It seems every day this holiday season we are getting news about travel restrictions and guidance about holiday gatherings. You may still not know exactly how your holiday plans will work out, but whether virtual or in-person, you should take steps to assure every aspect of your celebration is buttoned up to expect the unexpected.
This can include grocery shopping for a big or small gathering, wrapping presents at home or shipping them off to out-of-town friend and family, and making sure your WiFi is up to par with having either a dozen people using it at once or hosting a dozen people virtually. A recent survey conducted by Wakefield Research and Xfinity resulted in some interesting insights to illustrate just how important WiFi performance is, no matter what your celebration looks like this year.
One key stat that was pretty telling was that half of millennials and nearly as many Gen Xers (47%) strongly agree that WiFi has become more central to holiday celebrations than before the pandemic.
The survey also revealed that almost a quarter of Gen Z (23%) and millennials (24%) will participate in hybrid or virtual gatherings this year.
It’s clear that holiday plans are still in flux just days before gatherings are scheduled to take place, but in any event, WiFi is quickly becoming one of the more important aspects of the holidays, no matter how it looks in your home.
To help prepare for the holidays in your home, here are six tips to cover all bases when it comes to strong WiFi over the next few weeks.
- Before Anything, Reboot Your Gateway
Your wireless gateway will be better equipped to take on your guest’s WiFi demands with the most recent software and speed updates. To keep your WiFi running at peak performance, a few days before your celebration, unplug your gateway for 5-10 seconds before plugging it back in. After a few minutes, it will turn on and be ready for your guests.
- The Gateway Takes Center Stage
Whether or not a traditional main dish sits in the middle of your Pinterest-inspired tablescape, your router should be in the center of where people congregate. Most of your guests will mingle in your living room and kitchen, so find a prime spot, about 5 feet off the ground, for your gateway to reach the most-used areas of your home with the strongest WiFi signal. It’s been waiting for its chance in the spotlight all year.
- Share the WiFi Password Early
Sometimes it can be hard to remember your WiFi password – or maybe your WiFi password is still an inside joke from your youthful days. Beat the most commonly asked question from your guests (besides when are we eating) and refresh your gateway’s password. For Xfinity customers, you can simply do that through xfinity.com/myxfi or the handy Xfinity app. Identify your network and select “Edit WiFi” to change your password to something easy to remember (and festive!). Just remember to change it back after your guests leave!
- Power of the Pod
If you have enough space to host your entire extended family, chances are you’ll need to keep your guests connected throughout your home. The kids in the basement game room need as strong a connection as the holiday movie streamers upstairs! Take advantage of an Xfinity xFi Pod to extend your WiFi connection and eliminate dead spots in hard-to-reach areas distant from your Gateway.
- Press Pause
When it’s finally dinner time, take some time to “press pause” and enjoy a meal shared with loved ones. With the Xfinity app, you can pause WiFi access for your guests to remove digital distractions and spend quality time with family. No one is taking a peek at TikTok or glancing over their shoulder at the TV under your watch. When the kids need some wind down time after dinner, the Xfinity app also allows you to implement Parental Controls and set up “bedtime” mode.
- Stream in Peace
Once everyone has gone back for seconds and thirds and dessert is demolished, take time to recoup from your food coma. Lean back on the couch and stream your family-favorite TV shows and movies, available to Xfinity Internet customers for free through the Flex 4K streaming box. Binge holiday classics, or start new traditions with the latest blockbusters.
