Technology is constantly improving and evolving to help make life that little bit easier- from the ever popular robot vacuum to help with the housework to the smart thermostat to heat your home or office as efficiently as possible, smart tech has slipped seamlessly into our everyday lives and we now rely on it to help keep up with our daily demands, keep our homes and businesses safe and secure and help us save money on our heating and energy bills.

If you find smart tech a bit overwhelming and you’re not sure what you actually need or how to install it into your home then read on for our top recommendations and what’s more if you need help we can even install them for you!

What is a smart device?
​In simple terms, a smart device is basically a product that you use in your home or office, such as a smart doorbell, that is connected to the internet in order to give it increased functionality. Smart devices can be linked to a central hub (such as a smart speaker or an app on a phone) and can be accessed and controlled remotely.

If you connect to your broadband using WiFi and you have a smartphone or smart speaker then you’re already on the right path to a smart home or office

Smart Lighting
Smart lighting solutions such as smart switches and smart bulbs are a great way to remotely control the lights on your home or office. You can set up timers and even programme them to come on at dusk.

Smart bulbs have added functionality such as coloured lighting options  and have the added bonus of being easy to set up and use with no fiddly wiring required.
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Smart bulbs are ideal for lamps and other easy to access lights.

Smart switches can be used to remotely control appliances other than lighting but may be more complicated to fit to your home if you're not confident dealing with electrics. Smart switches are great for hard to reach lighting such as outside lights.

Smart Thermostat
Connect your heating to the internet with a smart thermostat to control when the heating comes on, the temperature it’s set at and even instruct it to come on when you’re away so that it's the right temperature when you get back to the property.

‘Geofencing’ lets you set up a virtual boundary within a real location. The software or app can then detect when a mobile device is in or out of the area and control the heating to either come on or switch off accordingly.

Smart thermostats are relatively easy to install and set up

Smart Doorbell
A video doorbell is a great addition to your property, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to ‘answer’ the door without physically having to be there. Wired and non-wired options are available with battery operated doorbells making it simple to install a smart doorbell even if there was no doorbell previously.

Monitor and accept deliveries via the app when you are unable to answer the door.

Motion sensors let you know when someone is there even if they don’t ring the doorbell.

Smart Security Camera
Making sure your home or office is secure is easy to do with a smart security camera. Simple to install and set up, you’ll be able to make sure everything is as it should be even when you're away on holiday.

Record and save high quality video when motion is detected

Notify you when motion is detected so you can see what’s happening in real-time.

Smart Pet Camera
If you want to know what your pet gets up to while you’re out of the house then a smart pet camera is just the thing you need!

There are lots of choices out there depending on your needs and of course you could always use a normal indoor security camera if you only want basic video monitoring. Some pet specific cameras like the The Pet Cube Lite 2 have the capability to connect with a vet if you need advice and let you feed your pet treats remotely!

Give you peace of mind your pet is safe and secure while you’re away from your home

Keep your pet entertained with interactive toys and treat dispensing

To get the most out of smart devices requires a decent broadband connection and/or WiFi set up and up to date antivirus protection is a must.

Don’t hesitate to contact Ben for any help and advice with your broadband or WiFi or if you want assistance installing smart devices into your home or office.

We’ve come a long way since the days of dial up internet and the associated time it took for - well, anything to happen really. If you don’t remember those days, then you should count yourself lucky.

Using the internet was often interrupted by someone (usually your mum or dad) trying to make a phone call or generally just slow and irritating.
Then broadband came along and changed life as we know it.


Suddenly you could access the internet at the touch of a button, no annoying dial up tone and everything was super-fast. That’s not to say it always runs smoothly, in fact more and more of us are dealing with slow broadband connection speeds daily. With our reliance on the internet for pretty much everything these days, it’s more than a little irritating if your broadband connection is running a bit under par.

But don’t panic just yet, there are a few tricks and tips you can try to help get the most out of your broadband:

Run a Speed Test
If you think your broadband is running much slower than the provider has guaranteed, then you should run a speed test. There are lots of online speed test tools, Thinkbroadband.com gives comprehensive results which you can then use when you contact your provider. You need to check your broadband speed through a wired connection first and then check through the Wi-Fi - if the speed is slow through both methods you need to contact your provider. If the speed is ok through the wired connection but slow with Wi-Fi, then you have a problem with your router.
 
Contact Your ISP
They should be able to help you work out what the cause could be.
 
Slow Wi-Fi
If you connect to your broadband using Wi-Fi, then there are a couple of things you can try to improve the speed such as moving your router:

• Avoid metal objects and appliances that send out electromagnetic waves (metal is one of the biggest Wi-Fi signal disruptors) and keep it off the floor and as far away as possible from appliances such as tumble dryers, washing machines, microwaves and dishwashers. Ideally, your router needs to be as close to the centre of your house as possible and away from any obstructions.
• Give the signal a boost by making sure the antennae are vertical and place it on a high shelf.
• Update your router to make sure it’s running the latest firmware.
• If your router is old, it might be time to upgrade - older tech is often outdated and it’s probably a good idea to replace it.
• Invest in a Wi-Fi extender to give your Wi-Fi a much-needed boost. Check out TechRadar’s suggestions.
• Make sure your router is password protected.

 
Update Your Browser
Make sure you’re using the latest version of your browser as this will offer better security and run faster.
 
Most importantly, remember you have a right to request a decent broadband service. From March 2020 if your download speed is less than 10 Mbps and your upload speed is less than 1 Mbps you have a right to request an upgraded service. Find out more here >.

Contact File Genie for further help with your broadband/Wi-Fi speed or for advice on upgrading your router.

Reliable, affordable broadband is an essential utility for all homes and businesses but making sure you have the best deal for your needs can be a bit of a minefield. There are so many providers offering various different packages,it’s enough to make your head spin! How do you know when you are paying too much? How do you know you have the right package? There are a few simple steps you can take to help ensure you’re getting a reliable broadband service without paying over the odds.

• Use comparison websites such as Uswitch - they do the hard work for you so you know you're getting the best deal for your needs.
• Head to Which? for thorough, unbiased reviews and expert advice on all the available broadband deals
• Ofcom provides free, helpful advice if you’re having problems with your broadband and information on complaints and compensation.

 
Some common complaints for broadband users in the UK include slow speed, poor signal, limited technical support and high prices.
 
Slow Speed
There are a few reasons why your broadband speed might be slower. First of all, establish what type of internet you are on, ie ADSL or fibre. ADSL broadband uses a standard copper telephone line and speed can be massively affected by how close you are to your telephone exchange. Fibre broadband is much faster and reliable than standard ADSL internet, it uses fibre optic cables to deliver super fast internet direct to your home. Secondly, check the age of your router. An older router can cause a slow connection speed and simply upgrading to a newer model or updating the software will solve any connection speed issues.
 
Poor Signal
Limited wi-fi range causing a weak signal will slow your broadband connection right down making internet browsing and online gaming a nightmare. Various factors can cause a poor signal. Again, check the wireless router- is it old and in need of replacing? Where is your router placed? Pick somewhere in the middle of the house in order to get a better signal throughout the building. Avoid plugging it into a telephone extension cable- it will work much better if plugged directly into the master socket.
 
Paying Too Much
This is where price comparison websites come into their own. You can easily search for the right package for you and get the best deal possible. Make sure you check when your current contract is due to finish- many people forget to renew their broadband and end up on an expensive package once their current deal expires. Put a note in your calendar to check for new deals when your current one is due to run out. Don't be afraid to negotiate with your provider, you could end up on a better deal than the one you’re on right now as they often reserve their best deals for new customers or retaining old customers.
 
Limited Support
If you’re struggling with the tech side of your broadband connection don’t be afraid to ask for help. File Genie can communicate with your provider to help make sure you’re getting the right service for your needs.
 
Technology moves on and deals are constantly changing. Keep an eye on it just as you do with your car insurance and move to a better deal if you see one and you’re current contract is due to run out.
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Are you having slow connection speed issues? Need some help with your broadband? Give File Genie a call.