Why it's Worth Upgrading your Home Internet

Mary
Authored by Mary
Posted: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - 14:49

To many of us, the old adage of 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' is one we hold dearly. In the age of overconsumption and excess waste, it's also an idea that often makes a lot of environmental sense. There are times, however, where refusing to change can end up costing more than its worth. A common way we see this issue appear is with home internet connections. We might be content to sit with a plan we've had for years, but this can introduce more problems than we know. Using online casinos as a simple example, we want to explore what making an upgrade could mean for you.

The Online Casino Example

Modern online casinos like https://games.paddypower.com/ are generally considered among the least demanding forms of online entertainment in terms of internet usage. Whether playing a slot like Big Fishing or a live title like Quantum Roulette, users are unlikely to experience much waiting around, even on an older 3G connection. This might make us assume that playing on a home network would also be as smooth, but this isn't always the case.

If you have an older internet connection, then chances are you're using an older router. The problem with these routers is that they tend to operate on slower connections than their modern counterparts. Not only will this mean a generally lower connection speed, but it can also mean that the range of the Wi-Fi is much lower than with a modern system. Even for online casino games, this could make playing in certain parts of the house unresponsive, an issue which a new router, which often comes with newer connections, can fix. Factor in how electronic hardware degrades over time, as explored at https://www.analog.com/, and the use of upgrades becomes all the more undeniable.

The other side of the casino equation comes from the rising demands put on older connections by newer hardware like TVs, consoles, and computers. Over time, hardware and software developers adjust their systems to rising average internet speeds. If users fail to keep pace with this speed, then they risk being left behind. Five years ago, for example, you might have been able to play online casino games just fine with two people in your house streaming. As the demands of streaming increase, the higher demand on a connection could eventually make even low-data use systems like casino games struggle.

The ISP Price Problem

Rounding out the list of reasons to change your connection is how internet service providers manage their pricing plans. Over time, as local and national infrastructure improves, the cost of providing internet falls. This means that ISPs release new plans, which are often much faster, at lower costs. The problem here is that these ISPs don't usually inform existing customers, as they prefer to let their customers continue to pay higher costs for lesser services. In this way, updating to a new plan can massively increase speeds, with the same or even substantially lower monthly costs.

"Savings" (CC BY 2.0) by Got Credit

Making any technological change can be intimidating, but changing your home internet plan isn't as complicated as it might seem. For better streaming, less waiting around, and the potential for lower monthly costs, consider taking a look at what new services local ISPs offer. For more help, check out https://www.consumerreports.org/ for a way forward, and good luck.

Share this