In order to have better Internet we can use different devices. One of the options is what is known as a Wi-Fi Mesh system . In this article we are going to explain how it works, how we can install it to make it work as well as possible and also what to consider when buying one. The objective is to make your wireless connection work faster, with greater stability and avoid annoying cuts.
How does a Mesh system work?
Mesh systems are used when Wi-Fi coverage is limited. For example, if we need to connect from other points in the house and the signal from the router does not arrive or does so very weakly. They are different devices that connect to each other. One acts as the main, base, while the rest are satellites that you can distribute throughout the house.
Keep in mind that there is a key point that differentiates it from a wireless repeater and that is that these satellites do not connect directly to the router , but to each other. This will allow us to place them in different places and cover a larger surface. In addition, you don’t need to disconnect from one network to connect to another, but you maintain the connection constantly and it changes depending on the best option at any given time.
A Wi-Fi mesh network is going to have a single network name or SSID. Also the same password . This is what allows us to always be connected even if we move to different places in the house. It will automatically connect to the different satellites depending on the quality of the connection to achieve the best possible result.
As you can see, there is a clear difference between having a router and several repeaters or using a Mesh system. In the first case, these repeaters will each be connected directly to the router and not to each other. A mesh network, on the other hand, will connect all the satellites, which can be 2, 3 or many more.
What to do to install them correctly
Although Wi-Fi Mesh devices can extend the wireless coverage of the home and reach much further than a repeater, it is still important to install them correctly. The objective is to optimize its capacity to the maximum and to be able to connect without the cuts and problems typical of wireless connections.
Location
Therefore, the first thing you should consider is where you are going to place them . This will depend on where you are going to need to connect and, also, on how many satellites the mesh network you are installing has. Having a router or base and a satellite is not the same as having 5 or 6 satellites that you can distribute throughout the house.
The ideal is that you distribute the satellites in the places where you are really going to connect. For example in a room where you are going to connect a computer, in another where you have a television, etc. After all, the objective of this type of device is to take the connection to places where coverage is weak and take advantage of it as much as possible.
Its installation is simple. They will only need to be connected to electricity and we can manage it through built-in software. You can even control them from your mobile.
Security
Regarding the configuration of the Mesh system, you must bear in mind that all the satellites will have the same network name or SSID, as well as the same key. That password is what you need to be able to connect to them and have access to the Internet, in the same way as if you were connecting to the router’s wireless network.
What should you take into account for security? It is certainly essential to use a reliable key . That password must have a series of factors that are going to make it really secure. The objective is that intruders cannot enter and you are always protected and thus also make the connection work as well as possible. Make sure it meets the following:
- The password is unique
- totally random
- Has letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and other symbols
- Appropriate length (the more characters the better)
- WPA 2 or WPA 3 encryption
What to consider when buying one
You will come across different types of mesh network devices. It is important that you choose one based on the features you will need. For this reason, we are going to see some points to take into account and in this way be able to choose the option that best suits you to achieve optimal performance.
Double band
An important factor is that the Mesh system that you are going to buy is dual band. Today’s devices can operate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands . We can say that the first option is ideal for connecting from further away, although the speed is more limited. On the other hand, the 5 GHz band is the one with the highest speed, but it is more sensitive to obstacles and distance.
Therefore, having both options available is going to be very useful to choose at all times which one best suits what we are looking for. In this way you will ensure that the connection works correctly and without cuts.
Maximum speed
Of course, you can also look at the maximum speed that these devices support. Here you can find important differences. Ideally, they offer an adequate speed to be able to connect several devices without problems, download from the Internet, watch streaming videos in good quality without cuts, etc.
In the specifications of the Mesh devices you will see the maximum speed supported. For example 1200 Mbps, 3000 Mbps, etc. The older, the better. This will allow you to have more capacity to connect more devices at the same time and without cuts appearing.
Wi-Fi 6 technology
Most current devices have the latest Wi-Fi 6 version available . This will allow you to connect devices at a higher speed and also that there are not so many problems when we connect many at the same time. It is interesting that you buy Wi-Fi Mesh devices that have Wi-Fi 6 built-in.
This is directly linked to the previous section, since with this latest version you will achieve greater speed when you connect devices wirelessly to the mesh network, which will also improve the quality.
number of satellites
This will depend on what surface you want to cover. Logically, the more devices you have, the greater the capacity. You can distribute them in different places in the house, since they are connected to each other, and thus connect more devices where you really need a good connection.
How many do you need? That will depend on each case. They usually come in packs of three devices . You can find them with some more, too. There is no number that we can say is better, but it will depend on the surface to be covered.
Gigabit Ethernet ports
But not only will you be able to connect devices to the Mesh system through Wi-Fi, but many have built-in Ethernet ports to connect other devices by cable. For example you can connect a computer, television, etc. It is very useful to maintain maximum stability at all times.
You should see that it has Gigabit Ethernet and not Fast Ethernet, since the difference is remarkable. Gigabit means that they will be able to work at a speed of up to 1 Gbps, while Fast Ethernet is limited to 100 Mbps. You will also have to look at the number of ports available, to be able to connect more or less devices.
In short, as you have seen, Mesh systems are very useful for improving the wireless connection. You can take into account everything that we have explained to install them correctly and have the maximum speed and quality of the signal. If you are going to buy them, make sure they have good speed, dual band and Wi-Fi 6 available.