Not so long ago, we used home wifi primarily to connect to the internet with our cell phones, tablets, and laptops. Today, many more of our devices and appliances are connected and enabled with Internet of Things (IoT) technology that allows them to interact with each other and with intelligent systems on the Internet. Our homes are becoming smarter every day. And many of these items are at the top of holiday gift lists.
If you’re thinking of filling your stockings with the latest connected technology for the family, consider the impact of all these new devices on your home Wi-Fi network and Internet connection. You might also think about the potential increase in the number of people using your network while they’re home for the holidays. You want the season to be great, and taking steps to optimize your home internet experience is a smart way to keep everyone in your home happy.
A good rule of thumb is to choose an Internet speed that allows everyone in the house to do what they want at the same time. This may mean upgrading your service to a higher speed. When considering faster service levels, keep in mind that your overall internet connection speed is typically faster than the speeds most Wi-Fi-based smart devices can handle. For most homes, the popular 250 Mbps level easily supports the streaming, gaming, downloading, distance learning, web browsing and social media scrolling needs of most families. But for those who want more, providers like Cox offer gigabit speeds to all customers in the markets they serve.
It is also important to know your internet equipment. New WiFi 6-enabled modems and internet gateways have higher home signal strength, so they’re faster, have greater range, and can support more devices. It doesn’t matter if/when you upgrade, it’s a good idea to have a provider that will allow you to make the switch easily. For example, if you have Cox Internet Service and Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi, you get equipment that keeps pace with technology.
Now for those freebies. With your internet service and home networking experience ready, you’re ready for a whole host of cool new gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season. Here are some handy connected products that just might fill your home with more joy:
- Indoor and outdoor smart lighting systems and bulbs – you can program on and off times, activate motion detection to turn off the lights when no one is around, and even adjust the color of your lighting according to a mood or decor.
- Smart home resource management, including thermostats that learn and program themselves based on your comfort preferences; and sprinkler systems that can sense watering levels and weather conditions to prevent unnecessary watering.
- Home automation systemslike Homelife, with indoor and outdoor video cameras, as well as smart locks and video doorbells that can be monitored remotely from your mobile device.
- Smart Health Devices, such as blood pressure, blood sugar and heart monitors that are managed with your mobile device and share real-time results and alerts with your healthcare providers; and smart exercise gear that helps you track progress and connects you to group workouts.
- smart devices, like ovens that manage the whole cooking process and are managed by your mobile device, refrigerators that notify you when you’re out of milk, and even robot vacuum cleaners and mops.
- Smart toilets, such as toilets with hands-free opening and closing, night lights and heated seats, automated disinfection with UV sanitizer; rear-view mirrors with customizable settings, information displays and integrated speakers; scales that send information directly to your weight management apps; and even a toothbrush that tracks your brushing and helps you improve your technique.
- Smart bedroom furniture, with beds that allow you to independently adjust the firmness and temperature on each side; pillows that track your sleep patterns and vibrate when you snore and help you wake up gently; and bassinets that can detect the first signs of waking up and soothe your baby back to sleep.
And for those with furry friends, a guaranteed favorite is automatic feeders and self-cleaning litter boxes.
There’s no place like home for the holidays and a healthy home network and a strong, reliable internet experience will help make the season bright!
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