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Best routers to fix your Wi-Fi using the new mesh networks
Oh, the frustrating challenges of an inconsistent Wi-Fi connection. There are plenty of reasons your Wi-Fi keeps dropping at your home or office – signal congestion, physical location, firmware issues, hardware limitations or maybe your space is just too big for your router coverage.
If the latter is the case, you can try setting up network extenders to cover dead spot rooms. Although cheap, the downside with network extenders is that they are slower than your main Wi-Fi connection.
Since they often come with a single radio transmitter that cannot send and receive data simultaneously, things bog down the larger your coverage area is. Adding to that problem, the more gadgets connect to a Wi-Fi extender, the more it slows down.
Fortunately, there’s a better way. For areas larger than 3,000 square feet (the average range of a Wi-Fi router) with multiple walls, a mesh Wi-Fi router system is the way to go.
Mesh Wi-Fi Router Systems
Next-generation mesh routers are designed to spread a Wi-Fi network’s coverage with the use of multiple access points or satellites.
These systems usually come in sets of two or three separate units that work together to envelop your home or office with Wi-Fi coverage. As long as they’re within range of each other (about 30 to 50 feet), you can shape and customize your home or office’s Wi-Fi coverage by placing them in the appropriate rooms.
Compared to a network extender setup, a mesh router system is real simple to set up and manage. Since the separate units act as a part of one system – just connect the main unit to your modem then spread the other units around your space as desired.
Additionally, no separate network management or constant network jumping and reconnections are required as you move around your space.
As far as your gadgets are concerned, the Wi-Fi mesh is one big continuous Wi-Fi network.
Do you need a mesh router?
For the average apartment or condo, a mesh router system can be overkill. If you’re just looking to fill a few dead spots here and there and consistent speeds is not a must then a cheaper network extender should work.
However, large houses and office spaces that require consistent network speeds will reap the benefits of a mesh Wi-Fi network immensely. It may be a more expensive system but for its reliability, seamlessness, expandability and easy management, it’s well worth the admission price.
The biggest drawback with Wi-Fi mesh systems at this time is still the price. Expect to pay a premium, especially for multiple units. Thankfully, prices are starting to drop.
Best mesh routers you can get right now
Google Wi-Fi system
Right now, the cheapest option for a multi-unit mesh Wi-Fi system is the Google Wi-Fi system. On Amazon, a single unit can go as low as $114 and a 3-pack (enough for a 4,500-square-foot area) is about $265.
Netgear Orbi
Known networking brand Netgear also has its own mesh router line. It’s called Netgear Orbi ($200 for the first unit, $350 for two) and it also uses tri-band technology for speedy data rates across your network.
Although you can control the Orbi via app, one thing that the sets it apart from other mesh routers is its Amazon Echo/Alexa voice control compatibility.
Linksys Velop
Another mesh router option is the Linksys Velop ($200 for the first unit, $350 for two and $500 for a 3-pack). A single Velop unit can cover up to 2,000 square feet, two Velops can cover a 4,500 square-foot area and three Velops can cover 6,000 square feet of space.
Each Velop has a small footprint and a clean design that will blend in any modern household. Similar to other mesh routers, a Velop system can be fully controlled from an app.
2nd generation eero
A popular mesh router brand is the eero Home Wi-Fi System ($150 for the first beacon, $300 for a 2-pack, $400 for three). It applies emerging TrueMesh technology that uses multiple access points (eero calls them Beacons) to blanket even the largest homes with fast, consistent and reliable Wi-Fi coverage.
Instead of using traditional network extenders to cover your home’s dead spots, eero Beacons are full access points you can plug into any standard outlet in your home.
Remember, mesh Wi-Fi systems are expandable and you can get a single unit and add expansion units at a later time as needed.
5 ways to speed up your Wi-Fi
If you’re still stuck with a traditional router and it bogs all the time, here are five ways you can try to help speed things up.
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Tags: Amazon, Google, modem, network, router, Wi-Fi
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