Which Wi-Fi Mesh system should I Choose: Wi-Fi is super handy, but sometimes even the most powerful router can’t reach every corner of a big house. That’s where Mesh Wi-Fi comes in! Let’s dive into what it is and the top 5 systems you might want to consider.
Instead of relying on a single router, Mesh Wi-Fi uses multiple devices to spread Wi-Fi throughout your house. Imagine it like a web – where each point helps to extend the Wi-Fi range. This way, you get strong signals everywhere, even in those tricky spots your single router can’t cover.
Table of Contents
What is Mesh Wi-Fi?
Have you ever wondered why sometimes your Wi-Fi doesn’t reach your entire house? Well, there’s this cool thing called a Mesh Network that can help!
A mesh network is like a web of connections. Instead of having just one main device sending out Wi-Fi signals, in a mesh network, you have multiple devices working together. This isn’t a brand-new idea, but now it’s pretty affordable for us to use at home. In fact, some regular home routers support this feature without breaking the bank.
Mesh vs. Traditional Wi-Fi
Normally, when you use Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters, each device creates its own network. That means you might see multiple Wi-Fi names on your phone or laptop. And sometimes, even if two networks have the same name, your device might stick to one even if the other has a stronger signal. This can slow down your internet.
But with Mesh Wi-Fi, it’s different. All devices work together as one big team. So, on your phone or laptop, you’ll see just one Wi-Fi network. The best part? As you move around the house, your device smoothly switches between the mesh devices to give you the best signal. This is thanks to some fancy tech called Wi-Fi roaming, powered by the 802.11r and 802.11k protocols.
To Cable or Not to Cable
You might wonder if you need cables to set up a Mesh Network. The good news is, you don’t! But sometimes using cables can make it even better.
Mesh networks are like having many little helpers making sure your Wi-Fi is strong everywhere in your home. It’s a smart way to make sure you’re always connected, no matter where you are.
When choosing a Mesh network, keep these things in mind
Mesh networks can vary a lot in design. However, most of the time, they’re a better pick than regular amplifiers. One thing to remember is that older routers might not work with Mesh technology. This is different from amplifiers, which can work with any Wi-Fi. So, if you switch to Mesh, you might need a new main router.
Here’s what you should focus on:
- Check the number of supported ranges: This tells you how many different frequency bands the Mesh system can use.
- Look at the working standard: The standard will let you know the quality and features of the connection.
- Examine the bandwidth of the WAN connector: This helps you understand the speed and capacity of your Mesh network’s main connection.
When choosing a Mesh network, look at these key features:
Number of Bands
Standard Mesh networks have two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.If you connect nodes directly to the main router using wires, devices can use both bands. But, if you connect wirelessly to the main router, it’ll use one band just for that connection. So, routers with an extra third band (often 5 GHz) work better for this.
Wi-Fi Standard
This is the number you’ll see next to your Wi-Fi password. The newest one is Wi-Fi 6E. Only the top and fastest Mesh systems, like the ASUS ZenWiFi ET8, support this. It can transfer data super-fast, almost 5 Gbps on one band! But it’s pricier.
If you don’t need super-fast speeds, Wi-Fi 6 with OFDMA support might be all you need for the future. If you just want steady Wi-Fi all over a big house, Wi-Fi 5 works just fine.
WAN Bandwidth
The WAN port is where you plug in the internet to the Mesh system, especially if it’s your main router (you can skip this detail if you’re using it as an access point). If your internet service offers speeds more than 1000 Mbps, choose a Mesh system with a 2500 Mbps port to enjoy that speed.
Be careful with cheaper systems. Some might have only a 100 Mbps WAN port. Even if the Wi-Fi is faster, your internet download and upload might be limited to 100 Mbps.
In short, think about how fast and where you want your Wi-Fi, then pick the right Mesh system for you!
Top 5 To Consider
The suggestions I’m about to give usually come in 3-pack sets. But you can also buy them as a pair or even just one unit. This can be handy if you find a spot in your house where you need better Wi-Fi coverage. Let’s kick off the list with what I think is the best Mesh option that won’t empty your wallet:
ASUS ZenWiFi ET12
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Price | $776.99 |
| LAN ports | 2 pcs. |
| LAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WAN port speed | 10/100/1000/2500 Mb/s |
| WiFi network standard | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax |
| WiFi network speed | 11000 Mbps |
| Operating frequency | 2.4, 5, 6 GHz |
ASUS ZenWiFi ET12 – powerful 3-band Mesh Wi-Fi system with support for the latest Wi-Fi 6E. If you live in a big, multi-story house and want fast Wi-Fi everywhere, the ASUS ZenWiFi PRO ET12 might be just right for you. Here’s why:
Super Fast Connection: It uses Wi-Fi 6E, which lets you tap into a brand new 6 GHz frequency. This means no more slow Wi-Fi because of too many networks nearby!
Three Bands: It has three bands. So, you can use the 5 GHz or 6 GHz band just for talking between the Mesh units. This is super useful if you don’t have cables running everywhere to connect them.
Works with Older ASUS Routers: If you have an older ASUS router that works with AiMesh, guess what? You can keep using it as one of the Mesh units. Cool, right?
Powerful for Big Houses: Even if you buy just two units, they’re powerful enough to give fast Wi-Fi in big, multi-story homes.
High-Speed Ports: Each unit has two 2.5 Gbps connectors. Plus, they’re speedy with 4 cores and 1 GB RAM in each unit.
In short, if you want strong and fast Wi-Fi in a big house, the ASUS ZenWiFi PRO ET12 is a top pick!
Linksys Velop Mesh Wi-Fi MX8400
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 |
| LAN ports | 3 pcs. |
| LAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WiFi network standard | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax |
| WiFi network speed | 4200 Mbps |
| Operating frequency | 2.4, 5 GHz |
Linksys Velop Mesh Wi-Fi MX8400 – Mesh with three Wi-Fi 6 bands. The Linksys brand stands out for making stable devices. This time, they’ve also packed in speed and cool features. Here’s what you should know:
Three Wi-Fi 6 Bands: This means one 5 GHz band can just focus on letting the Mesh units talk to each other, especially when you can’t connect them with wires. This can make your Wi-Fi super fast, sometimes even faster than using cables!
Lots of Ports: Each unit has four spots to plug in other devices using a gigabit LAN switch. Plus, there’s a USB 3.0 port. So, if you have something like a hard drive, you can connect it and share it with everyone in your house.
Cool Wi-Fi 6 Features: Wi-Fi 6 has this thing called OFDMA. It’s like a traffic cop for Wi-Fi, making sure everyone gets their turn without waiting too long. It’s great when lots of devices are online at once.
Decent Brain Power: The Velop system uses a 4-core processor. It might not be as speedy as the ASUS one we talked about earlier, but it’s still pretty quick. And each unit has a good chunk of memory – 512 MB!
In simple words, if you want a reliable and fast Wi-Fi system, Linksys has got you covered with this one!
Tenda NOVA MX12
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Price | $169.90 |
| LAN ports | 3 pcs. |
| LAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WiFi network standard | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax |
| WiFi network speed | 2976 Mbps |
| Operating frequency | 2.4, 5 GHz |
Tenda NOVA MX12 3-Pack AX3000 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System.If you’ve got a network set up at home that lets mesh nodes talk to each other, then this dual-band set might be just right for you. Here’s why:
Super Fast 5 GHz Band: This set can zip along at speeds up to 2400 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. That’s lightning quick!
Awesome Range: Tenda routers have a reputation for reaching far and wide. So, you can be in different parts of your house and still get a strong signal.
Lots of Plug-In Points: Every node comes with three RJ45 connectors. It’s like having a little network switch in each node!
Solid Brain Power: Tenda packs a 4-core processor in this set, just like some of the pricier options. But remember, it has a bit less memory (256 MB). So if everyone in your house hops on the Wi-Fi at once, it might get a tad slower.
TP-Link Deco S4
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Price | $109.99 |
| LAN ports | 2 pcs. |
| LAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WiFi network standard | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac |
| WiFi network speed | 1167 Mbps |
| Operating frequency | 2.4, 5 GHz |
TP-Link Deco S4 – user-friendly mesh system for home. If you’re not ready to hop onto the “Wi-Fi 6” trend yet, there’s some good news. Companies are still rolling out new Wi-Fi 5 options. Take the Deco S4 set, for example. It’s super budget-friendly, costing only 200 PLN per point. It gives you standard Wi-Fi 5 speeds (AC1200) – that’s a fast 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz channel and a decent 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz channel for simpler tasks.
One of the coolest things about the Deco series? They make everything easy. You don’t need to be a tech expert. Their user-friendly interface guides you through, so you can make the most of what you buy.
Now, because it’s cheaper, there are a couple of things to consider. Each point only has two RJ45 connectors. So, if you’ve got lots of gadgets that need a wired connection, you might need an extra switch. Under the hood, it’s powered by a 2-core processor and comes with 128 MB of RAM.
So, in simple words, if you’re on a budget and want good Wi-Fi without the tech hassle, the Deco S4 might be your pick!
Tenda Nova Mesh MW5s
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Price | $159.79 |
| LAN ports | 1 pc. |
| LAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WAN port speed | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| WiFi network standard | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac |
| WiFi network speed | 1167 Mbps |
| Operating frequency | 2.4, 5 GHz |
Tenda Nova System Mesh MW5S – mesh router when price matters. If you mainly use Wi-Fi for work, checking emails, and occasionally streaming on YT/Netflix, we’ve saved a super budget-friendly option for you. Meet the Tenda Nova MW5S. It’s a Wi-Fi 5 device, just like the pricier Deco. But here’s the thing: its software isn’t as user-friendly, and it might not be as stable.
The Tenda points don’t cover a super wide area. But guess what? You get more of them to make up for it. If you can connect them with wires, that’s great. If not, you’ll want to place them pretty close to each other to get the best connection. But hey, if you just need a solid range for basic tasks, the Tenda MW5S with its three points might be the best bang for your buck!
All the sets I mentioned above work perfectly as home routers, and you don’t need any extra stuff to make them run. Each one lets you set up a guest network, gives you some cool parental controls, and often even more fancy features. Plus, they all come with their own phone app you can use.
What if regular Wi-Fi Mesh doesn’t work? Try a hybrid solution!
All the gadgets we talked about before use either usual Wi-Fi or a wired connection to talk to each other. But what if there’s a super thick wall in the way, and no one thought about adding wires? What’s the solution? Well, you can use your home’s electrical wires to send the network signal from one spot to another! Sure, you can buy a separate Powerline kit for that, but why bother when there are Wi-Fi Mesh kits that do everything – use regular wires, Wi-Fi, and even your home’s electrical system?
A cool example is ASUS’s new product, the ZenWiFi AX Hybrid XP4. If you’re facing tough situations like these, you might want to give this a shot!
Mesh dedicated to gamers?
There’s a new Wi-Fi Mesh system just for gamers (and anyone else who loves a strong network). ASUS has already come out with a super cool gamer-focused kit the ROG Rapture GT6. You can grab it in a 2-pack and pick either white or black. And guess what? It has RGB lights! But the coolest part isn’t just the lights. It has a special RJ45 connector made just for your gaming computer. Plug it in, and your game gets the fastest internet speed.
This Wi-Fi Mesh system doesn’t just prioritize your gaming computer with a special connector, it also smartly speeds up the actual game data. The router knows when you’re gaming and makes sure your game data goes super-fast. This means less lag in your game, even if there are updates downloading elsewhere. And there’s more!
ASUS lets you connect to their special networks that are really close to popular game servers. So, your game runs even smoother. And hey, if you have another device you want to speed up, you can set it manually to go fast too.
