Modern homes are private spaces, but that doesn’t mean that they are cordoned off from the world at large.
These days, you can access information from all over the world using the internet or your cell phone network in your own home. And modern homes can use local networks to foster better communication and smarter tools within the walls of the house, too.
A connected home can make life easier for you and can deliver everything from entertainment to essential information. Here are a few of the tech essentials that every connected home should have.
A cell phone network signal booster
The wireless networks run by the big cell phone service providers are a huge part of how we stay connected on the go and within our own home. With 4G coverage and a smartphone, you can get information wherever you are — or just stream your favorite album during your commute. But if you’re getting shoddy cell service in your own home, that’s going to drive you up the wall. You won’t be as connected as you should be, and you’ll miss out on communication with friends and loved ones.
There is a solution, however. The answer is a cell phone signal booster. When service is weak in your home, a signal booster like the ones by HiBoost can amplify the signal and make your smartphone useful again. Since the signal booster is a separate device, you won’t have to plug any clunky accessory into your phone to stay connected.
A great Wi-Fi router (and some boosters)
Your home’s connectivity relies on two networks. One is the 4G cellular network, the other is your home Wi-Fi network which should be connected to the internet. When the internet comes into your home, it doesn’t go directly to your devices. Instead, it’s routed from the modem to the aptly named router, which broadcasts a wireless network and offers ports for wired connections.
No matter how fast your internet connection is, a bad Wi-Fi router can slow you down. Your Wi-Fi network is a separate thing than your internet connection, and it can bottleneck things so badly that you never experience the true speeds you’re paying for. So upgrade that Wi-Fi router and get on the fast track.
While you’re at it, make sure that you have coverage wherever you are. Wi-Fi boosters can improve the signal in far-flung areas of the house in a way that’s similar to the cell phone boosters we talked about before. And some Wi-Fi routers are “mesh” routers, which include such boosters as part of a unified, multi-device system.
A smart home hub
If you’re living in a connected home, you should be enjoying all of the perks that technology makes possible. With a smart connected home, you can switch off your downstairs lights from upstairs or set the thermostat while you’re on vacation. But your ability to do all of this — and your ability to keep your various smart devices organized — will depend on your smart home hub.
A smart home hub is a device that communicates with various compatible smart home devices. Some smart home devices can’t talk to your smartphone or tablet on their own — they need a hub as a go-between. And even if you have some smart devices that have their own apps, a hub that works with them could help you slim your apps down to just one.
A smart speaker with an AI assistant
The future is now! Controlling things with your voice used to be the stuff of science fiction, but it’s now easier than ever. Your connected home should have a great smart speaker with an AI assistant, like Alexa or Google, on board.
With an AI-enabled smart speaker, you can get the weather report read to you while you’re getting dressed or order something off of Amazon using only your voice. You can also, of course, summon some great music to blast through your speakers. Depending on the device, you may even be able to use your smart speaker as a smart home hub. That’s a great way to organize your connected home.
