In large corporate offices, research facilities, and military bases, Wi-Fi Mesh systems have been used for a long time. Mesh networks have only recently gained widespread use by everyday consumers. But how can Wi-Fi mesh systems benefit your smart home?
Unlike traditional Wi-Fi points that have a single router, Wi-Fi mesh systems come with multiple points that each act as the primary router. They can provide incredible range and device capacity. But naturally, this comes at a price. Which leads us to a logical question…
Do You Need a Wi-Fi Mesh System?
As we mentioned, Wi-Fi mesh systems are typically a bit more expensive than traditional routers. Naturally, a lot of people question whether they should slap down the extra cash.
Usually, normal Wi-Fi routers come with a relatively decent range, but definitely aren’t the best option for smart houses (or big houses, for that matter). This is because your typical smart home contains a ton of connected devices. And these devices are spread out over somewhat eccentric places in your house. Think doorbells, security cameras, smart sprinkler systems… In the case of non-mesh routers, you would likely need to buy extenders to increase the range and device capability.
So, back to our question. Do you need a Wi-Fi mesh system in your home?
Well, if you’re living in an apartment, the answer is actually probably no. The range on most mid-range routers will likely be more than enough. And even the most enthused home automator would have a hard time packing enough devices to an apartment-sized space to overwhelm the router. Especially if you opt for a high end one. (note: here’s a link to Amazon for the best router I have tested, the Netgear Nighthawk RAX 120. Please also note: Netgear makes 2 routers that are colloquially referred to as “spaceships”. These are the RAX 120 and the RAX 200. I strongly recommend the RAX 120 over the 200; the internals make for better usage, and you can actually usually find it for cheaper than it’s RAX 200 counterpart.)
On the other hand, if you have a mid-sized or multi-storied house, or even a big apartment with a lot of connected devices, you should strongly consider installing a Wi-Fi mesh system. Now, we’ll look at some features of these systems, and how a Wi-Fi mesh can benefit your smart home.
See our review on the Most Popular Wi-Fi Mesh System of 2020, the Orbi RBK 852, here.
How can Wi-Fi Mesh Systems Benefit A Smart Home?
Here, we’ll discuss how the main features of a Wi-Fi mesh system can be a huge addition to a smart home.
However, I do get one specific question a lot – which actually leads us into the first benefit. So I want to address it before we get started. People often ask: “Why can’t I just buy an extender for my current router?” Well, let me tell you why…
Differences Between Wi-Fi Mesh and Router Extenders
While there are some great Wi-Fi extenders on the market (eg the Linksys RE7000), these are devices that extend the network your primary router is providing. They take in a signal from the router, and then repeat that signal to other devices. If you’re housing the router upstairs and you aren’t getting any network downstairs, you can set up an extender downstairs.
The thing is, although both the router and extender will provide signal from the primary router, they will be different entities. For example, if the name (SSID) of your primary router is “House”, your extender will have a different name, like “House 2”. They will essentially appear as two separate networks.
Therefore, even though you can technically eliminate dead zones, you will still have some life support zones to deal with. Suppose you’re carrying your phone from upstairs to downstairs. The phone will still be connected to the router upstairs until it gets completely out of range. Once this happens, your phone will change its access point and will switch to the extender downstairs.
One Network to Rule Them All
Alternatively, mesh systems are made to span span a huge range using a single connection entity. The super-smart thing about meshes is that even if you place four or five satellites across your house, you won’t need to reconnect to every router individually. The routers will calculate to know which satellite is closest to you, and you’ll be connected to that automatically. No need to reconnect your device to a different router every time you switch your position.
Also, the entire house will be under one single network, rendering your home truly interconnected. A well-employed Wi-Fi mesh system can eliminate any dead zones in your home.
Easy to Setup and Manage Smart Home Devices
With a smart home comes a lot of connected devices. From light bulbs to curtains, from security cameras to baby monitor, and nowadays, even ovens, fridges, and toilets! You can control almost any gadget with the touch of a button. But to truly control them remotely (eg control your security system from your phone), you must first connect these devices to Wi-Fi.
Connecting so many devices to a single system can get very complicated, very fast. Take the example we used above about range extenders. You would have to estimate which devices would be best connected to the router versus the extender, and then manually connect to that specific Wi-Fi network. And that’s on top of the main headache we talked about before with mobile devices. A Wi-Fi mesh system eliminates this issue. The router will do the job for you by automatically connecting devices to their closest hub.
Not to mention, each satellite you add will give you better device handling across your network; Ie.. you can keep adding as many devices as you want, no matter what your spouse might say.
See the Full Rundown of the Benefits of Wi-Fi 6 for a Smart Home here.
Wi-Fi Mesh Can Be Easily Controlled
The developers of the good mesh systems know that their customers want to make a single, up-front, higher-priced purchase in order to have the best user experience. With this in mind, most of these Wi-Fi meshes come with great software which makes controlling the Wi-Fi a breeze. For example, you can set guest password, set internet use limits for your kids, perform speed tests, remotely connect to your Wi-Fi, perform security analysis… the list goes on and on. If your looking for control over your smart home network, a Wi-Fi mesh is the way to go.
Conclusion on Wi-Fi Mesh In a Smart Home
Wi-Fi mesh systems can add some incredible benefits to your smart home. When looking at the features they provide, it’s easy to see their utility in home automation. I would only consider not using one if I had (1) a small, apartment-sized home, AND (2) relatively few devices. And a note on the future: With more and more wave frequencies being utilized by Wi-Fi, I personally think the majority of smart home products will be transitioning over to connecting via Wi-Fi. Just my opinion.
See Our Recap of Wi-Fi Compared to Other Smart Home Protocols here.
Even without thinking about the future, though, almost all smart homes now will see benefits from using a Wi-Fi mesh system.
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