What is a Mesh Wi-Fi Network?

What is a Mesh Network & How Does it Work?

With a traditional wireless network, a Wi-Fi signal is broadcast from a single router and modem. Every device in your home that connects to the internet is searching for that signal, and the further away those devices are from the router, the weaker that signal is. In some instances, you may not have a Wi-Fi signal at all.

A mesh network aims to blanket your whole home in wireless connectivity. Instead of a single router trying to cast a signal that reaches every device, a mesh network consists of a main router that connects to the internet, and a series of modules (called nodes) that catch the signal and amplify it like satellites. The nodes communicate with each other and are all part of a single wireless network, which means they share a common network ID and password. The nodes broadcast the Wi-Fi signal to all corners of your home.

Think of your modems as speakers and the Wi-Fi as music. Even if you’re blasting music, you might not be able to hear it in every room. The further away you are from the source, the hard it is to hear. But if you give yourself multiple speakers, and place them strategically, you’ll be able to hear the music perfectly. This is how a mesh Wi-Fi network functions, but instead of speakers, you’re placing nodes.

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Do I Need Mesh Wi-Fi?

If you have a small home with an open floorplan, a traditional Wi-Fi setup may be just fine for you. However, there are other scenarios that may make a mesh network a little more appropriate.

• You have a very large home and have multiple Wi-Fi dead zones throughout your house. One signal from one modem is not enough to provide whole-house coverage.
• Your home isn’t enormous but features an unusual layout that makes it impossible to achieve Wi-Fi access in certain rooms.
• There are structural reasons that prevent you from being able to access the internet on traditional Wi-Fi. Perhaps your modem is in the basement, and you’re trying to reach it in a second-floor bedroom. You home might have brick or concrete interior walls that prevent the signal from getting through. Even lead-based paint can interfere with a Wi-Fi signal.

If are unable to move your router to a more centrally located spot, or the geometry, size or construction of your house is yielding numerous dead zones, a mesh Wi-Fi network should help you achieve the connectivity you’re looking for.

Benefits of a Mesh Wi-Fi Network

Whole house Wi-Fi coverage and elimination of dead spots can make mesh Wi-Fi an appealing choice. Other benefits include:

• Easy setup and management. Most mesh Wi-Fi networks use a mobile app to guide users through setup. The user-friendly app walks a new user through the placement of the nodes throughout a home, ensuring optimal Wi-Fi coverage. Even if you wouldn’t consider yourself a tech savvy person, these apps can walk you through the setup process and leave you feeling accomplished. These apps also incorporate useful features to help manage the network like parental controls, network priority, and guest access.
• Stronger wi-fi signal, faster internet speed. The goal of installing a mesh network in your home is to have a stronger signal that covers your whole home. This is achieved because the nodes within the network help to amplify the signal. Your devices will be able to connect to the network via whichever node is closest to them, rather than searching for a signal from a modem on the other end of the building.
• Increased security. Certain mesh network offer security subscriptions for an additional cost that help to protect your mesh wi-fi router, network, and devices from threats like malware, cybercrime, and viruses. This can be especially useful if you have smart devices like thermostats and security cameras that rely on a strong wireless network.

Mesh networks can cost anywhere from $100 to $400, depending on the brand and the number of nodes needed for your house. If that upfront cost isn’t a detriment, a mesh Wi-Fi network can be a big help if you’re regularly dealing with connectivity issues.