Summer is here! With the kids home from school, your household internet is probably working overtime. Between streaming movies, video gaming, video calls, and endless YouTube marathons, it’s no surprise that many families experience slower WiFi speeds during the summer months.
If you’ve noticed more buffering, dropped connections, or laggy streams lately, you’re not alone. According to Nielsen Ratings, streaming TV alone broke all time records in the summer of 2024, and the trend isn’t slowing down. Luckily, with a few smart strategies (and the help of Smart WiFi from Ritter Communications) you can avoid slow WiFi this summer and keep the whole household happily connected.
Why Does Your WiFi Slow Down in the Summer?
It’s not your imagination: summer internet slowdowns are a real thing. The main culprit? Increased device usage.
With more people at home during the day, multiple devices are likely competing for bandwidth at the same time. Streaming a 4K movie in one room, while someone else plays online games, and others are on FaceTime or attending remote work meetings: it all adds up.
Plus, environmental factors like higher temperatures can impact older routers and networking equipment, making them less efficient.
Streaming Hack #1: Optimize Your Home Network for Multiple Devices
The best way to avoid slow WiFi during summer is to optimize your network for multiple devices. That’s where Smart WiFi comes in.
Unlike traditional routers that broadcast the same signal across your home, Smart WiFi adapts in real time. It automatically prioritizes bandwidth to the devices and activities that need it most, whether that’s your smart TV streaming Netflix, your laptop on a Zoom call, or your kids playing online games.
Plus, with the Plume Home app, you get full visibility into your network. Want to make sure your TV gets priority over background devices? You can adjust settings right from your phone.
Streaming Hack #2: Improve Streaming Quality with Adaptive WiFi Technology
One of the biggest frustrations during family movie night is buffering. With Smart WiFi, that becomes a thing of the past.
Smart WiFi uses adaptive network technology that learns from your household’s usage patterns. It automatically shifts capacity and optimizes your connection to reduce lag and buffering during peak times.
If certain areas of your home struggle with weak signals, SmartPods (small, discreet WiFi extenders) can eliminate dead zones and ensure fast internet in every room.
Compared to basic, non-adaptive routers, Smart WiFi delivers a more consistent, high-quality streaming experience across your entire home.
Streaming Hack #3: Take Advantage of Smart Network Features
Another way to avoid summer slowdowns? Manage your bandwidth actively.
With the Plume Home app, you can:
- Identify which devices are using the most data
- Pause connections for non-essential devices during family movie time
- Schedule usage for devices like tablets and gaming consoles
- Apply parental controls to manage screen time for kids
If your internet seems to lag during big downloads or software updates, you can also adjust usage patterns to keep streaming smooth and uninterrupted. Internet speeds are generally fastest late at night or early in the morning, so consider scheduling downloads or updates within those times.
Bonus Tip: Get the Best WiFi for Streaming Before Your Next Movie Night
If your family’s streaming habits are growing faster than your current internet can handle, it might be time for a WiFi upgrade.
Smart WiFi from Ritter Communications is included with every internet package, giving you:
- Adaptive, self-optimizing coverage
- Easy network control with the Plume Homeâ„¢ app
- Options to expand coverage with SmartPods
Don’t Let Buffering Ruin Your Summer
With a few smart streaming hacks and the power of Smart WiFi, your household can enjoy fast, reliable internet all summer long, without the frustration of slowdowns or interruptions.
Ready to upgrade? Use our Availability Checker tool to see if Smart WiFi is available in your area.
