Top Mistakes People Make When Setting Up Internet at a New Place

Moving is an exciting time, but it also carries plenty of stress. It may be a fresh start, but it takes plenty of hard work to get there. The last thing you want is to get settled into your new place and discover your internet doesn’t work.  We always encourage our customers to make sure that their internet transition is as seamless as possible. Fortunately, avoiding common internet setup mistakes is pretty easy to do. Read on to learn how to make moving your internet simple and predictable. Questions? Please contact us, and we will be happy to help. 

Not Checking Provider Availability First 

This is one of the most common internet setup mistakes. Not all providers service every area. For example, we only offer service in certain areas.  Where is WOW! Internet available? The WOW! service area includes Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. You can check to see if WOW! Internet service is available in your area by using our serviceability tool. Assuming that the service you want is available where you are moving can put you in a difficult position. You can arrive at your new home, try to transfer your service, and discover it’s not an option. That can leave you scrambling to find a new service as fast as possible.  Always verify ahead of time whether you can get the service you want where you are going. That way, you have plenty of time to find an alternative if you need to. 

Choosing the Wrong Internet Plan for Your Needs 

Many people underestimate the bandwidth requirements in their new home. More devices, remote work, and streaming can all strain a basic internet plan. It’s best to choose a plan that can meet all of your needs from the start. That way, you can avoid the frustration and budget changes necessary to upgrade your plan.  The bigger your home, the more robust your internet plan typically needs to be. The strength of your WiFi signal will tend to decrease as you move further from the router and encounter obstacles. A device on the second floor in the far corner of the home is going to experience slower speeds than one right next to the router due to physical obstructions and other interference.  Do you need a WiFi extender if moving to a larger house? If you complete your home internet installation and discover that you don’t have WiFi in part of your home, you may need an extender or a mesh network. Learn more about Whole-Home Wifi options through WOW!.

Poor Router Placement From Day One 

Every respectable guide on how to set up the internet will tell you to make sure you place your router correctly. Otherwise, it won’t perform as well as it should. That can lead to weak signal and even dead zones in your new home.  What is the best place to put a router? Place it in a central location in your home. Keep it off the floor, like on a table, and try to keep it away from thick walls and other physical obstructions. You don’t want to stuff it away in a closet or the basement because the rest of the home will struggle to get a strong signal.  Appliances can also generate interference, like your microwave. Keep the router away from appliances to avoid this interference. 

Forgetting to Secure the Network 

Our self-installation guides always advise customers to secure their networks. We stress this point so much because leaving WiFi unsecured or using weak passwords can lead to extremely poor performance, or even worse, to the theft of your sensitive data.  When you don’t secure your network or use a password that’s easy to guess, you leave yourself open to bad actors. One problem with an unsecured network is that someone like your neighbor can use your signal for their own internet needs. They could constantly download big files or, more likely, stream video regularly. That leaves you with a lot less bandwidth to use the service you are paying for.  A situation even more concerning is one where cybercriminals identify the weaknesses in your security and hack into your system. They could steal sensitive data, including your identity and financial information. These types of crimes can cause both financial loss and complications that can take years to resolve.  Make sure to use a complex password and to enable WPA2 or WPA3 encryption when securing your network. These are a necessity. 

Concluding Your Move: Building A Strong Internet Foundation 

You have a lot to look forward to after your move. It’s best to start strong by setting up your internet for success. Be aware of the common issues listed above and take the appropriate steps to address them now so you can enjoy a seamless transition later. 

Remember, we are here to answer all your questions about how to set up the internet and WiFi. Our internet and WiFi experts are always just a phone call away. 

Get everything you need for a fast and reliable internet connection the day you move with WOW!