Most ecosystems now have a way for everyone in the household to create their own profile, and some assistants even track who in the household is talking for a more customized experience. You can also specify Whatever solution you choose, you'll need to demonstrate how to use it so your family, roommates, and guests feel comfortable understanding how it works.
Almost all smart home devices require a reliable Wi-Fi connection. All you need to know are the two most commonly used frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Most smart home devices operate on a 2.4 GHz frequency, but that frequency is starting to change. Although the range is longer, the 5 GHz frequency is faster.
A newer Wi-Fi protocol called Wi-Fi 6E supports 6 GHz and could be even faster (Wi-Fi 7 also uses the 6 GHz band). Wi-Fi 6E can handle more devices, consumes less power, and is more secure, but all gadgets, including mesh systems and routers, must support Wi-Fi 6E and its range is Even shorter than 5 GHz. There are more Wi-Fi 6E devices on the market, but they're primarily worth considering now for future preparation.
Congestion, where Wi-Fi signals interfere with each other, can be a problem, especially for people who live in apartments. Using an app he can see how busy a Wi-Fi channel is and switch to a different channel, but most routers handle this automatically. Another consideration is router limitations. Most modern routers theoretically support up to 250 devices, but performance can degrade long before the limit is reached.
Make sure to choose a suitable location for your router. Also, remember that there are many ways to speed up your Wi-Fi. If you're using a basic router or an older model from your Internet service provider (ISP), upgrading to a newer router could provide significant benefits. Larger properties and homes with Wi-Fi dead spots may benefit from a mesh system.
To stay safe, we recommend choosing a long password for Wi-Fi that includes a combination of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider connecting your smart home devices to a separate network (some router manufacturers have their IoT network options), and always set up a guest network that visitors can use (this is currently a standard router optional).
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or smart hub?
Certain smart home devices give you the option to connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or special smart hubs like Philips Hue light bulbs. Bluetooth is much slower and less reliable than Wi-Fi. While Wi-Fi may seem like the easiest solution, a dedicated smart hub can reduce congestion, improve stability, and make connected devices more responsive.
Hubs typically use another low-power, low-bandwidth, long-range technology to connect devices. Thread, Zigbee, LoRa, Z-Wave…the list of technologies goes on and on. Some hubs are special standalone devices, but it's becoming more common for manufacturers to integrate technology like his Thread into smart speakers, displays, routers, and other devices. The trade-off is that hubs require power and may require you to connect a free Ethernet port on your router.
Check smart home support
Some devices, like Sonos Beam, have Google Assistant and Alexa built-in, so you don't need a separate smart speaker.
Photo: Sonos
To find out if a smart home product will work in your chosen ecosystem, look for the logo on the box or webpage. At a minimum, you should check one of the following: