Mesh Wi–Fi group test
Bad Wi–Fi at home? Mesh networking provides the speed and range that you need
MESH NETWORKING HAS certainly been one of the hot technologies of recent years, with dozens of mesh routers and kits claiming to boost your home Wi–Fi with higher speeds and greater range than the cheap–and–cheerful router provided by your broadband supplier.
Instead of relying on a single router, mesh networking systems typically include two or three identical routers — sometimes called nodes — that you can place in different locations throughout your home. These nodes then link together to create a mesh network that can reach further than a single router on its own, so they’re a good option for larger homes.
You don’t have to live in a massive mansion, either, as many smaller homes may have thick walls or ceilings between floors that can block your Wi–Fi signal. There are two key features to look out for here. A feature called MU–MIMO (multiple users, multiple input/multiple output) can improve reliability in buildings where lots of devices are connected to the network at the same time. And while less expensive routers just use “dual–band” transmission on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bandwidths, there are more expensive models that use “tri–band” networking — with an additional 5GHz band — to improve speeds.
Speed and range aren’t the only things to consider, though. Ease of use and well– designed apps are important, especially for parents who want to keep an eye on their children’s online adventures, or just turn off the Wi–Fi to get them to come to the dinner table in the evening. Other features to look out for include Ethernet ports for wired connections — some devices such as games consoles work better with a wired connection — or a USB port on the router that will allow you to share a printer with other people on your network.