5 Things to Do Before Upgrading to Gigabit Internet

Finally, gigabit internet speeds are coming to big cities across North America. While fiber service providers are working on upgrading their services to take on these new speeds, you have to ask yourself, are you ready?

Having high-speed internet is what all of us want, but even though the speeds are out there, you might not actually be ready to use it. Before you sign up for gigabit internet, this is what you need to do.

1. Update your modem. To begin with, is your current modem even capable of handling gigabit internet? If not, it is time to upgrade. The two most-used gigabit modems are the ARRIS SB8200 and the Motorola MB8600. The two modems seem identical on the surface, making the MB8600 vs SB8200 gigabit modems comparison tricky.
2. Use a wired connection. In order to get the best connection and reliability from your gigabit speeds, you should use a wired Ethernet connection. Most modern Ethernet ports already have the capability to handle gigabit speeds, but the bad news is that your other devices might not have the same capability. This is why having your connection wired in if you want gigabit internet will give you much better signal than if you tried to go totally wireless.
3. How is your router? If you are still opting to go wireless than go with a wired connection, you will need to look closer at your router. Since gigabit internet is still new, not all routers will automatically have the ability to support it.

All of your wireless devices must use the WiFi standard 802.11ac in order to get the most out of your internet speeds. Older mobile devices will not support the ac standard, meaning they cannot be upgraded to use the new WiFi speeds. There is a risk you might need to replace your wireless devices in order to get the speeds you are hoping for.

4. Run a speed test. Running speed tests before you upgrade your internet can help you identify what your current speed is in order to compare it in the future. Seeing the difference can make you feel like the upgrade was everything that you hoped for.

But the speed tests also will show you if you are not getting the gigabit speeds that you signed up for. Knowing where you started out can help with the investigation into the cause of your slower speed. There are several online speed tests, such as https://speedof.me/, that you can run on all of your devices.

5. Update your operating systems and firmware. Since gigabit speeds are the most-recent speeds available, remember that your firmware and operating systems may not be prepared to handle it. If you are using a 2.4 GHz band, for example, you will not meet the new Wi-Fi standard. You would need to use a 5 GHz band.

 You should also look for any firmware updates that might be out there for your computer and mobile devices and then update them accordingly. If there are any updates that you have been putting off, the time to update them is now.

At last, gigabit internet speeds are becoming a reality for internet subscribers all over. Make sure that you are ready for it when it becomes available for you.

Image Source: BigStock.com (licensed)

Site Disclaimer 

The Content in this post and on this site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained on our Site constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by HII or any third party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.

Nothing in this post or on this site constitutes professional and/or financial advice. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content in this post or on this site. 

You recognize that when making investments, an investor may get back less than the amount invested. Information on past performance, where given, is not necessarily a guide to future performance.