As a single person working from home, you are unlikely to experience many connectivity issues unless your existing network connection already has issues.
However, if you have a family and are working from home while the other members are studying or also working then there is a chance you may have connection problems.
Alas, there is a solution! Some adjustments can be made to optimize your network to support the increased usage.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the information to make the necessary adjustments so your network connection can support the household requirements.
We are even sprinkling in some budget tips to help you save money!
Understanding Bandwidth Usage
Before diving into the performance and budget tips, it is important to understand bandwidth. The best analogy is to think of drinking a milkshake through a straw. Due to the density of the milkshake, it is difficult compared to soda or water which are thin.
Transmitting data is the same in that some transactions, like sending an email, are thin and do not require data while streaming a 4K video consumes significant bandwidth due to the size of the files and are, therefore, like the milkshake.
To watch the 4K video, the straw must be wide enough to accommodate the data.
Email and web surfing require little bandwidth; music, games, and photos consume more, and video is the culprit.
Bandwidth is measure in megabits per second (Mbps) and the following lists the amount of bandwidth needed for each activity:
- Regular Netflix usage – 0.5Mbps
- Standard Definition (480p) – 1.5Mbps
- Zoom – 2Mbps upload and download
- High Definition (720p) – 2.25Mbps
- Full High Definition (1080p) – 5Mbps
- 4K Streaming – 20Mbps
YouTube, Netflix, and other streaming services allow you to manually or automatically adjust the video resolution based on your bandwidth. This works fine when an individual is watching Netflix and YouTube simultaneously.
However, when an entire family is watching videos the connection slows significantly.
Performance Tips
So how do we optimize our network to ensure everyone in the house is covered with strong bandwidth? Keep reading to find out!
Tip #1 – Dedicated Fiber Optic Connection
When purchasing bandwidth, you are buying the connection from a specific point to your home.
Sometimes Internet Service Providers (ISPs) set up a dedicated line to each home or you share a line to a cluster of homes. Therefore, if every family in the cluster is working and schooling from home simultaneously, you are likely to experience a slowdown since the connection becomes overloaded.
While this is out of your control and the ISP is unlikely to provide you with a dedicated line if you ask without serious charges to your bill, it is important to know if you work on a shared or dedicated line.
Tip #2 – Disable All 4K Video Streams
By defaulting to have all 4K video streams off, you are saving serious bandwidth for the entire house. Most streaming services allow you to disable 4K so you can reduce usage and regain bandwidth. While 4K is excellent on screens larger than commercially available, you are unlikely to notice a difference on your television.
Tip #3 – Know What’s Eating Your Bandwidth
If you have limited bandwidth then knowing what is eating your bandwidth can help limit these services during peak usage hours. When you or your spouse are on video conferences then turn off all unnecessary connections and recreational streaming services.
Tip #4 – Schedule Uploads Overnight
Always backup or schedule uploads overnight when the Internet is not being used.
Tip #5 – Buy the Internet Plant with the Most Bandwidth
You can always have a higher monthly bill for more bandwidth. Since you are working from home, you may even get the company to cover the cost.
Budget Tips
Tip #1 – Cancel Extra 4K Charges
Some streaming companies charge extra monthly for 4K video and you may not realize you are paying for this feature. It is important to check with the service, especially since you do not want to be paying for a feature you have disabled.
Tip #2 – Setup Desks Near the Wi-Fi Router
Your Wi-Fi router is the nucleus of your entire network so setup work areas near the router.
Tip #3 – Create a Streaming Schedule
Create allowable times for streaming recreational services.
Tip #4 – Use the Ethernet Port
Most computers have an ethernet port that requires a cable that links into your router. This will give the user a much better stream of data.
While a single tip is not going to make much of a difference, using several of these points will help improve your home network performance while saving you money.
It is a complete win-win situation for your wallet and your family!
