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1. #Best mesh wifi extender 2018 software#
2. #Best mesh wifi extender 2018 series#

Similar to modern standalone routers, mesh systems are multi-band networking devices that operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands.

(Don't expect to find a lot of flashing LED indicators-these systems are designed to blend in with your home's décor.) They usually have at least one LAN port for connecting to devices like TVs and gaming consoles, but USB connectivity is a rare feature at this point. The router and nodes use internal antennas and are almost always tastefully designed so you can place them out in the open rather than in a closet or under a desk. Wi-Fi mesh systems also look nothing like a traditional setup with a router and range extender. Wi-Fi mesh systems are easy to expand (with no current limit on the number of nodes you can add) and manage using your smartphone, allowing you to disable Wi-Fi access to specific devices with the press of a button and give certain devices network priority without having to log in to a complicated network console. 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. Easy Setup and App-Based Network Management As with mesh, the dedicated band frees up the standard-use 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for client use. Not all Wi-Fi systems use mesh networking, however some use a dedicated radio band to communicate with the router and with each other. This helps the nodes farthest from the router to deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal as they are talking to other nodes and not relying on one-to-one communications with the router. 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.Įach node serves as a hop point for other nodes in the system. They are all part of a single wireless network, and they share the same SSID and password.

#Best mesh wifi extender 2018 series#

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. What Is 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. Fortunately, there's another alternative: consider installing a mesh Wi-Fi system instead.

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 offer more bandwidth than range extenders, but they require a wired connection to the main router. Range extenders do a good job of filling in dead zones, but they typically provide only half the bandwidth that you get from your main router. Many of the latest wireless routers can provide strong coverage to most rooms of a typical medium-size house, but larger homes and dwellings with dense walls, multiple floors, metal and concrete substructures, and other structural impediments may require additional components to bring Wi-Fi to areas that the router can't reach. This is where whole-house coverage becomes more than a nice-to-have. Maintaining smooth Wi-Fi performance and throughput for gaming, video streaming, and smart home devices is important, but now that so many folks are working from home, you also need to consider important work applications and different modes of work communication, especially video conferencing.

#Best mesh wifi extender 2018 software#