Google Fiber is coming…but is it the answer?

We get asked all the time about Google Fiber ®. “Is it coming to my neighborhood???? “Will it be worth the wait???? “If I’m one of the few who can get it now, should I take the plunge???? Here’s our advice.

If you can get it in your area, Google Fiber offers great performance. Internet speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps), or the amount of data that can be downloaded or uploaded in a second. Spectrum® cable offers a maximum speed of 60Mbs, and AT&T tops out at 100Mbps. Google Fiber’s basic residential plan offers up to 100Mbps, and their premium package goes up to 1000Mbps – 10 times faster than the best you can get in Charlotte without it.

Want to know how fast (or slow) your network is now? Download this free speed test app for iOS and Android. We use it all the time in our work. http://www.ookla.com

Maybe

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, it’s also possible that it’s not your provider’s fault. Regardless of the data speed coming into your home, you could still be limited by the wired and wireless networks inside. If you’re still using a 2-in-1 modem/router from your cable company, or an inexpensive router you bought years ago, and upgrade is definitely in order.

There are other things you can do, too. Hardwire as many Internet-connected devices as possible. If a device isn’t going to move, like a smart TV or Blu-ray player, it makes sense to hardwire it to the Internet if you can. Save your Wi-Fi for the mobile devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) you take from room to room. If you’re building or remodeling and your walls are open, it’s a perfect opportunity to run Ethernet cable to any location where you plan to have connected electronics.

We can help

Before changing providers or paying to upgrade your current service, and certainly as part of any construction project, let us take a look at your home network to make sure it’s up to date. We’d be happy to come to your home for a free evaluation, to make sure you’ve got the infrastructure to support the connected electronics you have now and any you might add in the future.

At Audio Video Charlotte, we keep abreast of all the latest technology, and home networks are a specialty. We do every home entertainment system the way it’s supposed to be done, following a time-tested, six-step project management process to make sure you get the performance you want, when you want it, where you want it, and how you want it. Give us a call.