Traditional wifi is quickly becoming a thing of the past. If you’ve ever experienced slow load times, buffering, a choppy video stream, or dropped connections, consider mesh wifi for a better experience. eero recognized early on how wifi could be more reliable, easier to use, and simpler to install, creating the first home mesh wifi system in 2014. Since then, mesh wifi systems have transitioned from a niche solution to a mainstream option for consumers, driven by the need for reliable, whole-home internet coverage.
Read on to learn more about what is mesh wifi and how it works.
What is a mesh wifi network? The basics of mesh wifi.
True to its name, a mesh network creates a web-like structure—or mesh—of multiple devices, called nodes. In a mesh system, a node not only provides wireless connection to devices (like an access point) but also extends the wifi signal. Mesh nodes wirelessly connect to each other and then send the wifi signal to each other, forming a network in which each node communicates with multiple other nodes.
Because a mesh network isn’t reliant on a single node passing the wifi signal from one to the next, there are multiple pathways for data to travel. This allows laptops, phones, smart speakers, etc., to automatically connect to the node with the strongest signal, ensuring a seamless connection without interruption.
So you can start a video call in your home office and freely move to the kitchen, second floor, or to the basement without the call dropping.
What is a mesh router? Mesh wifi versus traditional router.
A common way to describe the difference between mesh wifi and a traditional router is with an analogy. Traditional wifi networks, commonly known as a local area network (LAN), create a hub-and-spoke model, where the router acts as the central hub that distributes the internet signal to all connected devices, forming a star-like structure. In this setup, the farther a device is from the router, the weaker the signal becomes, often leading to slow speeds or dead zones in areas far from the hub.
In contrast, a mesh router forms a web or network model, consisting of several nodes that act like satellites communicating with each other. There’s no central hub. Instead, every node is able to connect with all of the other nodes to form an interconnected web. In this setup, you have an expansive coverage area that can maintain a stable wifi connection around obstructions, like furniture, and between rooms and floors of a large home or building.
Benefits of mesh wifi.
Here are the top benefits of a mesh wifi system:
1. Bigger coverage
Mesh wifi systems can eliminate dead zones–even outdoors. With multiple nodes placed around your space, you can have strong signal coverage in every corner, including hard-to-reach areas. And because mesh networks create a single, unified network, there’s no need to switch networks or reconfigure connections as you move through different areas of your home or office.
2. Scalability
Mesh wifi systems are designed to be scalable. You can easily add more nodes to increase coverage without complex installations or wiring. Mesh wifi systems are modular, making it easy to expand coverage as you move from smaller to larger spaces. For example, eero systems let you grow your network by simply adding more routers.
3. Reliability
In a mesh network, if a node fails or experiences interference, the system can automatically reroute data through other nodes, ensuring continuous connectivity and reducing downtime. This self-healing design helps the network maintain stability even if a node becomes disconnected or faulty.
4. Continual connectivity
Unlike traditional wifi networks, where you might have to reconnect to different access points as you move around, mesh wifi allows devices to seamlessly switch between nodes. It helps avoid network congestion by efficiently managing bandwidth across multiple devices.
5. Consistent speeds
With a mesh system, bandwidth is distributed efficiently across all of its nodes, balancing the network load to ensure that no single device or area experiences weak performance. This is how mesh networks can handle many connected devices without a significant drop in speed. This is particularly beneficial for households or businesses with multiple devices using heavy bandwidth (e.g., streaming, gaming, video calls).
6. Easy setup and management
Because mesh wifi is a relatively newer consumer technology, most mesh systems come with apps or simple interfaces for easy installation and configuration. You can typically set up the system by following on-screen instructions or scanning QR codes, without the need to call your internet service provider. Plus, mesh networks offer a centralized management platform, allowing you to monitor and manage all connected devices, settings, and guest network access.
7. Smarter for smart homes
Smart homes can consist of hundreds of IoT devices, including smart devices equipped with advanced features like intelligence, automation, and user interactions. Mesh wifi systems are designed to handle many connected devices simultaneously providing stable, continuous connectivity without degrading performance.
8. Improved security
Mesh wifi systems often come with advanced security features, like WPA3 encryption, automatic security updates, and threat detection, helping to protect your network from vulnerabilities and attacks.
9. Enhanced range
Mesh wifi systems with tri-band technology include a dedicated backhaul band. This is a separate band used exclusively for communication between nodes, ensuring that the bandwidth used to extend the network doesn’t interfere with the bandwidth used for devices, maintaining faster speeds.
Is mesh wifi right for you?
If you’re unsure about whether mesh wifi is the right internet solution for your home, here is some guidance:
When to consider mesh wifi.
Mesh systems are particularly beneficial for extending your network outdoors, and in large homes, homes with unusual layouts, smart homes, or households with multiple users and devices. In these cases, standard routers and wifi extenders don’t have the signal strength or range you need, resulting in dead zones and rooms with poor connections. In apartments, multistory buildings, or shared housing, especially those with thick walls, a mesh system can also help everyone get a strong and consistent internet connection.
If you anticipate adding more smart devices, upgrading your wireless devices to the newest wifi generation, or expanding your home in the future, a mesh wifi system can scale to meet growing or evolving connectivity needs.
Because mesh wifi can support more devices than traditional routers, it’s ideal for busy networks where multiple people are streaming, gaming, or working from home, all without slow speeds or buffering.
When a traditional router might be enough.
A single router may be able to meet the needs of small or single-floor apartments—as long as you have a reliable internet provider and steady speeds.
For instance, if your home is smaller than 2,000 sq. ft., a single Wi-Fi 6E router is enough. In this case, you can enjoy reliable connectivity for gaming, streaming, everyday browsing, and video conferencing with one router.
How to choose the right mesh wifi system.
Evaluating mesh wifi system options can be straightforward if you know what matters most to suit your specific needs. Here’s the key questions to ask yourself to choose the mesh system that’s right for you
- What’s the speed of your internet plan?
Check your internet speed from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Compare it to the mesh system’s maximum supported speed. A mesh router’s speed capabilities should match or slightly exceed your internet plan speed. This way you have optimal performance for your current plan while accounting for future upgrades or internal network needs.
If your internet plan offers speeds of, say, 300 Mbps, a mesh router with a maximum speed of 1 Gbps won’t increase your actual internet speed beyond what your ISP provides. Paying extra for a mesh system with speeds far beyond your internet plan might not be worth it if your plan won’t take advantage of those speeds. Investing in a system with higher speed capabilities ensures you don’t have to upgrade your router when you upgrade your plan. - What’s the size of your space or property?
Mesh routers offer varying coverage areas. The size of your space will not only help determine which router to get but also if you need a multi-pack. Match the number of nodes to the complexity of your layout. A 2,500 sq. ft. single-story home might need two nodes, while a three-story 4,000 sq. ft. home might need three nodes. If you’re looking to extend your wifi outdoors or to an outbuilding, you’ll want to be sure the mesh router is designed to be weatherproof. - How many devices are you connecting to your network?
You want a mesh system that can support all your connected devices without slowing down your network speeds. Mesh routers will mention the number of supported devices, sometimes called device capacity. Equally important, pay attention to whether the mesh system is dual-band or tri-band.
Bands are like separate highways that wifi signals use to travel. Mesh nodes use bands to communicate with each other and to carry data to and from your connected devices. Dual-band systems have fewer lanes, so they can get congested with traffic. Tri-band systems add an extra lane just for mesh node communication, making wifi performance smoother and faster. Tri-band mesh systems are best for crowded networks with lots of users and devices. - Will you be upgrading your wireless devices or moving to a larger space?
Ideally, the mesh wifi system you buy today can grow with your needs. You’ll want to check if the mesh system is fully compatible with all generations of the manufacturer’s devices and that it allows for easily adding more nodes as needed. If you plan to upgrade devices in the next one to two years, prioritize systems supporting the latest wifi standards. - Do you want convenient, easy setup and management?
A user-friendly mobile app can simplify the process of setting up your mesh system, managing your network, and troubleshooting issues. Remote access features allow you to control your network from anywhere and receive notifications about important updates or network activity. Voice command capabilities and smart home integration can help you manage your wifi network hands-free with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa. - Do you care about keeping your network and devices protected?
Without security features, your wifi network is vulnerable to cyberattacks, unauthorized access, and potential data breaches. You’ll want mesh systems that offer WPA3 encryption, built-in firewalls, automatic security updates, malware protection and Ad Blocking, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) support, which allows secure and private internet browsing by encrypting your online traffic. - Are you concerned about needing help or possibly replacing your system?
Wifi is a vital part of our lives. You should be able to buy your mesh system with confidence. If you have lots of devices connected to your wifi, there’s an increased likelihood of technical issues such as interference or device failures. And if issues arise, but you’re not the most tech-savvy, you’ll want easy access to troubleshooting support. Look for mesh systems that offer the longest warranty, generous return policies, and 24/7 customer service.
The way wifi should be.
At eero, our vision is to deliver wifi the way it should be—for every home and business. Our patented mesh networking technology, TrueMesh, optimizes wifi performance based on your network layout, connected devices, and overall network usage. While some routers require you to manually search for and install security patches, eero offers automatic updates to help keep your network safe and secure.
eero works seamlessly with your existing internet service provider, so you can set up your wifi in minutes using our free app. With eero, new Wi-Fi 7 devices are backed by an industry-leading three-year warranty. We offer 30-day returns, free shipping, and 24/7 customer support. Learn more about eero mesh wifi, explore our mesh wifi systems.
Sources:
Statista. “Average Wi-Fi network connection speeds worldwide from 2018 to 2023.”
eero. “Can I use eero with my current ISP?”
