Many newer models of wireless routers can send a strong signal to most rooms in a typical medium-sized home. However, in large homes or residences with dense walls, multiple floors, metal or concrete substructures, or other material obstacles, it may be necessary to provide Wi-Fi to areas that a single router cannot reach. Additional components may be required. Range extenders can help fill dead zones, but in most cases they only provide half the bandwidth you get from your main router. Access points, on the other hand, offer more bandwidth than range extenders, but require a wired connection to your main router. Both solutions also typically create a new network SSID that you need to log into when moving from one area of your home to another.
If you’re new to networking, you might be worried that all of the above will leave you sitting on the floor surrounded by tons of router manuals and questioning your life choices. I don’t know. Fortunately, there is another alternative: a mesh Wi-Fi system.
What is a Wi-Fi mesh system?
Mesh systems (or mesh Wi-Fi routers), also known by popular brand names like Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro and TP-Link Deco, are designed to provide wireless coverage throughout your home. These systems are a type of hybrid consisting of several network components. The main router connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules or nodes are placed throughout your home. They are all part of a single wireless network and share the same SSID and password. Unlike range extenders, which typically communicate with your router over 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to communicate with your router and each other.
Setting up and maintaining a traditional wireless home network can be difficult, even for the most tech-savvy. Wi-Fi mesh systems, on the other hand, are aimed at users with little or no technical knowledge and can be installed in minutes. They usually come with a user-friendly mobile app that guides you through the installation process with easy-to-understand illustrated steps. The app shows you where to place each node for maximum coverage and moves you around your home to select the best Wi-Fi channels and radio bands for optimal throughput performance. You can also maintain a strong wireless connection.
(Credit: TP-Link )Wi-Fi mesh systems can be easily expanded (there is no limit to the number of nodes you can add) and managed using your smartphone. From the app, you can disable Wi-Fi access to specific devices with the push of a button or give network priority to specific devices without having to log into a complex network console.
What should I look out for in the design and features of a Wi-Fi mesh router?
Most Wi-Fi mesh systems are quite different from traditional setups with routers and range extenders. Routers and nodes use internal antennas, and most are elegantly designed to be installed outdoors rather than in a closet or under a desk. (Don’t expect lots of flashing LED indicators; these systems are designed to blend in with your home’s décor.) Usually have at least one LAN port for connecting to devices such as a TV or game console. However, USB connectivity is a rare feature at this point.
(Credit: Netgear)Like modern standalone routers, mesh systems are multiband networking devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. Some models offer support for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology, which streams data to multiple compatible wireless clients simultaneously instead of sequentially. Most Wi-Fi systems use band steering to automatically select the least congested radio band for best performance, and easy-to-use parental controls, guest networking, and device prioritization options We provide Designed with ease of use in mind, you can typically configure port forwarding and wireless security settings, but you don’t have advanced networking features such as separate bandwidth controls, firewall settings, and wireless transmission speed settings that you get with traditional routers. There are no management options. You also cannot use third-party WRT firmware to customize your system for enhanced performance and network monitoring.
Does the Wi-Fi mesh system support Wi-Fi 6?
Some certainly do. If you have a client device that supports it, you should claim it with your new mesh system. Wi-Fi 6 (also known as 802.11ax) is an evolution of 802.11ac technology with several new and improved wireless technologies that increase throughput speeds (up to 9.6 Gbps), reduce network congestion, and increase client capacity. , and performance improvements in communication range are promised. Includes orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). OFDMA improves overall throughput by dividing the Wi-Fi channel into subchannels, allowing up to 30 users to share the channel at the same time.
Additionally, 802.11ax leverages previously unused radio frequencies to provide faster 2.4 GHz performance and also uses MU-MIMO streaming. Some Wi-Fi 6 devices can also communicate in the less congested 6GHz band, known as Wi-Fi 6E. To learn more about the benefits of the 802.11ax protocol, check out our speed test and primer: What is Wi-Fi 6?
Which is better: a wireless mesh router or a range extender?
If you’re worried about how much these systems will cost, don’t worry. Aside from some expensive competitors, most mesh systems are only slightly more expensive than a router and range extender combination. Prices for Wi-Fi systems range from less than $100 for a single node system to at least $300 for a setup that can cover a 3,000 square foot home with three or more nodes.
(Credit: Amazon)These systems seem expensive because in most cases you are paying for at least two devices: the router and the router nodes that form the mesh. In fact, most systems come with two features. Because of the nodes, you will be purchasing a total of three devices. If you break it down by device, you’ll find that in most cases, it’s only slightly more expensive than you would pay for a router or range extender solution with comparable power. That’s especially true now that mesh systems are coming down in price, even for newer models that are Wi-Fi 6 compatible.
Also remember that Wi-Fi systems are all about ease of use. They are easy to set up and manage, and cover the entire home through a series of attractive nodes, providing seamless room-to-room roaming on a single network. If you want complete control over your network and the best possible throughput performance and connectivity options, use a traditional router solution. However, if you don’t need to allocate wireless bandwidth or log into various networks as you move around your home, a Wi-Fi system makes sense. (For more information on the differences between these two technologies, see our commentary, Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What’s the Difference?)
So what is the best Wi-Fi mesh system to buy?
We have listed our recommended meshes in the detailed specification breakdown table below. If you want to learn more, click through for our full reviews of the best Wi-Fi systems we’ve tested. Need more help getting all your devices up and running at their fastest speed? Check out our tips for troubleshooting your internet connection. Once you’ve selected the best product for your home, read our primer on how to set up a mesh Wi-Fi router.
