Should you upgrade to a mesh Wi-Fi router?

by

There you are in your home, home office, or full-time office. Maybe you’re a doctor, a lawyer, and suddenly your internet is down. These days it might as well be your electricity, and it might even feel like someone cut off the air conditioning on a hot summer day. Bottom line, it’s uncomfortable, very uncomfortable. Pens, paper, and file folders for everyone. If your home, your “smart home” suddenly feels like it lots a dozen brain cells.

Or maybe its in certain spots where the walls must be made of lead or something worse. The dreaded “dead spots” or weak spots that take that GIGABIT connection and turn it into driving at 15 mph. Quick, see if your cell phone’s internet works better?! Sound familiar? It could be your Wi-Fi struggling to meet your expectations. As one of the “tech literate guys” in my homeowners group on whatsapp I see this question ALL THE TIME. Most people blame their Internet Service Provider ISP. Yeah, sometimes it’s legit and the provider is having issues, but most of the time their Wi-Fi in on life support. One solution to consider is a mesh network, but be aware there are a few questions to ask yourself before you choose to pony up the cash for a new system.

Key questions to ask about your home and Wi-Fi

  • Where do you live? apartment? single family home? townhouse?
  • Have you always had this issue or did it get worse recently?
  • How many people are accessing your Wi-Fi network?
  • Have you added alot of “smart home” devices that attach to your Wi-Fi?
  • How large is your home or business?
  • Do you have a single-floor or multi-floor setup?

Choosing the right solution

These questions are important in choosing the right solution. Here are a few reasons. Apartments are notorious for packing people together like sardines, and hence Wi-Fi interference is rampant. Wi-Fi uses channels for data, and if you and your neighbors are on the same channel, that will torture your router when it tries to get you a signal. Imagine four or more people in the same room shouting at the same time. That’s not a good way to communicate. Learn about your router and how to change the “Wi-Fi channel”. Consider 5GHz, 6GHz routers that will give you more channels to play with to avoid that pesky interference. Mesh Wi-Fi is BEST suited for large spaces think larger houses or mansions over 1500 square feet or more. So packing mesh Wi-Fi routers too close together will actually “create” interference.

Track down your Wi-Fi issue

If the issue started recently, then do a little walking back in time. Did you add smart home devices? Did a new neighbor move in with a MEGA Wi-Fi system that is now overpowering yours? Are more people using your Wi-Fi these days? If the last one is true, it might be time for a speed upgrade from your ISP (internet service provider). Remember that UPLOAD speed is just as important as download. If you saturate your upload, prepare for painfully slow internet.

Mesh Wi-Fi in a multi-floor home

If you have a multi-floor setup, then a MESH network is best as Wi-Fi signals will have a difficult time getting through the thick concrete slab or metal between floors. Which mesh network to try? There are many and it depends on how much management you want to do. Want an easy option that does it all via apps on your phone? I recommend the Eero series of routers from Amazon. They are not ULTRA configurable, but your average home user doesn’t need complicated. They just need something that works.

This was just a quick review of some things to try. YMMV (your mileage may vary) depending on how your structure is built and other factors, so do your homework before you decide mesh is the way to go. Don’t believe the marketing and hype. Find the right solution for you… Happy Wi-Fi-ing.

Still stuck? Our I Need Help page could be your new best friend…

BONUS INFO: Need to know what internet option are available in your area? Check this site out https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home

Want more great articles? Check these out:

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Get a link to a Free Download: PC Building Mistakes Checklist.
Get my 9-point checklist that prevents costly errors before you buy a single component. Plus other regular tech tips in your inbox...

Leave a Comment