Almost all the Smart Home devices I looked at relied on good WiFi to connect and work well. I was already having some challenges in parts of the house that were farthest from the wireless router, so I knew I would have to start with this.
I had tried several brands of repeaters before without success. I currently have Xfinity/Comcast as my provider and I'm using their router, so I started by asking them. They have an add-on feature called 'XFi" that extends your WiFi range, but it wasn't available in my area. I asked to go on the waiting list and held off on my Smart Home work. You may have a different router or configuration - I recommend you start with some research on your own. Look for options that are popular and rated highly.
Once xFi was available, I talked to a tech from xFinity first that specialized in xFi and he convinced me it was the way to go. xFi comes in packs of three - each device is the same and couldn't be easier to set up than plug it in, fire up the app and after few taps, all is good. Now, how to determine when each one would go? The router was in the basement and coverage was good there, so that was out. The main floor was OK, but the upstairs was really where coverage was needed. I decided to put one on the main floor near the TV (which relied on WiFi for streaming) and the other two upstairs near the bedrooms, one on either side of the house. I used a free WiFi signal strength app on my phone to measure the signal as I walked around the house. I also used the SpeedTest website to test (A long-time favorite of mine).
I also walked outside around the house and measured the performance, especially on the back patio. Internet everywhere! Ready for the next step...
Part 3: Pick a Voice Assistant...
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