For many households, having Internet now means having a wireless connection. With the rise of wireless Internet came the rise of “wi-fi” devices. TV’s, gaming platforms and even refrigerators can now connect to the Internet wirelessly. However, with every new Internet ready device, comes a little less available bandwidth for the connected devices already in your home.
When you are trying to decide what level of speed you want for your Internet connection, it’s important to think about all of the devices that are going to be using your bandwidth. Don’t know what in your home counts? Here’s a quick list of devices that may be taking up space:
- Your cell phone – When your cell phone connects to the Internet, it prefers to use a wi-fi connection.
- Any gaming devices – Game systems like the Wii don’t just play games anymore. The PS3, Xbox, and the Wii all have wi-fi built in and will connect automatically to the Internet after the first set-up. For those with kids, it’s also important to know that most handheld gaming devices also have wi-fi connections.
- Your TV and BluRay player – If you have bought a new TV or BluRay player in the last year, it may be wi-fi enabled. These devices will normally say so right on the product.
While it’s not likely that someone will have every device on this list, it serves as a starting place to get you thinking about your Internet needs. If you notice that your connection gets slow when using your average number of devices (which will be unique to every household), it may be time to upgrade.
To find out what speeds are available in your area, call our Customer Response Center at 1-888-343-8014.