The summer television viewing season isn’t what it used to be.
Once known for endless reruns and launches of shows that studios deemed less likely to be successful, the world of streaming entertainment and the production houses it created are churning out phenomenal content you’ve just got to see.
The trouble is, lots of other people want to watch it too! And quite often, they’re streaming at the same time as you. And with kids out of school for the summer and many people heading indoors to escape the heat, internet usage increases during the dog days of summer. Unfortunately, along with the increased demand, streaming picture quality and overall reliability often decline, frequently turning what should be a relaxing evening into a frustrating experience.
And with new premieres coming this summer, like HBO Max’s House of the Dragon (the prequel to Game of Thrones) and the new season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, you can be sure that your neighbors (and maybe you too!) will be streaming away the second these shows hit screens.
So what can you do to prepare for all of this increased demand? Or are you doomed to suffer repeated buffering, pixelation, and loading errors during the summer slowdown?
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to improve your internet connection and performance, even during the summer’s high demand. And your friends at S&T are ready to help you learn more about high-speed internet and suggest adjustments like Mesh Wi-Fi extenders inside your home to improve your Wi-Fi’s range and overall streaming experience.
Below we suggest five tips to help you beat the summer slowdown so you and your family can enjoy a better streaming experience.
Tip #1: Upgrade to High-Speed Internet
The best thing you can do to improve your internet speed and connection is to upgrade to High-speed internet to handle the number of devices in your home. With higher speeds, your online experience will not be affected by the number of family members also online. It’s reasonable for you to enjoy the latest summer blockbuster while another family member is enjoying an action-filled online game and a third member is simultaneously downloading a new app onto their smartphone. With high-speed internet, everyone can utilize your internet connection without annoying service interruption.
Tip #2: Select the Bandwidth to Meet Your Family’s Needs
Choose the speed you need by talking with the customer support specialists at S&T about which level of broadband is best for you.
This will vary from household to household, and S&T’s experts can help you determine what will provide the proper amount of bandwidth. If you have multiple people in your home, choose a plan that offers enough bandwidth for the whole family to use it simultaneously. This tip will help keep the high-speed internet flowing into your home and devices and help keep the peace in your family!
Tip #3: Consider Whole-Home Coverage
You should consider whole-home Wi-Fi coverage now that you have a perfect internet plan. You can use Mesh Wi-Fi extenders to “extend” the Wi-Fi throughout your house—even in harder-to-reach rooms upstairs or on your back porch.
You may even get a strong enough Wi-Fi signal in your backyard for outdoor movie nights with the proper setup! Of course, the experts at S&T can also help you set up whole-home coverage, so be sure to reach out to our customer service specialists.
Tip #4: Optimize the Position of Your Wi-Fi Router
After you’ve set up your new bandwidth plan and whole-home coverage, make the most of your high-speed internet by optimizing the location of your Wi-Fi router in your home.
Remember that obstructions like too many walls and windows can interfere with and weaken the Wi-Fi signal and reduce streaming quality as it disperses through your home.
The simplest way to assess your Wi-Fi router’s placement is to run speed tests throughout your home (where your devices are most frequently used to stream). Speed tests let you experiment with your Wi-Fi router’s position—and making even minor adjustments, like elevating the router or separating it away from other electronic devices, can significantly improve streaming performance. And, of course, S&T‘s friendly technicians are always around to help you, so feel free to contact us!
Tip #5: Utilize Parental Controls
Finally, don’t forget about parental controls! This is much more than limiting or even policing content your kids may use. Parental controls let you prevent your children from using online devices during certain times of day or night, reducing their screen time (something all parents aim to do) and increasing the amount of bandwidth for you to enjoy!
Parental controls may be included in your service plan or as an add-on option for you as a managed Wi-Fi perk, so check out your package’s features or reach out to the customer service specialists at S&T.
By implementing these tips, you can significantly improve the picture quality and reliability of your streaming experience, even with the increased internet demand and higher usage of the summer. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a summer of streaming!
