Streaming entertainment is more convenient than juggling Blu-ray and DVD discs, but it demands a fast pipe to your internet service provider, or ISP. For instance, Netflix recommends download speeds of at least 3Mbps for the best video quality, while Apple suggests 8Mbps for streaming 1080p content from iTunes. In most of the country, getting these broadband speeds means signing up for one of two kinds of internet connection: DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or cable.
DSL comes into your house over a standard telephone line, offering top download speeds of up to 40Mbps. Cable arrives over the same coaxial cable that delivers cable TV, and boasts speeds up to 100Mbps. In both cases, those impressive numbers are purely theoretical. Real-world performance will fluctuate depending on where you are and when you stream. DSL slows down the farther your house is from a telephone hub, and cable's speed varies depending on how many of your neighbors are online simultaneously. But depending on where you live, you may not have a choice about which service is available, and generally both deliver the performance you need to watch streaming video comfortably. Just be sure to get the best plan you can afford. Most ISPs offer multiple broadband plans, and the more you pay, the faster your internet will be.
With the right connection to your ISP, you'll need the right router to distribute it to the devices in your Local Area Network, or LAN. If you already have an older 802.11g Wi-Fi router, it's time to upgrade to one with 802.11n, the fastest spec available. For the best performance and wireless range, look for a dual-band router that lets devices operate simultaneously on the 2.4GHz and faster 5GHz wireless bands. And handy as Wi-Fi is, consider getting a router with Gigabit (aka 1000Base-T) Ethernet built-in. These wired ports can deliver data directly to an Apple TV or Roku box much faster than Wi-Fi, freeing your LAN's wireless network for the devices that really need it, like iPads and iPhones. Apple's Airport Extreme ($179, apple.com/airportextreme) fits the bill nicely, but many other options are available.
Once you have a new router, don't let spotty Wi-Fi ruin movie night. To avoid interference, position the router away from things like microwave ovens, cordless phones, or brick walls. Software and firmware updates will fix bugs and improve features, so be sure your router's software is up to date. If you're still having problems, or if you have a large area to blanket with Wi-Fi, extend your wireless network by combining multiple routers. You can do this wirelessly, but to ensure the best speeds and the strongest possible signal, connect each router with Gigabit Ethernet instead.
allon
June 13, 2012 at 9:49pm
Comcast and other internet providers have monthly download caps - go over these and you can be banned from using their services for some time. Paying more money for consumer plans from Comcast does not raise the cap. Comcast business plans, which are more available than one may think, do not have a cap. They are somewhat more expensive - but the lack of the cap is worth it for those who watch media online and do online gaming - basically using the internet the way we are being encouraged to by retailers and internet providers.
Addendum: I just read that Comcast is going to be testing various tiered approaches for data download limits. Some of these approaches reward more expensive plans with higher caps - Yet, unlike their business plans, there will still be caps.
