There’s a battle going on for control of your home. It’s not just for control of smart devices like the Google Home or Amazon Echo. It’s for everything in your home that’s related to technology.
Arguably the most important battle is over your Wi-Fi network. While wireless routers have stayed relatively unchanged for the past decade, we are quickly seeing rapid development in mesh network technology. Google even entered the mix this year but still has people waiting on its waitlist for the next generation networking hardware.
It makes a whole lot of sense to fight for our networks. We rely more now on our Wi-Fi than ever. We watch videos on Netflix, Youtube, Hulu. We stream endless hours of music to our computers, tablets, smartphones and wireless speakers. Smart home products like the Nest, Google Home, Amazon Echo, and security cameras all rely on a powerful Wi-Fi signal.
When using the internet at home, there’s nothing worse than a dead spot, or laggy speeds when you move further away from your router.
Wi-Fi problems are more noticeable now because of our heavy dependance on the internet. Decade old technology just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Walls, electrical signals, competing networks, microwaves, and a wide variety of things can slow your internet down. Consumers have attempted to solve their networking problems with extenders or repeaters, but most have found those to be nothing short of inadequate.
That’s where AmpliFi aims to solve your Wi-Fi problems.
How does AmpliFi work?
AmpliFi uses enterprise networking technology for the home. It uses multiple radios and access points to amplify your wireless signal.
Basically plug in the AmpliFi wireless router into your existing modem, and then connect mesh points around your home to create a network as large as you like.
You no longer need to be an IT expert in home networking with next generation Wi-Fi technology. AmpliFi has an app in the Apple App Store for iOS devices and an Android app in the Google Play Store.
It walks you through the entire setup. Novices can set up this network in no more than five minutes. That’s if they’re slow. I’m a novice and it literally took me three minutes.
Once the main router is setup, you simply plug in the two piece boosters into any standard wall outlets. Depending on how many you purchase will determine the size of your mesh network. The three piece system I have is designed to work on home up to 20000 square feet. My home isn’t that big even in my dreams!
What’s nice about the boosters are the two-piece magnetic construction. You can point them in any direction based on your plug.
It creates on heck of a reliable and fast network
I used the AmpliFI HD (high-density) system for over a month and absolutely loved it. Admittedly it was a bit of overkill for my 1500 square foot town home, but every single room had 100mbps download which is what I would get if I sat within 10 feet of the original modem. My place has cement walls which really make my wireless a challenge to use in places like my bedroom which is the furthest room from the base station.
I would frequently get Netflix buffering or skipping and dropping on my Wi-Fi speakers in my office and bedroom in the past. The AmpliFi HD home system fixed all of those problems.
I also take my dog outside several times a day and can walk up to 50 yards away while still maintaing a usable Wi-Fi signal. Normally without the AmpliFi HD, I could walk maybe one tenth of that distance and lose signal.
It’s ridiculously easy to use
The days of needing to know your IP address or crazy password provided by your internet company are over with next generation systems. Through the app is where you set up your password, monitor the mesh points, and even control the devices that are connected. You can pause the internet on your entire home. It shows every single device connected to your network so you can keep track of your internet security. The last thing you want is a rogue device that is attempting to break into your personal files.
You can create a separate network for guests too. That way you can limit what they have access to in your home. Turning the guest network on and off literally takes seconds. You also have the ability to set the guest network to shut off after a predetermined time.
I have an embarrassing amount of devices connected to my network at peak times. I have an Android TV, several laptops, five Wi-Fi high-definition speakers, three Google Homes, three Amazon Dots and one Echo, too many smartphones to count, and several tablets. With AmpliFi I never once experienced slow internet except for the time that Time Warner went down.
I opened the AmpliFi app and it showed I had no internet connection. To verify there wasn’t a problem with my home network, I called Time Warner and they confirmed that a switch went down a block away from me.
Once it was back on, my network came right back on.
The AmpliFi next generation Wi-Fi solution also updates itself with new firmware and software. It’s a great solution for those who are looking to get the most out of their internet.
It’s a great investment
The AmpliFi HD system I tested is designed for homes over 20000 square feet. You certainly don’t need that much horsepower if you live in a home as small as mine. If you ever plan on moving or expanding your home, you can rest easy knowing that the AmpliFi starter system can be expanded at anytime and it is listed at $149.99. All you need to purchase is an additional router to expand your mesh network.
The wireless router even has a gorgeous look to it that will fit anywhere in your home. It has a touch screen that offers real-time status, and even offers a clock.
The HD system isn’t cheap at $349.99 but it is an investment in your home, but it’s one of the best you can make. Wireless internet is almost as essential as electricity these days.
You can order the AmpliFi HD at Amazon for $349.99 or at www.amplifi.com.
Product description:
- Wi-Fi Mesh Technology for Complete Home Coverage
- Plug and Play High-Density Mesh Points to Eliminate Dead Spots
- Dual-Band 802.11ac Wi-Fi System Delivers Up to 5.25 Gbps Aggregate Speed
- Convenient Smart-Touch Display for Real-Time Status
- Easy Setup and Powerful Wi-Fi Management using the AmpliFi App
- Secure WPA2-PSK AES/TKIP Wi-Fi Encryption; (5) Gigabit Ethernet Ports (1 WAN and 4 LAN)
- System Includes: AmpliFi Router HD, (2) AmpliFi Mesh Points HD, Ethernet Cable, Power Adapter, Quick Start Guide
