Is Your Internet Ready for Fall?

7 Things Rural Customers Should Check

Fall is here, which means cooler temperatures, shorter days, changing weather, and more time spent at home.

For rural households, fall is also a good time to take a few minutes to make sure your internet equipment and home network are ready for the months ahead. A quick check now can help you avoid surprises as the weather turns colder and everyone spends more time indoors.

Here are seven things to check this fall.

1. Check Your Router and Wi-Fi

Your router works hard to keep all your devices connected, so it’s worth making sure it’s in a good spot. Take a look at where your router is located. Is it tucked away in a cabinet, behind furniture, or surrounded by other electronics? Moving it to a more open, central location can help improve Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. It’s also a good time to check how many devices are connected to your network. Phones, tablets, smart TVs, cameras, gaming consoles, printers, and smart home devices can all add up quickly.

2. Take a Look at Your Outdoor Equipment

If you have rural wireless internet, your outdoor antenna and related equipment are exposed to the elements year-round. Before winter arrives, take a quick look to make sure there are no obvious signs of damage, loose cables, or anything that appears out of place. Don’t climb onto your roof or put yourself in an unsafe position to inspect equipment. If something doesn’t look right, contact your internet provider and let a technician take a look.

3. Check Your Wi-Fi Coverage

With more time indoors, you may notice areas of your home where Wi-Fi coverage isn’t as strong.Walk around your home and test the connection in the places where you spend the most time. Check your living room, home office, bedrooms, basement, and any other areas where you regularly use connected devices. If you consistently have weak Wi-Fi in one part of the house, the issue may not be your internet service—it could simply be the distance between your device and router, walls, or other sources of interference.

4. Prepare for Fall Weather

Rural areas can experience some pretty unpredictable weather as we move from fall into winter. Heavy rain, strong winds, snow, and ice can all create challenges for outdoor infrastructure and, during severe weather, power outages can affect your home internet equipment. Make sure you know how to contact your internet provider if you need support. It’s also a good idea to have important phone numbers and emergency information available even if your internet connection isn’t working.

5. See How Much Data Your Household Is Using

Fall often means more streaming, gaming, video calls, and time online. If your household’s internet habits change significantly during the colder months, it’s worth checking your plan and understanding how much data you typically use. Unlimited internet plans can be especially convenient for busy households because you don’t have to worry about counting every movie, video call, or download.

6. Update Your Devices

Fall is a great time for a little digital housekeeping. Check your phones, computers, tablets, smart TVs, and other connected devices for software or security updates. Keeping your devices updated can help them run properly and protect against known security issues. While you’re at it, make sure your Wi-Fi password is strong and that you recognize the devices connected to your network.

7. Know Who to Call When You Need Help

If you run into an issue with your internet or equipment this fall, our team is here to help. As a Storm customer, you can reach our local Customer Service and Technical Support teams when you need assistance with your service, equipment, or connection.Save our contact information now so you know where to find us when you need us: storm.ca/contact-us/

Ready for Fall?

A few simple checks can go a long way toward keeping your home connected as the seasons change. From your router and Wi-Fi coverage to outdoor equipment and changing internet habits, fall is the perfect time to make sure everything is ready before winter arrives.

Have questions about your Storm Internet service or equipment? Our local team is here to help.