As a communication protocol, Wi-Fi dominates the modern home automation space. Other wireless protocols exist – like Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Z-Wave – but Wi-Fi is to home automation what Google is to search. That begs the question of whether an old router can impact home automation performance.
In a word, yes. Every router impacts home automation performance to some degree. The older the router, the more likely its impact will be negative. Personally, I would not use one that was more than five or six years old.
It’s the Connection Point
A router acts as the connection point for all a home’s smart devices. But that’s not all. Desktop computers, laptops, cell phones, and even streaming devices all connect to a router via Wi-Fi. Therein lies the first challenge of building a home automation system on top of a Wi-Fi network.
Wi-Fi utilizes radio signals at either 2.4 or 5 GHz. Although that is not normally a problem, routers do offer limited bandwidth. Every device on the same Wi-Fi network requires some of that bandwidth. So the more crowded a network gets, the more its performance lags.
Some people with dual band routers (both 2.4 and 5 GHz options) utilize one of the bands for daily traffic and the other exclusively for their home automation systems. It is not a bad idea. But what if your router is so old that it doesn’t offer both bands? It’s probably not the best choice for a home automation system.
Symptoms of a Router That’s Too Old
If you were concerned that your router is too old to support a modern home automation system, it’s easy enough to test. Make sure all the devices in your home are connected simultaneously. Then use your phone or a laptop computer to tax the network, by streaming a video for example.
Here are the symptoms to look for:
- Buffering or poor video quality.
- Slow speeds when multiple devices are trying to work.
- Dropped connections for devices farther away from the router.
- Low resolution wireless cameras images.
- Increased latency when downloading.
- Devices competing for bandwidth.
You are basically looking for degraded network performance. The harder your router needs to work to accommodate all your devices, the more likely that it’s not up to the task of handling a home automation system in addition to regular traffic.
Potential Solutions to the Problem
What if you determine that your router is not capable of handling a home automation system? The starting point is to check with your home automation provider. A company like Vivint Home Security should be able to recommend the best solutions. If you’re running a DIY system, consider two possibilities:
- Router Replacement – The most obvious choice is to replace your current router. Upgrade to a modern Wi-Fi 6 or 6E model. Today’s routers can manage a lot more traffic. They are also faster and more reliable.
- Second Router – The second option is to use a second router that is dedicated only to your home automation system. That’s what I have done in my own home. However, it takes a little technical knowhow.
The second router needs to be connected to your primary router in order to have internet access. But it also needs to be configured to prevent unauthorized inbound traffic. If you don’t have the tech skills to set up a second router, buying a replacement is probably a better idea.
As the connection point, a router impacts home automation performance. If it is not up to the task, the home automation system isn’t going to perform as well as it should.
