From smart projectors, AV receivers to a top notch network, here are our network setup tips for Super Bowl party success
Hut hut, touch down, the Super Bowl is swiftly approaching!
Are you ready? Are you excited?
Maybe your perfect home cinema set-up still needs some work in order to be ready for the big day. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered with this guide on exactly what you need for Super Bowl Party Success as an IT provider. Of course you’ll want to flex your IT skills to all your friends and family and hosting a Super Bowl event with a top notch immersive experience is the way to do exactly that.
Read on to find out our top recommendations for setting up the perfect Super Bowl event.
Top Network setup tips for Super Bowl Party Success
Smart Projector / Smart TV
First things first, you’ll need somewhere to watch the Super Bowl. A lot of TV makers are slashing prices right now ahead of the Super Bowl so it’s an excellent time to pick-up a good deal.
You’ll probably want something big for the game that’s 75 inches. Check out these ideas for the best 75 inch Smart TVs to invest in right now. There are many options on the market right now, but you’ll quickly find that size, display technology and smart app capabilities are the key drivers in pricing.
You could also take another route and go for a smart projector.
Smart projectors are portable, include the latest display technologies and have integrated functionalities. They can basically do everything TVs can but on a much bigger screen and with more bells and whistles.
They are portable too so you can move them wherever you want. You could even watch the Super Bowl outside if it’s warm enough where you live or from the Hot Tub if it is not.
Some projectors do have issues with brightness so be careful of that and read reviews on this topic. A solid smart projector with adequate brightness might eat into your budget quite a bit too so take that into consideration when deciding.
Audio / Video Receiver
With a smart projector or smart TV in hand, now you’re getting pretty serious about your home cinema set-up. The next item on your shopping list should be a good audio video receiver (AV receiver).
An AV receiver may seem like just another black box, but it’s really so much more.
AV receivers are key to truly creating that immersive sound experience linked from your speakers to your projector.
An AV receiver will enable you to experience the highs and lows of the game in a next level way that is immersive and engaging. You’ll feel the narrative of the game in a whole new way.
Learn all about the best AV receivers on the market right now
Cables, cables, cables
Cables and service providers go together like the Super Bowl and a good chili recipe.
So it probably goes without saying that you’ll need good quality cables to connect all your gear together.
The AV receiver will act as the brains of the operation but you’ll need to connect it to your speakers, TV or projector and streaming box via cabling.
Choose cables with the latest specs such as HDMI 2.1 for your video cable needs. This allows for processing the latest technologies.
You’ll also need to ensure you have a good streaming box to get access to the game. Here are some recommendations for the best streaming boxes available right now.
Reliable network set-up tips for Super Bowl
These are the very important network setup tips for Super Bowl party success. You’ll need a couple of things to create the best possible network set-up for the Super Bowl.
A good Network switch
Since you’ll be adding so many new devices to your network, you’ll need a good network switch to plug them into.
Switches are simple to get your head around. They allow you to have more networked Audio/Video devices in your set-up from what a standard router would provide.”
Check your ISP
You’ll also need a reliable internet service provider (ISP) to get a good quality connection for watching the game. Pro tip: You’ll want to test out your network speed with the Domotz app before the game, to make sure you’ve got a steady and reliable Internet connection. Depending on your set-up and number of guests, don’t be caught with too little bandwidth. The Super Bowl is being streamed in 4k this year, so expect bandwidth consumption on the order of 25 Mbps for that stream alone.
Configuring guest WiFi
You’ll definitely want to keep your guests connected during the game. If you’ve not already done so, configure a guest WiFi network segregated from your main LAN that your devices are connected to.
Setting up a guest network rather than allowing guests to connect to your main WiFi network is a good security practice and will enable better network performance.
Make sure your network and devices are online
Although Domotz is designed for business settings, there’s no harm in mixing business with pleasure. You might like to use Domotz at home for game day because you want to show off your IT skills to friends and family. Use Domotz to make sure all your crucial devices are performing well and are online. All the greatest and latest gear is one thing, but the most important step is making sure they work!
A menu to match your set-up
Alright, now you are nearly on your way to Super Bowl success.
- You’ve got your awesome cinema-like set-up
- A superfast network including guest WiFi
- You’ve tested your network speed (with Domotz)
- You are monitoring your network (with Domotz) to make sure all your fancy new devices are online
Now you’ll need a great menu to accompany your stellar network set-up.
How about chili, nachos supreme, buffalo chicken wings, garlic bread, pizza, mac & cheese or pigs in a blanket?
To help you create the perfect menu, check out these 83 superbowl food ideas that are better than a touchdown.
For your drinks menu, don’t shy away from getting creative too. What about beermosas, touchdown punch, or grilled cheese bloody mary’s?
Check out these super fun and creative SuperBowl drinks that are sure to score a touchdown with your guests.
Whatever you decide as a menu, make sure to use your favorite app to order your groceries in advance. Nobody likes a party with no food or drinks.
How will you watch the Super Bowl this year?
So there you have our top network setup tips for Super Party Success. Hosting the perfect Super Bowl party is never an easy job but equipped with the right devices, network, monitoring tools and food you’ll be all set for the big day.
On game day, don’t stress because Domotz will have your back. Use Domotz network monitoring software to make sure you have a solid connection, your guest network is up and running and all devices are online and operational.
Whether you call it Super Bowl, super bowl or superbowl, we’d love to hear about the devices and gear that’s essential for your set-up this year.
Further reading:
