Parental controls and network management tools: Most mesh wifi systems have tools to manage the network built into smartphone apps so you can adjust the settings. This means the access points can exchange information about the wifi network between each other using one band, freeing up the other two to keep your internet consistent. All mesh wifi networks come with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz (called dual-band), but some have two 5GHz bands as well as a 2.4GHz band (known as tri-band). But if you want to strengthen the wifi signal in a room (or rooms) on the first floor or higher then you’ll need three units.ĭual or tri-band: Modern routers broadcast wifi networks on two different bands: 2.4GHz, which is good for long distances but can be slower, and 5GHz, which offers faster speeds but only covers shorter distances. If your hub is at the front of your house on the ground floor and you want to extend the wifi out to a garden or to one or two surrounding rooms, you’ll need a system with two units. How many you need will depend on where in your home your wifi hub is situated and whether you want to extend the reach of your wifi on one floor. Number of access points: Most come with a choice of either two or three nodes to spread around your home. You’ll need to figure out how much space you’ll need to be covered including any outdoor areas you want to connect in like balconies or gardens. How do I choose a good mesh wifi system?Īrea: A mesh wifi system should cover an area of at least 2,000 square feet but some cover more. If you live in a large home across two or more levels, have an unusual layout and/or internal concrete walls, a mesh wifi network is your best option. The other problem is that they don’t actually use the same network as your router, so you might have to continually reconnect to two or more wifi networks if you move from one room to another with a smartphone or tablet.
However, to get a solid connection, the extender needs to be reasonably close and within line of sight of the central router, which doesn’t help you if you need internet in specific rooms. You might have also heard of wifi range extenders (also known as wifi repeaters) which plug into a power socket and extend the distance your main router can offer internet. What’s the difference between a mesh wifi network and a wifi extender? Mesh wifis simply extend the range of your internet, so if you’ve been quoted as getting a particular speed from your internet service provider (ISP) –say 30MBps– you’ll still get that same speed, but it will just be distributed around your home. However, it’s worth noting that you won’t actually get faster speeds on your internet. Alongside that, if you’re building a smart home with multiple speakers, smart alarms and security cameras, it can be a great way to keep them all connected at the same time. They are particularly useful for those working from home more frequently or if you’ve got teenagers gaming or streaming after school and gobbling up the bandwidth, as it can help you stay online with less frequent dropouts. Mesh wifi systems are great if you’ve got bigger homes with multiple floors or rooms and you’re struggling to get consistent speeds with lots of people logging on together. These access points (or nodes) can be placed around your home (like in your study, kitchen, or second bedroom) to create multiple “bubbles” of internet around your main router. Best budget mesh wifi system: Tenda Nova MW6-3Ī mesh network extends the distance your wifi can connect to your devices by adding two, three or more access points, essentially working in tandem with your central hub to improve the range.
Best mesh wifi system for thick walls: TP-Link Deco P9.Best mesh wifi system for extra access points: BT Whole home wifi.Best mesh wifi system with Google Assistant: Google Nest Wifi.Best mesh wifi system for small homes: Netgear Orbi RBK20.Best mesh wifi system for large homes: Netgear Orbi RBK852.Editor's Pick: Eero 6 Mesh Whole Home WiFi System.Runner-up mesh wifi system: Linksys Velop.Best mesh wifi system: Netgear Orbi Voice RBK50V.Best mesh wifi 6 system: Netgear Orbi RBK752.If you’ve got a big house with metal or concrete floors, or you’re planning on working from the bottom of the garden, it might be time to invest in a mesh system to get a more consistent connection. Do you struggle to get a consistent connection to your wifi around your home? Sometimes your devices won’t connect to the internet if your wifi hub doesn’t have the range, and you can be stuck battling buffering while watching Netflix or Disney+.
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