Mesh WiFi is a whole home WiFi system built to eliminate dead zones and to provide uninterrupted WiFi throughout your home.
Mesh routers enable devices in your network to have faster speeds, greater coverage, and a more reliable connection. While traditional routers broadcast WiFi from a single point, mesh WiFi systems have multiple access points.
Benefits of a WiFi Mesh Network
Mesh WiFi is built for all types of homes specifically mid size and large homes that have suffer from weak or incomplete WiFi coverage. Usually when you experience dead zones or slow wifi, you might opt into a range extender but find that it doesn’t provide you with the fastest speeds or connectivity throughout your home. Whereas mesh wifi routers are built to fully cover large homes up to 6,000 sq. ft., with two stories or more, interior brick walls, or an unusual layout. With more family members being home, a typical wifi router will have issues with maintaining strong internet access to all devices like phones, computers, or tvs. With multiple mesh nodes, everyone can easily connect more smart home devices simultaneously without slowing down your wifi bandwidth.
They also represent a great option for people who are interested in a powerful WiFi system but don’t want to deal with the complicated setup and configuration that most regular routers come with.
Features of a Whole Home WiFi System
- One Network for Your Entire HomeMesh technology is smart and intuitive, letting you stay online even if one of your mesh nodes fails. You can skip signing into a new network every time you go upstairs and stay connected to a single sturdy network no matter where you are.
- Stable Long-Range ConnectivityWith a mesh router, you can get a powerful and stable connection no matter where you are in your home. Because each mesh node piggybacks off the other nodes signal, you can get powerful WiFi whether you’re at the top of the stairs or the bottom of the basement.
- Easy Setup and ManagementMost mesh routers on the market today come with easy network setup and management controls allowing you to toggle network settings, check speeds, and enact parental controls.
Behind Mesh WiFi Network Technology
Mesh WiFi works by using two or more devices or “nodes” to create a secure and strong wifi network.
These nodes are important in efficiently delivering WiFi, as each node serves as a “daisy chain” for other nodes in the system. Even nodes that are furthest from the router can still deliver a strong signal. Nodes communicate with one another in order to determine the fastest band for your devices, and to reroute traffic in the event that one node fails with its self-healing technology.
What’s the difference between Mesh WiFi and a Range Extender?
While mesh WiFi and Range extenders might appear to have the same functionality, there are some key differences.
Mesh technology is meant to cast the strongest wifi as you’re roaming room to room.
Range extenders require you to sign on to a new network manually in order to maintain a strong connection once you’re far enough away from your router.
Mesh WiFi is faster and more efficient at delivering a WiFi signal than a range extender. This technology has grown quickly and been the go-to for wifi routers for its long-range signal, ease of use, and quick setup.