Smart Lights and Home Automation This Festive Season: Will Your Wi-Fi Cope?

Smart lights have become a festive favourite. With an app you can change colours, set timers for the balcony and create light shows for celebrations. Add smart plugs, cameras and speakers, and many homes now have more connected devices than people. Each one relies on your Wi-Fi.

Why smart devices strain Wi-Fi

Smart bulbs and plugs use little bandwidth, but each needs a connection slot on your router. Older routers can struggle when the device count climbs above thirty or forty, causing devices to drop off or respond slowly.

Most smart devices use 2.4 GHz

Many smart home gadgets only support the 2.4 GHz band, which travels further through walls but is more crowded. Make sure your router's 2.4 GHz network is enabled and has a clear channel.

Coverage on balconies and terraces

Outdoor lights are often at the edge of Wi-Fi coverage. A mesh node or access point near the balcony keeps them responsive.

Use a separate network for gadgets

Many routers let you create an IoT or guest network. Putting smart devices there keeps them away from laptops and phones that hold personal data.

Secure every device

Change default passwords, update apps and firmware, and only buy devices from brands that release security updates.

Schedules and automations

Set schedules in the app instead of relying on constant manual control. Automations still work even when you are away from home, as long as Wi-Fi is stable.

When to upgrade the router

If devices frequently go offline or your router is more than four or five years old, a modern Wi-Fi 6 router handles many more devices efficiently.

The bottom line

A strong, modern Wi-Fi network makes smart lighting and home automation reliable. UbiFi Purple Plus+ plans include Wi-Fi designed for connected homes.

Learn more about UbiFi Purple+ from UbiFi, or talk to our team.