Enjoy Reliable Network Services with this Secret Ingredient

Consider for a moment the number of connected devices in your home. From smartphones, laptops and tablets to game consoles, security cameras, and now refrigerators, most houses have a plethora of devices, and that number typically grows depending on the amount of children in the home. According to a recent study, the average U.S. household owns 6.6 connected devices. Households with an annual income of $150,000 or more have up to 10 devices. The survey also concluded that the average American household spent $3,800 on connected devices and access to services in 2015.

The only safe prediction about such devices is the numbers per user will continue to grow as will the dollar amount families spend each year. One concern associated with this trend is that smart home products require a solid, reliable networking infrastructure to function at their full potential. The typical home network is made up of an Internet connection to the house that links to a wireless router with which everything else communicates.

SEE ALSO: Savant Systems Remote Puts Smart Home Control in Everyone's Hands

This setup functions well enough when only laptops and PlayStation gaming systems are counted to the router. These legacy systems are being joined by a new generation of connected devices, including security systems, home automation hubs, thermostats and smoke detectors among others. These products, referred to as the "Internet of Things," can impact the functionality of a home network. As the number of devices connected to the network increases so too can the problems, such as buffering in video streams, latency in music streams, and signals that do not reach their intended destinations.

Not to worry though as there are available solutions to address these challenges. Most home networks utilize a variety of components consisting of modems, routers, network switches, wireless access points, and network bridges. But before your eyes glaze over, the important element to remember is quality components. Whether you spend $10,000 or $100,000 on a smart home system, it will only perform as well as the network it runs on. Imagine buying a Bugatti Veyron sports car and filling it with regular gasoline. You are doing pretty much the same thing when you use the modem or router supplied by your Internet Service Provider or one purchased from a local electronics store.

We're not surprised that people feel this way about their home network. After all, the equipment is largely hidden away on a shelf or in a closet, silently working around the clock to ensure that videos, music, and emails get to where they are needed. Typically the only time we think about the network is when we lose connectivity or when the system does not respond the way we expect it to.

The secret ingredient in professional AV and smart home installations is an enterprise grade network. These networks are built for performance, are fully customized and configured with your usage patterns in mind, and are scalable so that they can adapt to planned and unplanned traffic increases. With so many smart devices floating around your home and the possibility that you will add more in the future, it's time to consider the benefits of smart home control and a network to support it. Want to experience the thrill of a high-performance home network? Contact us to learn more.