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Whole home Wi-Fi systems have become an essential requirement for the Internet-driven world. Every modern device, be it a laptop, desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet, connects to the Internet using Wi-Fi. Many smart devices also come with built-in Wi-Fi for enabling remote control. Therefore, your Wi-Fi network must cover your whole home. Most traditional routers provided by ISPs or purchased by homeowners can cover a limited area. Their Wi-Fi coverage may not extend to all the areas of a house, especially backyards or the farthest rooms.
Homeowners make use of Wi-Fi range extenders or access points for increasing the area covered by the Wi-Fi network. They can wipe out dead spots in home coverage. However, they have a few drawbacks. These devices must be connected to the main router using an ethernet cable. They may limit the maximum speed of the network. Also, there is a new wireless network created for each additional Wi-Fi range extender or access point. It can be tedious to switch between different wireless networks as you move from one room to another.
Mesh Wi-Fi systems are an alternate option to wipe out dead spots in home coverage. They tackle the drawbacks associated with using Wi-Fi range extenders and access points.
What are Mesh Wi-Fi Network Systems?
Mesh Wi-Fi systems facilitate seamless Wi-Fi coverage of your home. They include the main mesh router and additional satellite mesh routers. The main mesh Wi-Fi router connects to your ISP’s modem through ethernet. All the satellite mesh routers communicate to the main mesh router wirelessly, unlike Wi-Fi range extenders that use LAN cables. If a satellite mesh Wi-Fi router is not within the range of the main mesh router, then it uses other satellite mesh routers as hop points. You can place the satellite mesh Wi-Fi routers in different rooms to wipe out dead spots in home coverage.
A whole home mesh Wi-Fi system has only a single SSID and password. The main and satellite mesh Wi-Fi routers are part of a single mesh-based Wi-Fi network. While traditional routers have separate SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands, mesh Wi-Fi systems use all the bands with a single wireless network, known as mesh networking. The mesh Wi-Fi system automatically switches between different bands for improving performance. Some mesh Wi-Fi systems reserve the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands exclusively for transmitting data to mesh client devices. They have an additional dedicated radio band that is used for communication between the mesh Wi-Fi routers. It frees up the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for data transfer, thereby increasing the maximum transfer rate of the mesh-based Wi-Fi network.
Mesh Wi-Fi systems come with a web client or a smartphone app. It allows you to set up, control, and manage the mesh-based Wi-Fi network easily. You can create a mesh-based Wi-Fi network in fifteen minutes. The app also assists you in choosing the right place for your mesh Wi-Fi routers to maximize coverage. Another advantage of the mesh Wi-Fi systems is that you can add more satellite mesh Wi-Fi routers in the future as and when required. It makes it easy to wipe out dead spots in home coverage. Mesh Wi-Fi systems cost slightly more than traditional routers and range extenders. They are a superior option for large homes or apartments.
Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems 2020 – Expand Your Wi-Fi Signal to Any Part of Your Home
If you are looking to wipe out dead spots in home coverage, then here are the best mesh Wi-Fi systems of 2020. They are located in different price segments and have a varying set of features to meet the requirements of homeowners.
#1. Rockspace Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System 1200Mbps Dual-Band (3-pack)
Rockspace Whole Home Wi-Fi System is an affordable and one of the best-selling mesh Wi-Fi systems. The three mesh routers in the package provide a coverage of up to 5,380 square feet and wipe out dead spots in home coverage. Their MU-MIMO technology transfers data to multiple mesh client devices at the same rate. The whole home Wi-Fi system uses a dual-band network (2.4GHz and 5GHz) while only creating a single SSID. Mesh client devices don’t need to switch between different networks. The maximum speed of the Mesh Wi-Fi routers is 1,167Mbps. They come with two ethernet ports for connecting appropriate devices. Users can set up and manage their mesh-based Wi-Fi network using the RS Wi-Fi app. It provides a comprehensive range of features that include parental control and QoS function.
#2. Amazon eero mesh Wi-Fi – 2 Pack
Amazon eero mesh Wi-Fi routers are an economical offering to create a mesh-based Wi-Fi network. The 2-pack mesh Wi-Fi system is suitable for areas up to 3,000 square feet. It provides seamless connectivity throughout your home and eliminates dead spots. Additional mesh Wi-Fi routers can be added for extending the area coverage. Amazon eero mesh routers are compatible with Alexa and Apple HomeKit. They have ethernet ports for connecting LAN devices like printers. Amazon eero whole home Wi-Fi systems use dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and provide internet speeds of up to 550 Mbps. You can set up and manage your home’s mesh-based Wi-Fi network using the eero app.
#3. TP-Link Deco X20 Wi-Fi 6 (AX1800) Mesh Wi-Fi
TP-Link Deco X20 Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers are an excellent option to create a mesh-based Wi-Fi network. They use the latest generation Wi-Fi 6 (AX1800) standard to provide better performance and support more mesh client devices. There are three Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers included in the package that can cover an area of up to 5,800 square feet. They wipe out dead spots in home coverage for uninterrupted access to the Internet. You can connect up to 150 mesh client devices to the network. The system works with Amazon Alexa and you can control the whole home Wi-Fi system using voice commands. TP-Link provides the Deco app for setting up and controlling the Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers. You also get a free lifetime subscription to the TP-Link HomeCare service set that features an antivirus, supports robust parental controls, and has advanced QoS to improve the performance of mesh Wi-Fi systems.
#4. Google Wi-Fi system, 3-Pack
Google mesh Wi-Fi system 3-Pack is a great option to create whole home Wi-Fi systems. The three mesh routers are suitable for homes up to 4,500 square feet. Each additional mesh Wi-Fi router extends the coverage by 1,500 square feet. They wipe out dead spots in home coverage for providing seamless connectivity. Google mesh Wi-Fi system uses AC1200 dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz) standard. There are two Gigabit Ethernet ports on each mesh router. The Network Assist technology of the Google Wi-Fi system ensures that the clearest and fastest band is selected for your devices to maximize performance. You can control the mesh-based Wi-Fi network using an app. It allows you to prioritize mesh client devices and establish parental control for kids.
#5. NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (RBK752)
NETGEAR Orbi is another Wi-Fi 6 mesh router option among whole home Wi-Fi systems. Each of the Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers covers an area of up to 2,500 square feet, with the 2-pack suitable for a 5,000 square feet home. Additional satellite mesh routers can be added for extending the coverage. NETGEAR Orbi makes use of the Wi-Fi 6 standard (AX4200) for transmission with a maximum speed of 4.2Gbps. It establishes a Tri-Band mesh-based Wi-Fi network. Two bands are used for data transmission by mesh client devices, and the third band is reserved for communication between the Orbi Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers. The main router has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, while each of the satellites has two ethernet ports. You can control and manage the whole home Wi-Fi system using the Orbi app.
#6. Meshforce M1 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System (3 Pack) 2020
Meshforce M1 is an affordable whole home mesh Wi-Fi system. The three mesh routers in the pack cover 4,500 square feet. It comes with upgrades to wipe out dead spots in home coverage and assure reliable connection without interruptions. The mesh-based Wi-Fi network makes use of 2.4Ghz and 5GHz frequency bands in a single SSID for seamless roaming. Its Wi-Fi network is AC1200, while the ethernet ports have a maximum speed of 100Mbps. Users can connect up to six Meshforce mesh Wi-Fi routers to cover an area of up to 10,000 square feet. My Mesh app allows you to manage the network, track devices, establish parental control, and set up a guest network. Meshforce Whole Home Wi-Fi Systems are also available in faster variants.
#7. Synology MR2200ac Mesh Wi-Fi Router
Synology MR2200ac Mesh Wi-Fi Router is a well-recommended device to create a mesh-based Wi-Fi network. It uses a dedicated Tri-Band with a bandwidth of 2.13 Gbps (400+867+867 Mbps) for maximizing performance and reliability. You can combine multiple MR2200ac mesh routers to create a mesh-based Wi-Fi network. They come with Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port for connecting devices. Synology MR2200ac Mesh Wi-Fi Router creates a single Wi-Fi network (one SSID), making the whole home Wi-Fi system simple and easy to use. You can set up and manage the router using the web client or the smartphone app. It comes with advanced VPN capabilities and provides a comprehensive set of network management options. The Synology MR2200ac mesh router can be used with the RT2600ac Wi-Fi router.
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