISP reacts to these events. Be sure to select a vendor that is reputable for their fast, responsive, and comprehensive customer support.
The right connection + the right bandwidth + strong Wi-Fi + excellent support = the Internet experience you need!
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