Gigabit internet means that 1,000,000,000 bits of data are transferred through fiber-optic cables in one second. Your Wi-Fi router is the device that connects you to the internet. To ensure a high-quality connection and fast speed, there are a few specifications you need to be aware of. This includes how many devices can connect to your router at once and what kind of Wi-Fi or hardline technology it supports. You’ll also want to consider checking if your router is up-to-date and if your device could be blocking the bandwidth of your device’s battery life.
Hardline Internet vs. Wi-Fi
Choosing Wi-Fi over a hardline internet connection really depends on what you plan on using your internet connection for. If you’re looking for consistent speeds with very low lag times, hardline internet is your best bet. However, if you’d like the freedom to move around your home with your tablet, laptop, or any other wireless device, Wi-Fi will be the best choice for you.
Here are the pros and cons of a hardline connection vs. Wi-Fi:
Hardline Pros:
- Consistently fast speeds
- Low latency (lag time)
- Higher security
- Simple connections
Hardline Cons:
- Wired setup
- Less convenience and freedom in your home
- More expensive for multiple devices
Wi-Fi Pros:
- Convenient
- Wireless
- Supported by most modern devices
Wi-Fi Cons:
- Could have less consistently fast speeds
- Much more susceptible to interference
- Dropped connections
Those looking for the best speeds possible should look for routers that support 802.11ac (also called WiFi 5), which means devices can communicate with each other more quickly than ever before.
It’s good to note that some environments are not great for operating WiFi, and there is little you can do to help. Those environments can include apartment buildings with lots of other active WiFi, noise RF areas, and building construction materials.
Poor placement of your WiFi router can also have a major impact on the quality of your WiFi. We have plenty of great tips for you if you are worried about Wi-Fi interference.
If you choose to purchase Connexion Wi-Fi service, the router we provide will have the following functionality:
- 802: Supports 3×3 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz wireless LAN (WLAN) interface
- 803: Supports 4×4 802.11ac 5 GHz WLAN interface with multi-user multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO)
Will Your Older Devices Be Able to Function with Gigabit Speeds?
You should not expect to see gigabit speeds on older devices purchased before the early to mid-2000s. There are a wide variety of different ethernet and wireless network cards that could be installed on your computer or device to help you reach gigabit speeds. For example, an older laptop may have a maximum connection speed of 100Mbps, far slower than the Connexion 1000Mbps.
Be sure to check with your computer manufacturer to understand what the system requirements are for your specific devices.
Here are the basic system requirements for gigabit download speeds, as of 2022:
Operating System:
- Windows 10 (64 bit) or newer. Visit the Microsoft Windows lifecycle fact sheet.
- Mac OSX 10.8 or newer. Visit the Mac OS X Support overview for their latest operating system information.
- Browser:
- Google Chrome 56.0.2924, Microsoft Edge (64-bit), Mozilla Firefox 52 (64-bit) or Safari 8 or newer. For more information about different browsers or to download a new one, visit whatbrowser.org.
- Ethernet Cable:
- Cat5e or Cat6 or Cat7 Ethernet cable.
- Ethernet:
- 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet interface or adapter for wired connection
- CPU/Processor:
- Intel Dual-Core i5 or better or AMD Ryzen 5 or better
- Memory:
- 8 GB of RAM minimum
- Hard Drive / Space:
- 64 GB or larger SSD recommended to achieve maximum download speeds
Is Your Device Blocking Your Bandwidth for Battery Life?
Modern devices have a ton of great features packed into them that use up a lot of their battery power. However, there is one feature in particular that can really drain your battery.
A weak Wi-Fi signal can drain the batteries of all of your mobile devices, including your tablet, cell phone, and laptop computer. When your device is constantly searching to maintain that weak connection from a distant Wi-Fi router, it uses a lot of battery power. Having a strong Wi-Fi connection in your home is one way to greatly help ensure that you’re getting the most out of the battery life of your favorite tech devices.
Connexion’s residential internet service offers gigabit speeds for BOTH uploads and downloads, and best of all, it comes with no contracts or hidden fees.
Click here to find out which Connexion Plan is right for you and your family: https://fcconnexion.com/residential/residential-internet-service/