Wi-Fi Works Best Over Short Distances

Typical home Wi-Fi routers, like you get from your Internet provider, have one wireless access point. The access point takes your wired internet connection and turns it into a wireless signal. As you move away from your access point, your signal gets weaker and the speeds get slower. With mesh networking, you can easily have multiple access points, or mesh nodes. The mesh nodes relay the signal, allowing it to reach further. This broader coverage is the main appeal of mesh networking. However, mesh networks usually come with tradeoffs — usually higher latency and lower maximum speeds.

Mesh systems are good for larger homes or old buildings with plaster, brick, or concrete walls. If you don’t have Ethernet cabling in your house, or want a simple way to get better Wi-Fi, it’s worth considering a mesh system. Before you throw your existing router away and get a mesh kit, you should try moving your router to a central location. Smaller houses or apartments can usually be covered with a single access point, and that can actually be more effective than mesh networking.

Dual-Band Vs Tri-Band

One big thing to look for when shopping for a mesh kit is whether they are dual-band, or tri-band. This refers to how many radios they have, and can have a big impact on their performance. Dual-band devices lack a second 5 GHz radio for communication between the main base station and mesh nodes. A lot of popular mesh systems like the AmpliFi HD, Netgear Nighthawk MK62, and the cheapest Eero kit lack a third radio. That can lead to slower performance and higher latency when under load. Getting a tri-band system can be a bit more expensive, but if you are looking for the most reliability and performance you can get, you should consider a tri-band system like the Eero Pro or Netgear Orbi RBK50.

Wi-Fi 6

One downside to Eero is their lack of Wi-Fi 6 support. Wi-Fi 6 is the latest generation of Wi-Fi, and will be the best, most future proof devices you can purchase right now. Unfortunately, most mesh companies have not come out with Wi-Fi 6 products yet, and the ones that are available are expensive. If spending $600 and up on your home Wi-Fi seems like too much, a good tri-band Wi-Fi 5 system is what you want.