Netgear Orbi The Best Non-Cloud Mesh Router The Google Wifi system is also interoperable with the Nest Wifi system, so you can add it to an existing Nest Wifi setup or add Nest devices to your Google Wifi. You can also take advantage of the Ethernet ports on the nodes to connect certain devices that may benefit from a wired connection. Unfortunately, this system does not support Wi-Fi 6, but the Google Wifi nodes use dual-band Wi-Fi 5, giving you a 2.4GHz band for connecting most devices and a 5GHz band that can deliver faster speeds for needier devices like TVs and computers. With Google Wifi, you can get a three-pack for under $200, which is enough to cover up to 4,500 square feet and 300 connected devices. The Google Wifi system is a straightforward, easy-to-install system, and it gets bonus points for its compact design and highly attainable price point. Most mesh setups cost a decent chunk of change, but you don't need the most premium platforms if you just want a system that covers some extra distance and devices. Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-Band IEEE 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) | Frequency: 2.4GHz, 5GHz | Features: MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Band Steering, Parental controls, WPA3 The units also include LAN and WAN ports, so you can connect wired devices or use an Ethernet backhaul between nodes for wider spacing to cover more area. This not only lets them communicate with your computers, phones, and smart home devices faster and more dependably, but it also allows for better communication between each node in the mesh network. Best of all, TP-Link’s units use Wi-Fi 6. And, if you're worried about the low cost, don't be, this system offers high speeds and decent coverage.īy spreading out several TP-Link Deco X20 nodes around your home, you can get broad coverage and prevent Wi-Fi dead spots. That makes these nodes cheaper than a single node in other systems. You can get a 2-pack for under $200 or you can go for three units for just a bit more. The biggest barrier to getting set up with a powerful mesh network is the added cost of the multiple nodes, but the TP-Link Deco X20 makes it much more attainable. Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-Band AX1800 IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Frequency: 2.4GHz, 5GHz | Signal Rate: 1,200Mbps (5GHz), 575Mbps (2.4GHz) | Features: MU-MIMO, OFDMA,QoS, beamforming, WPA3 If you’re setting up a smart home, you can also take advantage of the Zigbee hub built into each node. And, if you want to wire anything up or run a wired backhaul between nodes, each unit has dual Ethernet ports on the back. They also support Wi-Fi 6 which will improve speeds available on compatible devices. This provides tons of bandwidth to support all the connected electronics in your home as well as to maintain stable, high-speed communications between each node in the system.
With the eero Pro 6 mesh system, you’re getting nodes that support tri-band Wi-Fi, combining a 2.4Ghz band and dual 5GHz bands. Thanks to all these awesome features it makes this our favorite mesh Wi-Fi system. These classy little units fly under the radar thanks to a small design and omission of protruding antenna arrays, but they mean business when it comes to providing extensive coverage and fast speeds.
The eero Pro 6 mesh router system is perfect for getting your whole home up to speed for streaming and gaming alike.
Wi-Fi Technology: Tri-Band IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Frequency: 2.4GHz, 5GHz Lo, and 5GHz Hi | Features: 4x4 MU-MIMO, Bluetooth LE 5.0, Zigbee, VPN passthrough, WPA3 We've listed some of our favorite mesh routers, so you can pick the model that'll work best for your home setup, whether the priority is a wide coverage area or a boost to online gaming speeds – and click here to find them in the UK. And, despite being composed of multiple nodes, they can create a single network, so your devices will easily switch to whichever node is delivering the strongest signal without you needing to lift a finger. They also take a lot less fuss to get set up, since they generally configure the network themselves. Mesh systems can be spread throughout your house, creating an even network. But, if you've got an older system, large space, or many obstacles in the way of the signal, a Wi-Fi mesh system might be your best bet to fix these issues. In some cases, a Wi-Fi range extender may be an easy alternative if most of your home is covered and you just want to get coverage in a few dead zones. If this is your predicament, a mesh Wi-Fi system can help you get out of it.
Even worse, devices with poor connections on your network can negatively impact the other gadgets on the Wi-Fi. You'll end up with rooms that get an awful signal because there's too great a distance or too many walls between devices and the router. There are all sorts of hacks and best practices to help you get the best signal out of your router, but at a certain point, a home may just be too big for a single router to handle. We all have a love-hate relationship with our Wi-Fi.