What is Whole Home Wireless?

The home network has changed dramatically over the past years. Homes no longer just have one or two computers and a printer. The average household has five connected devices, and that number will be growing fast. You probably have multiple smartphones, a tablet, laptop, and maybe even a set top box, television, or gaming console that all need to connect to the Internet. And, you probably want to use your devices (particularly the mobile devices like phones and tablets) anywhere in the house.

There’s the problem. A single wireless router can’t always provide a strong enough wireless signal to cover every corner of the home. If you have trouble connecting your tablet to the network while in the basement, or have problems streaming videos in the second floor bedroom, you already know that your wireless network has holes in its coverage (these are also known as dead zones or dead spots).

Whole Home Wireless means that the Wi-Fi network’s dead zones are minimized or eliminated altogether. It means you can begin streaming a video to your tablet in the living room, then go to the kitchen, and then the bedroom without any impact on your viewing experience. That’s the ideal: now how do we get there?

How to Improve Wireless Network Coverage in the Home?

There are three basic ways to help ensure whole home wireless coverage at home:

1. Amplify the Signal: More powerful routers can transmit a stronger wireless signal at farther distances in the home. 802.11n wireless routers support faster wireless speeds and distances. In addition, look for routers that specify MIMO antennas, as MIMO smart antenna technology improves wireless performance for better whole home wireless coverage.
2. Optimize the Signal: You need to make sure that your wireless router is positioned in the best place to reach all corners (or the most corners) in the house.
3. Duplicate the Signal: When optimizing the wireless router placement and getting the most powerful router available aren’t enough to ensure whole home wireless coverage, you can duplicate the wireless signal using a wireless extender or repeater. You’ll want to look for a wireless extender that also uses a wired backhaul like MoCA (which uses your home’s coax) or Powerline (which uses your home’s electrical signal) to reach the far corners.