More and more, ISPs (Internet Service Providers) such as Spectrum, Breezeline, Altafiber, AT&T, etc will offer “Wi-Fi” along with their modem and connection to their service. This usually includes at least one Wi-Fi router, or even a mesh Wi-Fi system with multiple “nodes” if you have a larger home. Some of them even use the brand Eero for their systems – which even I approve of. The care taken and installation quality of these devices definitely varies and because of time and equipment constraints, is difficult for a cable installer to do this well. Here are some things to think about when considering getting your Wi-Fi from your internet provider:
– they are usually not going to be able go over and above to make sure Wi-Fi nodes are in the best locations – no proper site survey
– they are going to put most or all of your devices on Wi-Fi – because it’s easier, not necessarily better
– ISPs will likely never take advantage of any built in ethernet wiring your home may have
– there is usually no easy support – If you need help or have a problem you usually have to call the ISP’s main number and you can’t just call or text the person that installed it to check on it for you
– no follow up or TLC from the person that installed it to make sure it’s working okay, perform updates, forward ports for you, troubleshoot, etc
– there will be a monthly charge on your bill to pay for their Wi-Fi equipment, which can add up and makes having a networking professional install your network even more appealing/cost-effective
– many people pay for higher speeds every month to compensate for bad network hardware and/or installation. You can usually get away with a lower internet speed (which means lower cost per month by $10, $20, $50+ per month potentially) if your network hardware and coverage are adequate and optimized
– you can always cancel the Wi-Fi service from your ISP, turn in their equipment, have your own equipment installed and save the $10+ per month on your bill
The moral of the story is, leave it to the ISP or “cable guy” to make sure the signal from their service to your home is as good as it can be, and leave it to a network professional to set up and manage the network inside your home.
Call Tech Ease at (614) 653-7315 to learn more about this, or set up a network consultation.