People are doing work from home over Wifi
If that's the case, you've probably noticed that your home WiFi network is struggling. The current signal spectrum is getting awfully crowded, and its beginning to impact performance.
That's exactly why the FCC recently approved a new connection standard, WiFi 6E, which will allow wireless routers to access the 6GHz band. This is going to inevitably result in faster and more stable connections, but naturally, there are questions. What kinds of upgrades will you need to do? How much of an improvement will you actually see? Will your current devices be rendered obsolete by the change? Those are all fair questions, and we'll provide the answers just below.
How much improvement will we see
First and foremost, we don't actually have hard numbers we can point to about how much of an improvement you'll see when the new standard is adopted, but we do know that there will be an improvement. It works in the same way that we know that traffic is less congested when you add or open a new lane on a highway.
Second, in terms of upgrading, yes. You'll need to upgrade your equipment to take advantage of the new spectrum. Unless you're a power user, it's probably not in your best interest to grab the very first WiFi 6 router that is brought to the market. As with all new technologies, they're apt to be expensive. So unless your home network has just ground to a near-stop, you'll be better off waiting until the prices begin to come down.
Third, the good news is that the new standard won't render your current devices obsolete. The new routers are being designed to be backward compatible, so you'll be able to mix your older tech in with the new.
Our perspective
On balance, we're absolutely thrilled to see the expansion of the wireless spectrum, and we think it will make a big difference to home networks of all shapes and sizes.
~ As Hill Street Blues' Sgt. Esterhaus always advised: "Hey, let's be careful out there! " ~
Meanwhile, check out this report
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The author
Thanks for reading this short post. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPia Blogs. I am also available on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
I am Denis Wilson, President and Principal Consultant for DWP Information Architects. I help professionals grow their business by building a foundation of rock-solid IT and communications solutions for smaller insurance brokerages, financial services, and accountancy and law firms in Ventura County and San Fernando Valley. I have created cost-effective personal service automation solutions, for over 20 years, specializing in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. I am also a published author and speaker, working extensively with business and professional associations to provide small business technology education programs.
Contact me if you would like me to speak at your association
