Understanding the Role of WiFi in Smart Homes

In smart homes, WiFi can be used by all sorts of devices, like smart plugs, smart motion sensors, and thermostats to be controlled remotely and connect with other smart home systems to run automations. However, not all smart devices use WiFi, some use WiFi indirectly and some don’t use WiFi at all.

Wireless Does NOT Necessarily Mean WiFi

WiFi is a very popular wireless technology used in many homes and businesses to connect computers, printer, smart phones to a network and by extension to the internet. However it is one of several wireless communication technologies used in smart homes. 

Other Wireless Tech used by Smart Home Devices:

• Zigbee: Low power, mesh networking protocol ideal for battery powered devices like smart lights and sensors.
• LoRa: Long range, low power protocol suitable for smart devices spread over large areas.
• Bluetooth: Often used for short range communication between devices.

Each protocol has its strengths, and the choice depends on factors like wireless signal range, power consumption, and data requirements.

Benefits of Smart Devices that Connect Directly to WiFi

• Direct Internet Access: Devices can communicate directly with cloud services for updates and remote control.
• Ease of Setup: Most homes already have Wi-Fi, making it straightforward to add new devices.
• High Data Throughput: Suitable for devices that require significant bandwidth, like security cameras.

WiFi Frequency Bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

WiFi operates primarily on two frequency bands:

• 2.4 GHz: Offers broader coverage and better penetration through walls, making it ideal for devices spread throughout the home and garden. Most smart home devices use this WiFi band due to its range and compatibility.
• 5 GHz: Provides faster speeds but has a shorter range. It’s more suitable for high bandwidth activities like streaming on devices close to the router.

Why Most Smart Devices Use 2.4 GHz

The 2.4 GHz band is favoured for smart home devices because:

• Extended Range: It covers a larger area, ensuring devices remain connected even at a distance.
• Better Obstacle Penetration: More effective at passing through walls and other obstructions.
• Compatibility: Universally supported by nearly all WiFi routers and devices.

Connect Smart Devices to a Guest Wi-Fi Network

It’s advisable to connect smart devices to a separate guest WiFi network.

The reasons for doing this are:

• Enhances Security: Isolates smart devices from your main network, reducing the risk of unauthorised access.
• Segregation: Keeps smart device traffic separate from personal devices, like computers, tablets, phones etc
• Simplifies Management: Makes it easier to monitor and control smart devices without affecting other network activities.

Smart Hubs and Gateways

Some smart devices use special smart home wireless technologies like Zigbee or LoRa, which require a central hub or gateway to connect to your WiFi network. These hubs act as intermediaries, allowing non WiFi devices to communicate with your router and, by extension, the internet.

Smart Hubs \ Gateways:

• Facilitate Communication: Enable devices using different protocols to work together.
• Centralise Control: Allow you to manage multiple devices from a single app or interface.
• Enhance Reliability: Often use mesh networking to maintain strong connections among many devices.
• Internet Access: Smart hubs connect by WiFi to a router, which enables smart devices connected to the hub \ gateway internet access

Tips for Smart Home WiFi

• Regularly Update Firmware: Keep your WiFi router, smart hub \ gateway and devices updated for security and performance.
• Secure Your Network: Use strong WiFi passwords and encryption to protect against unauthorised access.

Conclusion

WiFi is not the only wireless technology used by smart home devices. Some smart home devices connect directly to WiFi, other devices connect to WiFi via a hub or gateway to gain local network and internet access.

WiFi is rarely used with battery powered smart devices because it requires quite a bit of power to work. The power hungry nature of WiFi is one of the main reasons other wireless technologies were created specially for smart homes.