Mesh WiFi is a whole-home WiFi network system. It is a specific way of setting up a WiFi network that gives you the freedom to move around your home with your connected devices and connect to the Internet wherever you are. Mesh WiFi can also help to boost your WiFi coverage throughout your home.
A Mesh WiFi system includes a mesh router and nodes that you place all over your home. The number of nodes that you need to set up a successful system depends on the size of your home and the coverage that you need.
A Mesh network is a better fit for larger homes than small living spaces like an apartment unit. This is because Mesh WiFi is designed to provide full-home coverage and can typically cover up to 2,000 to 5,500 square feet.
How Many Devices You Need for WiFi Mesh
To get a WiFi mesh network system started in your home, you need to figure out how much wireless Internet coverage you will need. Start by figuring out the square footage of your home and any outdoor areas that you want to cover. If you have a multi-floor home, don’t forget to factor the distance between floors.
To figure out how many mesh WiFi devices to start with, you can follow this general guide:
For a small home (800 sq ft or less)
- 1 mesh router
- 1 pair of WiFi mesh units
For a mid-sized home (1,200 sq ft)
- 1 mesh router
- 1 pair of WiFi mesh units
- 1 node
For a large, 2 story, or multi-story home (2,500 sq ft or more)
- 1 mesh router
- 1 pair of WiFi mesh units
- 2 nodes
An important thing to know is that while WiFi mesh systems operate similarly, not all mesh WiFi systems and devices are the same. Coverage can and will vary from system to system. Just like with any brand of devices, there can be differences. Also, mesh WiFi is still wireless Internet, so even though it is designed to blanket your home with coverage, it is still vulnerable to interferences.
How to Set Up a Mesh WiFi System in Your Home
App download
Many mesh WiFi systems will require you to download an app. After your download the app, create your account and create a strong password.
Configuration
Consider unplugging your mesh router and modem so that they can reset and assign a valid IP address to the new mesh router node.
Positioning the nodes
Figure out where you need coverage most in your home and place the nodes throughout your home intentionally. The position of your nodes will determine how well your network is optimized to eliminate dead zones. This can depend on the mesh system you have.
Connection of other devices
You should also consider how you will connect to devices like gaming consoles, PCs, TVs, and other entertainment devices. These devices perform better using a wired connection because it offers a more stable connection and faster speeds without interference from other wireless devices.
Other Options to Boost Your WiFi
Outfitting your home with a mesh WiFi system can be an investment. If you have a large home, this will be your best solution. But if your living space is small, consider other WiFi boosters like WiFi extenders or MoCA adapters, which will also improve your WiFi’s reach at the fraction of the cost of WiFi mesh.
Hitron’s Coax to Ethernet adapters create a wired network with your existing coax cable to provide network speeds up to 1 Gbps. When you connect your WiFi router to this fast and reliable network backbone, you can boost your WiFi signal to get the fast and high-performing WiFi connection you want.
Hitron’s HTEM4 Coax to Ethernet adapters can be purchased on Amazon. For more answers to questions and tips like this, check out Hitron’s Learn Page and blog.
