Understand the Location

First, where is your house located? Understanding the area is crucial before committing to a provider or investing in equipment.

This helps you understand any limitations or difficulties you might have to deal with. For example, in rural areas, only 22.3% of Americans have access to fixed terrestrial broadband services.

Contact the providers in the area and ask about their connection options. 

Better yet, we recommend checking coverage maps and testing out signal or connection quality first before committing to a service provider or any kind of equipment. 

Choose the Right Type of Connection

If you’re in urban or suburban areas, you’ll likely have access to cable or fiber connections, which provide the best and most consistent speeds. 

You may also consider fixed wireless connections. However, how reliable your connection is relies on how clear a line of sight you have to the provider’s tower. 

If those two aren’t available, you’ll have to go with cell-based internet. 

Cell-based internet has come a long, long way in recent years and now often comes close to being as fast and reliable as wired connections. However, there is still the risk of congestion and poorer signal quality. 

Either way, it’s best to have two connections—one as your primary connection, with the second as a backup. 

Select Compact Networking Hardware

Like with your furniture and belongings, you’ll need to keep things compact with your internet hardware.

Look for a modern, compact router that supports dual-band or tri-band Wi-Fi and current security standards. Newer routers can even handle multiple devices better and reduce interference in tight spaces—these can save you if you’re working remotely!

But if your internet source is cellular, we recommend prioritizing a router that can work directly with a SIM card rather than relying solely on a consumer hotspot. 

At least the good thing about having a small home is that a single router is more than enough. Just mount the router in a high, central location, and your whole house should be covered.

Invest in Antennas

Also consider getting an external antenna, especially if you’re in rural or fringe areas with spottier coverage. 

Roof-mounted or pole-mounted antennas help capture stronger cellular or fixed wireless signals than indoor equipment alone and can make a drastic difference in your internet speed and reliability.

Secure the Network Properly

Security matters just as much, regardless of how large or small your house is. 

Change your router’s default passwords ASAP, enable the strongest available wireless encryption, and keep router firmware updated. 

If you have guests over or use smart devices, create a guest network to separate devices from your main network in order to minimize security risks.

Also consider using a VPN, especially if you’re moving around and are relying on cellular data or public Wi-Fi. 

Match Bandwidth to Real Usage

Still, you’ll have to actually test and monitor your internet connection after you’re done setting up the hardware. 

Think realistically about how you use the internet. Video conferencing, cloud backups, streaming, and online games all consume bandwidth differently. 

Test your speeds after installation and monitor your connection’s performance during peak hours. 

If speeds fluctuate too much, or worse, the connection is often inconsistent, it’s a sign that you’ll need to change something. That may be upgrading your plan, adding a secondary connection, or even changing your hardware (though only as a last resort). 

Plan for Power and Backup

While your internet setup might be reliable, electrical systems may not always be the same, especially in rural areas or if you’re on the road often. 

As such, it’s wise to choose networking equipment known for low power consumption, especially if you use solar or battery storage. 

A small uninterruptible power supply can also be a lifesaver if you have critical online work, keeping you online during any power outages. 

Keep Maintenance Simple

Finally, try to keep upkeep simple. Label your cables, and document your setup—someday, you might have to tear them down, and you’ll be lost without them.  

Additionally, regularly check your equipment for firmware and security updates or physical wear. Doing so a couple of times a year is more than enough.

Conclusion

Setting up an internet connection for a tiny house might feel complicated at first. But truly, with a little research and smart choices about what fits your home, you’ll have a safe, reliable internet connection in no time.