Do I Need a Mesh Wi-Fi Network? 5 Things to Consider
Reading Time: 5 minutesConsidering installing a mesh network? Here’s what you need to think about.
Mesh networks are the latest craze in wireless connections. Be it from your known brands, or from internet providers, everybody seems to be touting how they’re the solution for most Wi-Fi issues.
But are they, though? There are a few things to consider before jumping onto the mesh bandwagon. Below, we’ve gathered some info to help understand if this is the technology needed to improve your Wi-Fi setup, or if other options are better.
What Is a Mesh Wi-Fi Network?
Simply put, mesh is a technology over Wi-Fi that simplifies the process of adding new routers to an existing network. The main goal is to provide a hassle-free way to expand the coverage area for a wireless network, domestic or not.
Mesh (802.11s) isn’t a replacement for current Wi-Fi standards (the well-known 2.4GHz 802.11b/g, the more recent 5GHz 802.11n/ac, or 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and 6E). That means current devices don’t need updates to join mesh networks, since the meaningful differences are all inside the routers.
Mesh systems work similarly to the Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters many people have at home: one router (the ‘main’ one) is wired to a modem, providing an internet connection. The others send and receive data to it wirelessly, and should be placed strategically to minimize dead zones.
There are differences, though, and they matter specifically to people wanting to know if mesh routers are the solution to their Wi-Fi issues. The definite answer varies for each case.
1. Survey the Covered Area
Since mesh is intended to expand Wi-Fi coverage, the building area is the first thing to consider. If your current router isn’t providing a strong signal everywhere at your home or office, switching to a mesh kit could be an option.
But it’s not that simple. Most routers send and receive data omnidirectionally. That means, basically, that Wi-Fi coverage is a sphere with the router at its center, and the further away from it, the weaker the signal is. So, in many cases, solving this can be a matter of simply changing the current router’s location.
If your router is placed in the living room, next to the entry door, and bedrooms have poor coverage, moving it nearer to a hallway can dramatically improve signal strength—which translates into better speeds and no more connection losses.
2. Take Physical Barriers Into Account
Simply moving the router, however, may not be enough. Other barriers could be affecting signal strength, and it’s necessary to address the multiple factors involved in poor coverage, even when the router is at a central place.
To test this, turn off Wi-Fi on every device you have, then use a cabled connection to test the router (so you can know if the router itself can deal with the speed). If your network is strictly a 2.4GHz one, it also means it’s time to get a new router: few of those go above 150Mbps; even fewer handle above 300Mbps.
Older buildings, on the other hand, usually have thicker walls, which could impact how well Wi-Fi signals travel through the rooms. If you want to connect to a router on a floor below or above, that’s even worse. Ceilings are thicker than walls, and have pipes and wires running through them.
In such cases, even placing the router dead-center in the building won’t solve coverage issues. You need to map specifically how the connection fares in each room—and sometimes in different places in the same room—to understand the course of action.
3. Factor in Connection Speeds
Connection speed is also something to take into consideration. If your ISP promises, say, 600Mbps, but in a specific room you only get 200 or 300, most likely signal strength is to blame. But not necessarily: there are a few ways to improve router speeds.
Firstly: is your ISP cheating on you? Connect a computer straight to the modem, via cable, and disable Wi-Fi if it’s a modem/router combo (many modern ones are). Then check your speed to see if you’re getting what you’re paying for.
Then comes another question: can your current router handle all that speed? This is not the kind of device people buy as often as a smartphone (or even a computer), so you could be dealing with an outdated router that simply isn’t capable of providing the bitrate you pay for.
Lastly, there’s the obvious question: does that specific room really need all that speed? Even for 4K video streaming, anything around 100Mbps should suffice with some spare room. There’s no need to worry that the full speed isn’t reaching a device if that device won’t even use all those megabits per second.
4. Try Other Networking Solutions
Mesh networks aren’t exactly new: the standard was published in 2012, and products featuring the technology are still reaching wide availability. However, there are not as many compatible products as is the case with other networking solutions that can fit your needs.
Take into account the previous point: if you live in a small apartment and pay for 400Mbps, but your router only supports 300Mbps, a newer one will probably cover your whole unit and provide the subscribed connection speed. A mesh kit won’t hurt, but won’t be necessary in this case.
In another situation, if a single point at your home or office needs better coverage, a repeater or extender would be a much better solution than a mesh kit. Costs are lower, setup is more straightforward, and it will work just as well.
If multiple points suffer from poor signal strength, mesh networks can help, but they’re also not the only solution. Many newer (or renewed) buildings have RJ45 outlets, so one can plug a network cable directly into a computer, or a wired access point, to provide cheaper coverage extension. Plastic wall ducts and additional cables, while not a pretty solution, can also work similarly between rooms.
So, in many cases, simply purchasing a kit may not be the best solution. Mesh routers aren’t as easy to find at your local supply store as the hardware mentioned above, and are oftentimes even harder to set up. It will depend on how much time you’re willing to spend, e.g., passing new cables through the rooms or finding the best outlet to plug a repeater for optimal coverage.
Also, older routers and repeaters may not play well with mesh kits, since they were designed before the standard was widely adopted. Issues like channel interference and speed bottlenecks may arise. If you plan to keep one or more of your current networking devices, compatibility could be poor.
5. Consider the Price of a Mesh Setup
Speaking of compatibility, even though it’s an industry standard, things aren’t always smooth when setting up a mesh network. Many routers get limited functions when ‘meshing’ with products from other brands, or may not work at all. Huawei, for one, is known to limit mesh in its routers strictly to other Huawei hotspots.
That means things can quickly get on the pricier side, depending on the size of the network you’re trying to build. And, until the inter-vendor compatibility issue is overcome, future-proofing will be hard: who can assure a router five years from now will still be compatible with one sold today, even if they’re from the same manufacturer?
Connect the Mesh Dots
There are many ways to enhance wireless connections. Mesh is just one of those, and may or may not be the one for you.
If you’re starting from scratch, investing in a mesh kit can be a great and simple way to ensure you have no Wi-Fi dead zones. Moving to a new home, renovating the office space, building a new rooftop? Sure, it will make things easier!
If you’ve tried other solutions for your current situation, mesh can also be the way to go. If no amount of moving the router around, adding repeaters, and trying wired access points solved your connectivity issues, a well-placed mesh network probably is just what you need.
For small spaces where just a few specific corners need better coverage, though, or if you can solve the signal issues with a couple extenders or wired solutions, there’s no need to go the mesh route.
Also, even if you do choose to get a Wi-Fi mesh kit, it doesn’t mean your old connectivity solutions should retire. It’s always handy to have a few spare routers if you need last-minute help in, say, setting up a guest network for holiday parties or filling a single dead point in that lost corner of your garage.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/do-i-need-a-mesh-wi-fi-network-things-to-consider/