If you’re anything like me, you’ve embraced the connected home lifestyle for some time now. You’re not alone; the latest smart home statistics from a survey reveal that as many as 69.91 million households in the US are actively using smart home devices in 2024, marking a significant increase of 10.2% from the 63.43 million recorded in 2023. It often begins with a smart thermostat. After all, no one wants to accidentally leave their heating on and face a hefty bill. From there, the fascination grows: automated lighting—why not? Security cameras follow, providing peace of mind whether it’s an intruder or just wildlife disturbing the trash. But the journey doesn’t end there. Add in smart water lines, sprinklers, garage door openers, door locks, and the ubiquitous doorbell, and voilà: you’ve achieved a fully connected home.
Smart Home Reliability: The Internet Connection Risk
So, what’s the catch? It’s quite straightforward, actually. This entire ecosystem typically relies on a singular lifeline: your internet connection.
And why is that an issue? Allow me to illustrate with a hypothetical scenario. Imagine you and your family are on a two-week vacation in, let’s say, Greece (purely coincidental choice) enjoying the pristine waters and sandy beaches of the Mediterranean. Suddenly, you receive a notification: “Lost connection to devices.” For many with connected homes, this scenario is all too familiar. Once your internet goes down, so does your access to your smart home. Security camera feeds? Unavailable. Remote door unlocking for someone collecting your mail? Impossible. Turning off the lights left on by your kids? Not an option. Problems arise when you least expect them.
Enhancing Smart Home Resilience: The Case for Redundancy
Unlike some, I’ve incorporated a cellular backup into my home network system for quite some time. A decade ago, I faced a similar situation. Returning home to a staggering heating bill after a power outage was a wake-up call. Despite my generator and battery backups functioning flawlessly, the lack of internet connectivity was a glaring vulnerability. It prompted me to think about redundancy in my smart home setup. So, what redundancy measures have you implemented?
It’s worth noting that there are numerous products on the market designed to safeguard not just your smart home but also your business. The question is, can your data service handle the task? Today, there are several cellular routers available that provide this essential redundancy, including models from Peplink, Semtech, Netgear, and Queclink. Some advanced home routers even support a USB dongle for additional connectivity options. Whether for your home or business, these solutions can prevent significant losses, be they valuables or revenue.
Reflecting on my experience in downstate New York, where my preferred carrier’s service was nonexistent while competitors had no issues, I relied on WiFi for communication. Today, a multi-IMSI solution, which automatically selects the best available carrier connection, is invaluable. Such technology was not available a decade ago, requiring multiple contracts and significantly higher costs for service continuity—typically $15 to $25 per month for a secondary line. Now, it costs me just $25 a year.
Securing Your Smart Home’s Future with Velocity IoT
We’ve made considerable progress. Now, I can enjoy vacations with full confidence in the oversight of my smart home. What about you? How smart is your smart home, really?
Ensuring your smart home stays connected, regardless of your location, is essential. With Velocity IoT’s multi-IMSI SIM cards, you gain access to a reliable solution that automatically connects to the strongest available signal. This technology keeps your smart home devices consistently online. Elevate your smart home’s reliability and gain peace of mind by exploring Velocity IoT’s offerings. Contact us today to learn more.
