M
ESH 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” transmissionon 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.Things to consider...
Everything you need to know before getting started
1WHO NEEDS IT?
As the saying goes, size isn’t
everything. It’s true that mesh networking
systems are generally recommended for
larger homes that need to extend the
range of their Wi–Fi signal. However, mesh
routers can also be useful for many
smaller homes that have thick walls or
ceilings that can block the Wi–Fi signal.2HOW MANY?
Most manufacturers sell mesh
networking kits with two or three routers.
Two routers will usually be fine for homes
between 2,500–4,000 square feet, while
larger homes may need a kit with three
routers. (Always check the specifications
on the manufacturer’s website too.)3PARENT POWER
As well as good speed and range for
your Wi–Fi, it’s vital that the apps provided
by the router manufacturer provide quick
and easy set–up. Parents may also need
additional features that allow them to
control their kids’ use of the internet, such
as content filters and scheduling options.4
SOCKET TO ME
Dual–band routers that transmit on
the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bandwidths have a
max speed of around 2Gbps, which is fine
for general web browsing and streaming
video. However, a tri–band router adds
a third frequency band that can boost
speeds to as much as 3Gbps for high–
speed gaming or 4K video on Netflix.How we
tested
The first mesh router
from each system was
connected to an existing
broadband router in the
living room. The second
router was then placed
in a back office that
normally suffers from
poor Wi–Fi reception
because of three
partition walls. Some
kits included a third
router, so this was
placed in a hall, roughly
halfway between the
other two routers.HIGHER...
NETGEAR ORBI WIFI 6
$699.99
netgear.com
If you want the latest
state–of–the–art Wi–Fi,
Netgear’s forthcoming
Orbi system supports
the new WiFi 6 standard
(802.11ax) for super–
high speed and range....OR LOWER?
TENDA NOVA MW6
From $199.99
tendacn.com
The plastic design is a
bit cheap and cheerful,
but the MW6 mesh kit
is available in two– or
three–pack options at
affordable prices.maclife.com FEB 2020 57Tough testing, trusted ratings
The Asus Lyra Trio has good mid–range
performance and an easy–to–use app.