MESH NETWORKS
understanding Mesh networks: A Comprehensive Guide
For many years, mesh Wi-Fi was used exclusively in businesses where secure networks were critical. Recently, mesh Wi-Fi has entered the consumer market, providing access to secure, high-speed, and long-range Wi-Fi networks for homes.
In this post, we’ll explain what mesh Wi-Fi is, who it’s for, and some great options to get you started.
Who needs mesh wifi?
Mesh Wi-Fi is designed for those with weak or incomplete Wi-Fi coverage in their home or workplace, as well as people who want an uncomplicated, easy-to-set-up Wi-Fi system.
Traditional routers have a limited range and often cannot fully cover multi-story or large homes. If you live or work in a property that’s 3,000 sq. ft. or larger, has two stories or more, interior brick walls, or an unusual layout, a mesh Wi-Fi router would be beneficial.
What’s the difference between Mesh Wi-Fi and a Range Extender?
While mesh Wi-Fi and Range extenders might appear to have the same functionality, there are some key differences.
Mesh Wi-Fi devices comes with roaming protocols (to keep you on the same network) and mesh technologies such as self-healing and adaptive routing to keep your network stable.
Range extenders require you to sign on to a new network manually in order to maintain a strong connection once you’re far enough away from your router.
Most range extenders are set up under different networks; but with mesh networks there are no other networks to worry about. While each mesh node essentially functions as its own router, range extenders are merely duplicating the routers original signal.
Mesh Wi-Fi is faster and more efficient at delivering a Wi-Fi signal than a range extender.
