Best Tech For Your Rural Smart Home

When you live in a rural area, slow satellite internet connections can make you feel disconnected from the benefits of the Web. Not only does it take you forever to download or stream online content, but you're also limited in the types of devices you can connect to your network. How can you create a smart home when the gadgets you already use are straining your bandwidth?

Fortunately, there are several smart home gadgets that use less bandwidth than expected. Depending on your needs, you can take advantage of these smart home devices without sacrificing your already hard-to-get connection.

Security Cameras

Cameras are some of the most important home security devices. They allow you to see what's going on in your home when you're away, which can be incredibly beneficial in an area with distant neighbors.

The exact amount of bandwidth your camera will use depends on the camera model and its video quality. For example, Nest Cam's 720p video recording option requires an average of 200 Kbps upload speed. Since major satellite internet providers offer upload speeds around 2 Mbps, you'll use about 10 percent of your bandwidth to monitor your home at all times. However, if you're willing to settle for 360p resolution, you can get away with 60 Kbps upload speed.

Smart Outlets

Perhaps one of the biggest expenditures in owning a home is keeping everything powered. From turning the lights on to powering all of your appliances, a home requires a lot of energy to run from day to day.

Smart outlets allow you to control anything with a power cord, and they don't require blazing internet speeds. With a smart outlet, you can schedule times to turn your appliances on and off or control the power manually from your phone, meaning that you won't have to worry about appliances draining power when you're not using them. The Wemo Smart Switch only uses your bandwidth when you have remote access enabled, and even then what it uses is barely noticeable.

Smart Bulbs

Like smart outlets, smart light bulbs help you turn the lights on or off from any location and control exactly how much energy your lighting solutions use. The Phillips Hue Lux Light Bulb is designed to use nearly 80 percent less energy than the average bulb. A single bulb can last for up to 22 years and uses a minimal amount of your available bandwidth.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats help you regulate your home's temperature. Many of them will sense when someone is home and adjust the temperature accordingly. The Nest Learning Thermostat creates its own schedule as it learns what you like and when you are home. You can fine tune it using an app on your smartphone and change the temperature from there if your schedule deviates. This thermostat mostly uses bandwidth for occasional software updates, so it shouldn't interfere with your overall internet signal.

Motion Sensors

Motion sensors are a great addition to any home security system, and they can alert you to unexpected activity. Sensors like the Samsung SmartThings Motion Sensor can turn on lights and other connected devices when they sense motion, or turn off lights when your family members leave the house. This sensor uses an insignificant amount of data, making it perfect for homes with internet limitations.

Several devices will use too much bandwidth for you to support on your satellite connection. While it can be frustrating to work within the limits of a low-speed internet connection, there are still several options for the homeowner who wants to take advantage of smart and efficient home technology.

-Alyse Ainsworth is a home technology expert, who also writes for Reviews.org. She covers home automation, advances in lifestyle technology, and everything in-between.

If you need help installing any of these Smart Home Systems or products , you can visit HomeAdvisor.com to find a local trusted professional.