![]() Wi-Fi systems range in price from around $150 for a single-node system to around $500 for a multi-node setup. If you're worried what these systems might cost, don't sweat it aside from a few pricey contenders, most mesh systems are only slightly more expensive than a router/range extender combination. Which Is Better: A Wireless Mesh System, or a Range Extender? For more on the benefits of the 802.11ax protocol, check out our speed tests and primer What Is Wi-Fi 6? Wi-Fi 6 (also called 802.11ax) is an evolution of 802.11ac technology that promises increased throughput speeds (up to 9.6Gbps), less network congestion, greater client capacity, and better range performance courtesy of several new and improved wireless technologies, including Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). OFDMA improves overall throughput by breaking Wi-Fi channels into sub-channels, allowing up to 30 users to share a channel at the same time.Īdditionally, 802.11ax takes advantage of previously unused radio frequencies to provide faster 2.4GHz performance and uses MU-MIMO streaming, too. Some Wi-Fi 6 devices can also communicate on the less-crowded 6GHz band, which is known as Wi-Fi 6E. Some do, yes, and you should insist on it in a new mesh system if you own client devices that support it. Nor can you use third-party WRT firmware to customize the system for enhanced performance and network monitoring. ![]() While designed for ease of use, they usually let you configure port forwarding and wireless security settings but lack the advanced network-management options such as individual band control, firewall settings, and wireless transmission rate settings that you get with a traditional router. Most Wi-Fi systems use band steering to automatically select the least-crowded radio band for the best performance and offer easy-to-use parental controls, guest networking, and device-prioritization options. Some models offer support for Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology, which streams data to multiple compatible wireless clients simultaneously rather than sequentially. Similar to modern standalone routers, mesh systems are multi-band networking devices that operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands. The app tells you where to place each node for maximum coverage and chooses the best Wi-Fi channel and radio band for optimal throughput performance, so you can maintain a strong wireless connection as you move about the house. They typically come with a user-friendly mobile app that walks you through the installation process with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions. Wi-Fi mesh systems, on the other hand, are geared toward users with little or no technical knowledge and can be installed in minutes. Setting up and maintaining a traditional wireless home network can be daunting, even if you're tech-savvy. Unlike range extenders, which communicate with the router via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router and to each other. They are all part of a single wireless network, and they share the same SSID and password. There's a main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, that you place throughout your house. These systems are a hybrid of sorts, made up of several networking components. Fortunately, there's another alternative: a mesh Wi-Fi system.Īlso known by popular brand names like Google Nest Wi-Fi, mesh systems are designed to blanket your home with wireless coverage. If you're new to networking, you might be worrying that all of the above will leave you sitting on the floor surrounded by a lot of router documentation and questioning your life choices. And both solutions typically create a new network SSID that you have to log in to as you move from one area of the house to another. ![]() Access points, meanwhile, offer more bandwidth than range extenders, but they require a wired connection to the main router. Range extenders can help fill dead zones, but most provide only half the bandwidth that you get from your main router. But larger homes and dwellings with dense walls, multiple floors, metal and concrete substructures, and other material impediments may require additional components to bring Wi-Fi to areas that a single router can't reach. ![]() Many late-model wireless routers can project strong signal to most rooms of a typical medium-size house. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authenticationīuying Guide: The Best Wi-Fi Mesh Network Systems for 2023.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages. ![]()
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