Reliable Networking Solutions
for Your Smart Home

The router your internet provider gives you is designed to be a basic, one-size-fits-all solution that works for simple internet browsing. But modern homes have dozens of connected devices—smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, streaming devices, security cameras, smart thermostats, lighting systems, and more. That basic router simply isn't designed to handle this kind of load reliably.

Professional networking means designing a system specifically for your home's layout, the number of devices you have, and how you use your network. We install enterprise-grade equipment that provides better coverage, faster speeds, more reliable connections, and advanced features like guest networks, parental controls, and security monitoring. ISP routers often create Wi-Fi dead zones in larger homes, drop connections when multiple devices are streaming, and lack the capacity to support home automation systems that need constant connectivity.

Think of it like this: the difference between an ISP router and a professional network is like the difference between a basic flashlight and a whole-home lighting system. One might technically work, but the other is designed to actually meet your needs. When you're investing in home theater, security cameras, and smart home technology, you need networking infrastructure that won't be the weak link holding everything back.

A mesh network uses multiple access points (nodes) placed throughout your home that work together to create a single, seamless Wi-Fi network. Instead of having one router trying to cover your entire house—and inevitably creating dead zones in far corners—mesh systems distribute the signal evenly. As you move through your home, your devices automatically connect to the nearest node without dropping the connection or requiring you to manually switch networks.

Whether you need a mesh system depends on your home's size, construction, and layout. Homes over 2,000 square feet, multi-story homes, homes with thick walls or metal framing, or properties with outdoor areas you want covered typically benefit greatly from mesh networks. If you've ever had to reconnect to Wi-Fi when moving between floors, experienced slow speeds in certain rooms, or found your security cameras dropping offline, a mesh system would solve those problems.

The mesh systems we install use commercial-grade hardware, not consumer products you'd buy at a big-box store. The difference in performance and reliability is significant. We strategically position nodes based on your home's construction and interference sources, configure everything for optimal handoff between nodes, and integrate the network with your smart home systems. Your multi-room audio stays perfectly synced, your video streams without buffering, and your smart devices stay connected reliably.

This is one of the most important network design questions, and the answer is usually "both." Wi-Fi is incredibly convenient and necessary for mobile devices, but wired Ethernet connections are still significantly faster, more reliable, and more secure. The best home networks use wired connections as the backbone and Wi-Fi for devices that need mobility.

Devices that benefit most from wired connections include desktop computers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, streaming devices, home theater equipment, security camera recorders, smart home hubs, and the access points that create your Wi-Fi network. Wired connections don't suffer from interference, don't compete for bandwidth with other devices, and provide the lowest possible latency—critical for gaming and real-time applications.

During new construction or renovation, we always recommend running Ethernet cables to key locations throughout the home. It's much easier and more cost-effective to do this when walls are open. For existing homes, we can often use creative routing through attics, crawl spaces, or along baseboards to add wired connections where they matter most. Even just wiring your entertainment center, home office, and mesh access points makes a huge difference in overall network performance. Our electrical services team handles all the low-voltage wiring professionally and cleanly.

There are several upgrades we can make to improve your network performance without necessarily starting from scratch. The first step is a proper network assessment to identify what's actually causing your issues—it might be router placement, interference from neighbors' networks, outdated equipment, or insufficient internet bandwidth from your ISP.

Sometimes simple changes make a big difference: relocating your router to a more central location, switching to less congested Wi-Fi channels, upgrading to newer Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6 or 6E offers significant improvements), or adding a single access point in a problem area. We can also optimize your router's settings, create dedicated networks for high-bandwidth devices, and implement Quality of Service (QoS) rules that prioritize critical traffic like video calls or security cameras.

If your equipment is several years old, upgrading to modern hardware often provides a substantial boost in speed and reliability even without changing your network design. Current generation routers and access points handle multiple devices much better than older models. We'll assess your specific situation and recommend the most cost-effective improvements. Sometimes a $500 upgrade solves problems that would otherwise require a $3,000 complete overhaul. Our goal is to get you the performance you need without unnecessary expense.

Network security is crucial, especially as homes have more connected devices that could be potential entry points for attackers. Professional network installation includes multiple layers of security configured properly from day one. This starts with changing all default passwords, enabling WPA3 encryption (the latest and most secure Wi-Fi security protocol), and keeping firmware updated on all network equipment.

We set up separate networks for different purposes—your main network for personal devices, a guest network for visitors, and an IoT network for smart home devices. This segmentation means if a smart lightbulb gets compromised, it can't access your computers or personal files. We configure firewalls to block unauthorized access, disable unnecessary services that could be exploited, and implement secure remote access if you need it.

Regular security monitoring and maintenance are equally important. The systems we install can alert us to suspicious activity, unauthorized devices connecting to your network, or unusual traffic patterns. Our service plans include ongoing security updates and monitoring. We also educate you on best practices—like being cautious with public Wi-Fi, recognizing phishing attempts, and keeping your devices updated. When you integrate with our security camera systems and home automation, we ensure all those devices are securely configured and isolated appropriately on your network.

This is a classic bandwidth congestion issue, and it happens because all your devices are competing for the same finite internet connection. Think of your internet like a pipe—if everyone's trying to push data through at the same time, things slow down. A single 4K video stream might use 25 Mbps, a video call uses 2-4 Mbps, and regular web browsing adds more. With multiple people doing these activities simultaneously, even a decent internet connection can get overwhelmed.

There are two main solutions. First, you might need more bandwidth from your internet provider—if you're still on a 50 Mbps plan and have a family of four, that's probably not enough for modern usage. We can help you determine what speed tier makes sense for your household. Second, and often more important, is implementing Quality of Service (QoS) rules on your network. QoS prioritizes critical traffic so your Zoom call gets bandwidth priority over someone downloading a game update in the background.

Professional networking equipment offers much better traffic management than consumer routers. We configure your network to intelligently allocate bandwidth based on what's most important to you. Video calls and home theater streaming can get priority, while background updates and file downloads use whatever bandwidth is left over. We can also set up bandwidth monitoring so you can see exactly what's using your connection and when. Many clients are surprised to find that a smart TV automatically downloading updates, cloud backup running during the day, or security cameras uploading footage constantly are the real culprits behind their slowdowns.

Modern routers broadcast on two different frequency bands, and each has its own strengths. The 2.4 GHz band has been around longer and offers better range and wall penetration—signals travel farther and through obstacles more easily. However, it's also more crowded (lots of neighbors' networks and other devices like microwaves and baby monitors use this frequency) and offers slower maximum speeds, typically up to 100-200 Mbps in real-world conditions.

The 5 GHz band provides much faster speeds—often 300-800 Mbps or more depending on your equipment—and has more channels available, meaning less interference from neighbors. The trade-off is that 5 GHz signals don't travel as far and are more easily blocked by walls and floors. There's also a newer 6 GHz band (Wi-Fi 6E) that offers even more capacity and less interference, though not all devices support it yet.

The good news is you don't have to choose—modern networks automatically steer devices to the best band for their situation. We configure what's called "band steering" so your phone uses 5 GHz when you're close to an access point for fast streaming, then automatically switches to 2.4 GHz as you move farther away where 5 GHz would be weak. Smart home devices that don't need high speeds—like smart switches or thermostats—typically stay on 2.4 GHz, leaving 5 GHz available for bandwidth-hungry devices. This is all handled automatically once configured properly, giving you the best performance without thinking about it.

Absolutely—unreliable smart home device connectivity is one of the most common problems we solve. The issue usually isn't the devices themselves but rather the network infrastructure supporting them. Smart home systems need consistent, stable connectivity, and many ISP routers struggle when you have 20, 30, or 50+ devices connected simultaneously. They run out of available IP addresses, can't handle the constant chatter between devices, or have Wi-Fi coverage gaps.

We design networks specifically to support home automation systems. This includes enterprise-grade routers that can handle hundreds of simultaneous connections, proper Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home (including areas like garages and outdoor spaces where devices live), and network segmentation that keeps smart home traffic from interfering with your other network activities. We also configure reserved IP addresses for critical devices so they always get the same address and stay reliably connected.

Many smart home devices only work on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so we ensure your network properly supports this even while providing fast 5 GHz for your phones and computers. We also troubleshoot specific compatibility issues—some devices don't play well with certain security settings or need special configurations. After professional network setup, clients consistently tell us their smart home "just works" reliably for the first time. Your lighting control, thermostats, door locks, and other smart devices stay connected and responsive.

Yes! Network maintenance is crucial for keeping everything running optimally. Technology changes, firmware needs updates, new devices get added, and occasionally things just need troubleshooting. We offer comprehensive support through our service plans that include regular network health checks, firmware updates, security patches, and priority support when you need help.

Our remote monitoring capabilities allow us to proactively identify and often fix issues before you even notice them. If a network device is having problems, usage patterns change unexpectedly, or there's a security concern, we can address it quickly. For more complex issues, we provide on-site service with technicians who already know your network's configuration and history.

We also help with network expansion as your needs grow. Adding more security cameras, expanding your audio system to new rooms, or setting up a home office all impact your network requirements. Rather than struggling with these additions yourself or hoping they'll work with your current setup, we ensure new devices integrate smoothly without degrading performance. Think of us as your ongoing technology partner—we're here whenever you need guidance, support, or upgrades to keep your network performing at its best.

Networking costs vary significantly based on your home's size, construction, desired coverage area, and complexity of the installation. A basic professional network upgrade for a smaller home might start around a couple thousand dollars, while comprehensive whole-home systems with extensive wired connections, multiple access points, and advanced features can be several times that amount.

Several factors affect pricing: the quality and capabilities of equipment (consumer-grade vs. enterprise-grade), number of network access points needed for coverage, amount of Ethernet cabling required, complexity of the installation (is your attic accessible? Can we easily route cables?), and integration with other systems. During our assessment, we evaluate all these factors and provide transparent pricing for different solution levels so you can choose what fits your budget and needs.

Here's an important perspective: professional networking is the foundation for everything else in your smart home. If you're investing in home theater, automation, smart lighting, and security systems, your network needs to support all of it reliably. Spending money on those systems while trying to save on networking is like building a beautiful house on a shaky foundation—everything suffers.

Many clients approach it in phases—installing the core infrastructure first, then expanding as budget allows. We design systems that scale easily, so your initial investment isn't wasted when you add more later. Consider that a properly designed network will serve you for many years, support dozens of future devices you haven't even thought of yet, and eliminate countless frustrations. When you factor in the time you won't waste troubleshooting, the better performance you'll get from all your devices, and the long-term reliability, professional networking is one of the best investments in your smart home.