How to set up your internet in a new home

Moving to a new house? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to
set up an internet connection for your home.

This article will walk you through setting up internet in your new house to stay connected with reliable internet.

Before setting up an internet connection in your new home, it’s critical to understand your specific internet requirements and determine what internet speed you need.

The types of activities you engage in online determine what internet speed you should choose. These activities include:

• Web browsing
• Streaming HD and 4K videos
• Online gaming
• Working from home

You may need to connect multiple devices, such as phones, laptops, smart TVs, and IoT (Internet of Things) devices, to your home’s internet network. These devices require more internet bandwidth for simultaneous connections.

An internet moving checklist from a trusted provider can ensure a successful internet setup in your new home. Find a checklist with internet setup, payment options and account alert information.

You need the following to set up WiFi in your house:

• An Internet Service Provider (ISP). Find one that provides reliable internet service in your area.
• A modem and router. The modem connects the internet from the ISP to your home, while the router creates a wireless connection to your devices. Make sure to purchase a router or modem that fits your home WiFi needs.
• Ethernet cables. Cables connect your router to the modem and can be used to wire the router’s connection directly into your desktop or gaming rig.
• WiFi devices. You’ll need cell phones, laptops or smart home devices to test, verify and connect to your WiFi network.

Some things to consider when selecting an Internet Service Provider are:

Some homes are on the outskirts of urban regions or in rural areas. Confirm coverage and locally available services with your ISP. If necessary, check your ISP’s service area and look into running a new line to your home.

ISPs offer rates that vary depending on the type of service you receive and your location. Determine your budget and compare different internet plans to find affordable WiFi. Talk to your ISP about deals and promotions for the cheapest way to get WiFi in your house.

Pay attention to the internet plan’s contract length and terms. Long-term agreements may prevent you from changing providers without a fee, whereas short-term contracts or monthly agreements may not.

When setting up internet in your house, it’s essential to understand your needs. Most activities like online gaming, downloading large files and streaming videos require Gigabit internet speeds.

Different types of internet connections impact the speed, reliability, and performance of the internet service. Take a look at some of the most popular internet connections below.

• Fiber-optic: Incredible speeds and reliability, generally limited to urban areas.
• Cable: Good blend of speed and affordability, widely available.
• DSL: Slower speeds and relies on telephone lines for transmission, but widely available.
• Satellite: High latency and slow speeds, but available in most remote locations.

The ISP you choose should be able to provide immediate and effective customer support 24/7 if your internet connection is disrupted. They should also include self-help resources, such as online tutorials and FAQs, to help you resolve common issues without contacting them directly.

If you’ve purchased equipment from a previous ISP, make sure to check if the equipment is compatible with the new ISP or purchase new equipment.

Larger homes with multiple devices connected to WiFi need greater coverage. A mesh WiFi system such as eero can be a practical alternative if your home’s WiFi router does not reach dead zones or you experience downtime. Multiple beacons combine to create a single WiFi network that can be expanded to cover the entire house.
 

A mesh WiFi system provides various advantages, such as:

• Quick installation
• Improved home internet coverage
• Seamless network roaming
• Easy to scale, just add more beacons around the house
• App-based network management
• Resistance to downtimes because devices in a mesh system immediately connect to the nearest beacon in case one of the beacons fails

Here are some issues you may encounter when setting up your WiFi and how to troubleshoot the problem:

• Establish that the router and modem are set up and connected to a power source by consulting the ISP’s internet self-install guide.
• Power cycle your modem.
• Check that your router’s WiFi icon is turned on and your devices are not in airplane mode.
• Confirm that your device is connected to the correct network.

• Connect a laptop to your router through an Ethernet cable and run a speed test to determine if there is an issue with your internet connection.
• Try adjusting your router’s admin settings to change the wireless channel. Other adjacent networks’ devices or your own devices could be clogging up the wireless channel you’re currently using.
• Perform a factory reset on your router by pressing the reset button and holding it down for 30 seconds.
• Move your router to a more central location in your house to improve signal distribution.
• Set up a mesh system.
• Identify household items or structural elements outside the home that could interfere with WiFi signals.

• Check whether you can connect another device to your home WiFi network, such as a phone or a laptop.
• Consider resetting the device’s wireless connection settings or “forgetting” the WiFi and reconnecting to the home network.

 
If your device’s WiFi connection still malfunctions, it may be due to malware or a virus.

You can stay connected in the short term while waiting for your WiFi installation to be completed in the following ways:

• Use a mobile hotspot on your cellphone’s mobile data plan to share data with your devices. Configure your phone’s hotspot settings to enable this connection.
• Use public WiFi at nearby restaurants, libraries, or coffee shops.

 
Learn more: WiFi and home networking

Setting up the internet in your new house requires a clear understanding of your needs and essential WiFi installation equipment.

Additionally, it’s important to understand what WiFi is and the role of a router in your new home.

Consider extra equipment that may improve the performance of your house’s WiFi, including mesh systems like eero.

Secure your WiFi with security measures to prevent unauthorized network access, and understand the steps necessary to troubleshoot any home WiFi issues.

Finally, if you don’t have internet access while waiting for your internet installation to be complete, know your options to get connected.

You can contact Astound Broadband for any assistance when you are experiencing problems with your WiFi. Our customer service agents are available 24/7 to ensure you get the best support and enjoy your services.