Remote employees need to be able to work efficiently from home. Therefore, it is extremely important that you have an excellent internet service setup. It should be one that is fast, reliable, and easy to put together. In this article, we are going to give you some tips on how to set up your internet service so that you can work remotely with ease.
1. Understand the Internet Speed Requirements of Your Job
Before you begin setting up your internet service, you will first need to understand the speed requirements of the job you are going to do. For example, will your remote online job require conference calling over video all day? If so, you will likely need a higher speed connection and reliability.
On the other hand, if you are just doing writing and web browsing online while working remotely, you will not require an internet connection that has blazing-fast speeds. The right router brand can make a big difference when it comes to connection reliability as well.
Your employer should be able to give you an idea of the upload and download speed capabilities that you will need to perform your job adequately online. If they cannot, that’s okay. You can figure out what kind of work you are doing and search Google to get an idea of the speed requirements necessary to do your job efficiently.
2. Are You Sharing Your Internet Connection?
The next thing you need to think about is how sharing your internet connection may affect your internet speed while working remotely. For example, if you have other family members using Chromecast or Roku on televisions in the family room while you are working in your bedroom, how does their video usage while playing Netflix affect the internet speeds in your bedroom? If you rely heavily on video connections to have video conference calls online while working remotely, this may be a problem. You can use websites like Speedtest.net to test your internet speed while your family members are playing Netflix videos to get an idea on the real impact of their usage.
3. Evaluate Your Internet Service Provider Options
The next thing you will want to do is to check what Internet service provider options you have in your area. You may have cable Internet service providers, mobile Internet service provider options, fiber optic internet service provider options, and more.
You will want to check out their upload speeds, download speeds, and package options. You will also want to evaluate their pricing.
Many times, companies will offer better pricing for faster speeds, giving you “more bang for your buck.” You will often pay a lower effective rate for packages with higher speeds. This means that the base plan will be less expensive. However, the higher-tier plans often have exponentially faster speeds at rates that are not always much higher than the base plan’s cost.
Also, keep in mind whether or not an internet service provider requires you to sign a contract agreement. If you plan to relocate, this may be a hassle. Many internet service providers allow you to break the contract legally if you move outside of their service radius. However, you need to confirm that before signing the contract. You will also want to figure out what proof they will require if you break the contract under a specific clause that allows you to do so legally.
The right router brand can make a big difference when it comes to connection reliability as well.
4. Check the Reviews for Your Possible Internet Service Providers
You will want to check the reviews next when considering your Internet service provider. You can just do a Google search for your internet service provider’s name and the word “review.” Read the reviews carefully so you can weed out the fake reviews along with customers who just have baseless complaints
This allows you to get an accurate depiction of their internet service reliability and customer service, and how their service performs
5. Decide on Wired Connections vs. Wi-Fi
If you believe that you will use a Wi-Fi connection, you will want to select a reliable Wi-Fi router that can handle the speeds you have purchased with your internet service provider’s particular package. Often, there are performance issues due to faulty wireless routers. You can also check out the reviews for wireless routers, or just opt for a wired ethernet connection. This often leads to greater reliability, a more stable connection, and faster speeds. Choosing the best router for internet speed requirements specific to your situation is an important consideration when setting up your internet service.
