Networking
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Mesh networks for a guest house
QWe currently have two Wi-Fi networks, one for ourselves and the other for guests in our B&B. Each has its own router, bridge and wired access points. Could I replace that hardware with two mesh networks, each covering the whole house? by Frank Holden
AWe examined mesh networks in
MacFormat #326. Yes, you could set up two of them to provide the Wi-Fi coverage you need. But that’s likely to work out very expensive, given the price of one alone, and you’d face some hurdles.
Using a conventional mixture of Wi-Fi and cabled components, it’s straightforward to adjust their placement to eliminate black spots. That’s a bit more complex with two separate meshes, but because you’d have independent control over each one, it’s easier to find an effective solution that covers your and guests’ needs where each is required.
However, many individual mesh systems can run two Wi-Fi networks – the main one and another for guests – which would work out more affordable. Verifying your preferred hardware allows this before buying. This can work brilliantly, but if it doesn’t, diagnosing and fixing it can be involved, as you’re reliant on features of the admin software, and trial and error in moving nodes around to strike a good balance of coverage for you and guests.
Meshes can self-correct, rerouting traffic if the path to its destination becomes unreliable. Depending on the coverage the nodes provide, you may no longer need some of or all of the Ethernet connections.