Is Your Wi-Fi Robust Enough to Handle Video Calls Smoothly?

Working from home can mean a lot of different things. But for most people working from home there is one crucial component: video calls.

Video calls help us communicate best with our coworkers. They allow us to hold important meetings in the closest format to being in person.

But when they lag, they can be more frustrating that useful. No one likes to be on either end of a video call that freezes. Or when the audio cuts in and out. Or when the video doesn’t load at all.

We all have deadlines to meet. We all need proper communication. Bad video chat experiences are a problem.

Right now, video conference calls are a critical tool that we need access to. So, when you are working from home, you need to make sure that your home Wi-Fi network can handle video call platform requirements and then support them.

Is your home Wi-Fi network equipped to support video calls?

Here’s what you need to make sure your Wi-Fi network is equipped for video conference calls:

Most home Wi-Fi networks can at least support video calls in some capacity. Which might be fine for FaceTiming your friends and family from your iPhone or a virtual happy hour with friends or coworkers after work. But client calls or internal business meetings are important and require more.

You need Wi-Fi that handles these important calls smoothly every single time. That’s the difference. When your FaceTime freezes while talking to a friend, they will forgive the lost time. But that is something that you don’t want to risk while presenting to a paying client or to your boss.

To make sure that your Wi-Fi is video-conference-ready, you need:

• Fast Wi-Fi speeds
• A solid Wi-Fi signal
• A reliable internet connection
• A secure Wi-Fi network

This is something you can accomplish; you just need the right tips and tools. Here’s what you need to know:

The tools to make it happen:

Here is a list of tools that you can use to make sure your internet is ready to support video conference calls.

• Internet speed test: Is your internet fast enough for video chatting? You can find out by running a speed test. For the best video call experience, you need enough bandwidth to support the call.

  The best speed for a one-on-one conversation are around 1.5 Mbps per second (depending on the video chat platform you use).

  But if you have a call with many people on it, you will need more bandwidth. A good Wi-Fi speed range is 10-12 Mbps. If you want bulletproof speed, shoot for double that (20-25 Mbps).

• Wi-Fi analyzer apps or platforms: Wi-Fi speed is directly affected by your Wi-Fi signal strength. To make sure that your signal strength is sufficient for video conference calls, you can run your network through analyzer apps or platforms. If your signal is strong but your range is short, you can extend the reach with Wi-Fi extenders.
• Wi-Fi extenders: Maybe your signal strength is solid, but the reach isn’t. Wi-Fi extenders make sure that you can take a video call from wherever you are in your home. Wi-Fi extenders remove dead zones.
• Powerline network adapters: Powerline network adapters use the powerline wiring in your home to make a physical connection between your router and your device. This gives your laptop a reliable connection for uninterrupted video calls
• MoCA network adapters: MoCA network adapters function similarly to powerline adapters, except for they use the coaxial wiring in your home. These adapters will also make video conferencing a good experience.
• Optim^TM Managed Wi-Fi solution: Optim is the ultimate Wi-Fi network optimizer. Optim makes sure that your network is speedy, solid and secured. (All critical to video conference calls.)

  Optim is designed to make home networking easy. Enhanced security, troubleshooting tools, and network maintenance are at your fingertips from your smartphone or computer. To learn more or find out if Optim is available to you, check out Actiontec’s Home Networking Solutions guide.

With any or all of these tools, your home Wi-Fi network will perform its best. You can work from home worry-free, especially when it comes to your video conference calls.

Are you currently experiencing Wi-Fi network issues that are preventing you from getting your work done? You can find more tips on improving your Wi-Fi on Actiontec’s Complete Guide to Wi-Fi Boosters. For the latest in technology and evolving tech trends, check out the Actiontec Blog!