Tech Tip #29 Replacing Devices

Do You Have to Replace Your Devices When You Switch to Fiber?

By Olivia Wells, Marketer at LigTel

When people think about switching to fiber internet, one question that sometimes comes up is:

“Will I have to replace all my devices?”

The short answer is no, not usually.

Your phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, gaming systems, printers, and other devices should still connect like normal. Switching to fiber does not automatically mean you need to replace everything in your home.

However, some older devices may not be able to handle faster internet speeds.

For example, an older smart TV, printer, laptop, or streaming device may have older Wi-Fi technology built in. That means your fiber connection and router may be working great, but that one device may still feel slower because of the device itself.

Does your fiber internet seem slow?

If your internet feels slower than expected, it is not always your provider’s fault.

The FCC explains that several things can affect your internet speed, including an old or slow router, an old or slow computer, using the internet during peak hours, high-bandwidth apps, several people being online at once, and even your home’s network setup. Source: FCC

In other words, your internet speed is affected by more than just the connection coming into your home.

Fiber brings the speed to your home. Your router helps share that connection. But each device also has its own limits.

Your router still matters

At LigTel, we do allow customers to use their own router. However, we recommend using the router we provide because it is included at no additional cost, and we make sure it can handle the speed you sign up for.

Using a LigTel-provided router also helps our team better support you if you ever need help with your Wi-Fi.

So no, switching to fiber does not mean you have to replace all your devices.

But if one older device still feels slow, it may not be your internet. It may just be that the device can’t fully keep up with today’s faster speeds.

Have questions about your router or fiber service? Give us a call at (260) 894-7161.

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