If your home has smart devices, your WiFi is doing a lot of heavy lifting!
A reliable network keeps everything connected and running smoothly. At Downeast Audio Video, we’ve been helping Maine homeowners set up smart homes for nearly 25 years. Over that time, we’ve learned that most “smart home” problems start with one thing: weak or inconsistent WiFi.
Where you place your router or access points matters more than you think. Walls, floors, and even refrigerators can block or weaken your signal.
A few placement tips:
At Downeast Audio Video, we plan WiFi coverage so every room gets a strong signal.
Smart homes have a lot of connected devices, and cheaper routers often can’t keep up with the demand. We recommend routers and WiFi systems built to handle multiple devices, like modern mesh systems or routers that support WiFi 6.
Modern Wi-Fi 6 technology provides for faster speeds and better handling of many devices. Instead of having just one router supporting everything, a mesh system uses a main router and satellites placed around your home. This offers more seamless, whole-home coverage, and eliminates dead zones, all while still utilizing one network.
The equipment we recommend to our clients improves home WiFi power and reach, creating a robust, unified network for streaming, gaming, and smart home devices.
When it comes to smart homes, reliability matters more than raw internet speed.
It’s not about having the fastest plan – it’s about having a connection that doesn’t drop in the middle of your favorite show.
Even though WiFi is convenient, a direct, wired connection is still the most reliable option.
Having a wired internet connection means a physical cable, most commonly an Ethernet cable, connects directly between a device and the router or modem. This creates a direct and stable connection. Wired internet connections are typically faster, more reliable, and more secure than wireless connections, however it limits the mobility of the connected device.
Whenever possible, connect stationary devices like TVs, smart home hubs, or desktop computers with a cable instead of WiFi. This will not only keep these devices more stable and working faster, but also take some of the load off your wireless network.
We often add hidden wiring, or upgrade existing homes to include wired connections, during installations to add this convenient failsafe for better home WiFi and connectivity.
Smart homes are always growing. You might start with a few devices today and add more in the next year or two. Plan smart home purchases by starting with devices solving real problems, read product specifications and do your research, and then build gradually to avoid overwhelm, overspending and tech obsolescence.
When we design systems with clients, we plan ahead and leave room for growth. That might mean using equipment that can easily be expanded or placing extra wiring during an install.
Smart home devices need strong protection from hackers or unwanted access.
To keep your system safe:
We choose use and recommend equipment with the highest safety protocols. If you’re using a system like Control4, we can set up those protections for you from the start.
A little knowledge goes a long way. We make sure our clients understand their systems, including how to restart devices or update software when needed. If something ever stops working, we’re just a call away.
Your WiFi is the foundation of your smart home. At Downeast Audio Video, we build networks that keep up with your lifestyle and grow with your home.
If you’re tired of dead zones or devices that drop offline – PLEASE CONTACT US. We’ll help design a WiFi setup that keeps all your home devices smoothly.