Is It Time For Mesh WiFi In Your Smart Home?
June 20, 2023
An old friend reached out to me recently with some concerns about the WiFi coverage in his house. He actually included a pretty impressive network diagram of his current solution. I’d recommend everyone do this if they have more than a few disparate devices connecting wired and wirelessly. Anyway, his diagram included an ISP provided WiFi router that looks to be the issue as it covers his entire house (upstairs/downstairs) plus some wired devices via Cat6. I recently posted ‘You REALLY should Replace Your ISP WiFi Router’ which goes over a number of reasons, including coverage.
I ran into a similar challenge a few years back that got me looking for a better way to distribute internet throughout my two-story house. After doing some research on potential solutions, all signs pointed to mesh WiFi. The reason? A quality mesh router can transmit speedy and reliable wireless internet to every part of your home, eliminating dead spots once and for all.
Maybe you’re ready to upgrade your router and step up to a mesh solution like my friend. If so, what should you look for in a mesh router?
If you keep a few essential points in mind while shopping, you’ll find a solid mesh router for your home. Mesh routers are an excellent way to solve your network’s patchy or slow connectivity issues. Because of this, mesh networking kits have grown in popularity and an overwhelming number of options have landed on the market.
One of the first things to look for in a mesh router is coverage, as you’re likely upgrading because your single router can’t send WiFi throughout your home. Every manufacturer mentions a range that its mesh router can cover. While this range represents a best-case scenario and likely won’t have quite that far of a reach, it can give you a decent idea about what to expect. If you’re unsure about the coverage, you can always start with a two-pack mesh networking kit and add more nodes if needed.
You will also have to keep in mind the speeds offered by mesh routers to ensure they’re enough for your internet connection, particularly if you have a high-speed connection. Plus, it’s a good idea to pick a router with a dedicated backhaul band if you have a 300Mbps or faster connection unless your home is hardwired wired with an Ethernet network. All consumer mesh systems use one or both of wireless and wired connections, linking back to the primary mesh node.
The different nodes of a mesh kit use the backhaul band to communicate with each other. Without a dedicated band, the internet speeds offered by the satellite nodes are considerably lower than the primary node (connected to your ISP’s internet directly).
The most common WiFi standards today are 802.11ac (WiFi 5), and 802.11ax (WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E). The main difference between WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E is that WiFi 6 supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, whereas WiFi 6E supports 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz frequency bands.
Which WiFi standard you choose depends on whether the devices you own support WiFi 6 or not. Smartphones like the iPhone 11 and above, Samsung Galaxy S20 and above, the OnePlus 8, and so on, support WiFi 6. As WiFi 6 became the new standard in 2019, most tech manufacturers started creating devices that support the standard.
If you own mostly older devices, pre-2019, you’ll find an 802.11ac suitable for your needs. WiFi 5 is also backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n standards and can reach speeds of up to 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band and 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.
WiFi 6 is backward compatible as well. Going with that would be investing in a future-proof mesh solution that is capable of supporting WiFi 6-enabled devices. WiFi 6 uses less power than WiFi 5, offers better security, higher speeds and is generally more reliable in busier environments.
It’s also worth noting that the majority of mesh systems on the market are designed for horizontal surface placement. The antennas inside the node are positioned as if you’re going to set the node on a table, shelf or other horizontal surface so that the radio signal radiates out around the unit with a slightly weaker signal beneath the unit. Under real-world conditions the difference between mesh WiFi nodes sitting flat or oriented 90 degrees in a wall mount bracket is negligible but the signal will generally be stronger on the ‘top’ of the unit. All things being equal though, you’d probably be hard-pressed to notice a difference between the two orientations.
Obviously a lot to think about here, but nothing you can’t figure out using a little trial and error. The results can be significant however with just a little forethought and effort.
Price is another major factor to consider. While many mesh kits, particularly those with WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E, can be pricey, you’ll also find several affordable, mid-range mesh routers on the market. Beyond these factors, it all comes down to which features you want.
Have you thought about replacing your router? Have you considered a mesh WiFi solution? If you already have mesh, what were the reasons you chose it — coverage, slow connectivity?
Let Debbie and I know in the comments, DMs and emails as we really enjoy hearing from you. Thanks again to all those following Debbie and I through our home building journey. It’s great to hear your success stories and suggestions as we move through the process. And if you like the content I’m posting each week, don’t forget to ‘Like’ and ‘Follow.’
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