If you are annoyed by slow or intermittent internet at home, you should consider switching to a mesh network. A mesh network is a collection of wireless devices that work together to provide consistent and dependable Wi-Fi coverage across your home. Unlike a typical router, which has only one point of access, a mesh network can spread the signal to hard-to-reach places and eliminate dead zones. This article will explain how mesh networks function and how to build up and optimize your own mesh network.

A mesh network is made up of a primary router that connects to your modem and one or more satellite nodes that communicate with the router and one another. The nodes serve as repeaters, amplifying and distributing the Wi-Fi signal across multiple rooms or floors. The router and nodes form a mesh-like structure, allowing data to move over many channels while avoiding congestion or interference. A mesh network also employs a single network name (SSID) and password, eliminating the need to switch between networks as you move around the house.

One of the primary advantages of a mesh network is its ability to provide consistent and high internet speeds over a wide region. A mesh network can cover up to 6,000 square feet, depending on the number and location of nodes. A mesh network may also support multiple devices and users while maintaining connection performance and quality.

Another advantage of a mesh network is that it is simple to configure and manage. Most mesh systems include a smartphone app that walks you through the installation process and allows you to tweak your settings, check network status, and solve difficulties.

How to Set up a Mesh Network

To create a mesh network, you’ll need a compatible mesh system, a modem, and an internet service provider (ISP). You’ll also need to determine the best places for your router and nodes, which should be within range of one another and away from sources of interference like walls, appliances, or metal items. Plug in your modem and router, then follow the directions on the mesh system’s app to connect them and set up your network name and password. Next, plug in your nodes and arrange them in the appropriate locations, then use the app to connect them to your network and verify the signal strength.

Whether you’re moving into a new home or apartment, or simply want to speed up your existing mesh system, it’s worth taking the extra time to select the best location for your setup. I’ve been testing and reviewing routers for years, and few variables have a greater impact on your Wi-Fi performance than the position of your routers.

Traditional Wi-Fi routers broadcast signals from a single point in your home, but mesh routers use many devices to send signals from multiple locations. As a result, they function more like a network of routers relaying your traffic back to the modem.

It’s a far superior method to home networking, especially in large, multistory homes where a standard, single-point router will most certainly result in dead zones in distant rooms.

Where Should You Put Your Mesh Router?

You’ll want to consider where you set your router and satellite extenders, commonly known as nodes (or “Points” if you use Nest Wifi), because their exact location will have a big impact on the system’s performance.

Here are some tips to bear in mind as you proceed.

Move the main router

First and foremost, you’ll want the main router in your setup—the mesh device hooked to your modem—to be as centrally positioned in your home as feasible. That’s the same technique you’d take with a single router, and the argument is identical: Routers emit Wi-Fi signals in all directions, so positioning your router in a central area in your home will maximize the performance of your connection.

That goes double for mesh systems, where the strength of the connection near your extenders is primarily determined by the strength of the incoming signal from the main router. A stronger connection between the two will help you achieve the quickest Wi-Fi speeds possible throughout your home.

Your options for shifting the router may appear restricted due to the position of your modem and the incoming wiring for your home’s internet connection. An extra-long Ethernet cable can be useful in this situation, allowing you to move the router away from the modem if necessary. If it isn’t feasible, you should at least relocate the primary router outside, preferably as high above the ground as possible.

Move those extenders around

Once you’ve placed the primary router in the best possible location, you’ll want to select appropriate locations for the extenders. Most systems allow you to connect each device to the main router via Ethernet cable for the highest speeds available, although most users choose to connect wirelessly. In that scenario, you’ll want to be particularly smart about where you position the extenders throughout your home.

Read Also: What is the Best Mesh Wifi System Overall?

Again, out in the open and off the ground is your best bet for a clean signal, but you should also consider the layout of your home, as physical obstructions between the primary router and the extenders can slow things down.

A decent rule of thumb is to have the devices in your mesh arrangement no more than two rooms apart. That will vary from home to home, especially if your walls are made of solid materials such as brick or concrete, which can make Wi-Fi signals tough to penetrate. You’ll also want to be aware of electronic interference from TVs and other major appliances, so if you’re using a mesh extender in the kitchen, avoid the impulse to hide it on top of the fridge and instead relocate it away from your appliances entirely.

Furniture can block Wi-Fi signals, too, so if you have anything large or bulky in between two of your mesh devices, consider relocating them. Aquariums are another classic antagonist for your mesh setup, as Wi-Fi has a hard time transmitting through water.

The best way to ensure that your mesh network is as well-connected as possible is to open its app and check the signal strength of each device, which is something most systems offer. You can also find system-specific guidance online at the links below:

• AmpliFi
• Arris
• Asus
• D-Link
• Eero
• Linksys
• Nest Wifi
• Netgear
• TP-Link

Avoid these dead zones

If you have a back corner of your home where the signal goes out, it may be tempting to install a mesh extender right in the heart of that dead zone to increase your speeds. In most circumstances, this would be a mistake.

Remember that, like your phone or laptop, your mesh extenders must connect wirelessly to the main router in your arrangement. If the back corner is a dead zone for your phone or laptop, it is likely to be a dead zone for your mesh extender as well.

The better strategy is to position the extender next to the dead zone, where it will have an easier time connecting to the main router. In some circumstances, that may be halfway between the dead zone and the main router, but you may need to experiment a little. Hit the ideal spot, and the Wi-Fi signal it emits should be healthy, extending into the dead zone to bring it back to life.

Run a Speed Test

Aside from the diagnostic features in your mesh router’s software, the quickest approach to assess your system’s performance is to execute some speed tests. There are numerous free online services that we recommend, all of which will tell you the upload and download speeds of whatever device you are using in a minute or less.

For the most accurate information, take your laptop or phone and do numerous speed tests in each room of your home where you need a working Wi-Fi signal. Finally, you should have a solid notion of where the speeds are most consistent and when they dip. From there, you might try rearranging your extenders to balance things out, or you could consider purchasing an additional extender to fill any gaps. In either case, your home should be fully equipped with a strong signal wherever you need it.

Remember that your mesh router can only provide speeds that are equal to what you are paying for from your ISP. If your home’s speeds are consistently slow, it may be time to consider switching to a faster plan. Your ISP may also be able to offer you with an updated modem, which will improve and speed up your mesh system from the start. It can’t hurt to inquire.

If your speeds are still slower than you’d like and your ISP isn’t the problem, there are a few alternative options you can consider. For starters, if your provider’s modem is a gateway device that also serves as a router, you should disable its Wi-Fi network so that it does not interfere with your mesh system’s Wi-Fi.

Speaking of interference, it’s likely that your neighbor’s Wi-Fi network is interfering with your own. To fix this, open your mesh router’s app and check for channel options that allow you to tune your network to a different area of the Wi-Fi airwaves, maybe steering away from the channel that other networks are utilizing. You’ll also want to ensure that your mesh system’s firmware is up to date, which should be simple to check through the app.

How can I Increase my WiFi Coverage?

Are you experiencing troubles with your wireless network? If so, you’re not alone. Many wireless networks experience occasional slowdowns or outages. This poor performance reduces your productivity. While there is no set rule for resolving wireless network issues, the following tips and tactics may assist improve your network’s functionality.

1. Choose a central location

Central locations provide the best signal coverage across your entire building. For two-story structures, if your router or access point is on the first floor, place the router or access point high on a shelf to provide a stronger signal for devices on the second floor.

2. Move your router off the floor

Walls, floors, and metal objects can interfere and weaken your router’s wireless signals. Locate your router to avoid these kinds of obstructions as best as possible.

3. Replace your router’s antenna

Router antennas are usually omnidirectional, meaning they broadcast in all directions. So if you place a router near an outside wall you end up broadcasting half of your wireless signals to the outside world. Many routers, however, come with removable antennas. If you replace the omnidirectional antenna with a high-gain antenna, you can aim the router’s wireless signal in the direction you want.

4. Reduce wireless interference

The most common wireless technology, 802.11g (wireless-G), operates at a frequency of 2.4 gigahertz (GHz). Many wireless electronics such as cordless telephones, microwave ovens, baby monitors, and garage door openers use this same frequency. As a result, their signal noise could interfere with the connection between your device and router.

To reduce noise, buy cordless telephones and other devices that use the 5.8 GHz or 900 megahertz (MHz) frequencies. Because 802.11n (wireless-N) operates at both 2.4 GHz and the less frequently used 5.0 GHz frequency, these higher GHz devices may cause less network interference.

5. Replace your device wireless card-based network adapter

Wireless network signals are sent to and from your computer. Devices with built-in wireless networking typically have excellent antennas. Sometimes, however, the router can broadcast to your device, but your device can’t send signals back to the router. To resolve this issue, replace your card-based wireless network adapter with a USB wireless network adapter that uses an external antenna.

6. Add a wireless repeater

Wireless repeaters are handy devices that rebroadcast a wireless signal, strengthening the signal from your router to other floors or the opposite side of a building. You can place one anywhere there’s an outlet, but look for locations that are halfway between your router, modem, or access point and your device. Research these products before investing in one. Some wireless repeaters can be difficult to configure and can drag down your network’s performance.

7. Change your wireless channel

Wireless routers can broadcast on several different channels. If you encounter interference, try changing the wireless router’s channel through the router’s configuration page, which you can usually find by opening your web browser and typing in the IP address in the address bar. You do not have to change your device’s configuration, because it can automatically detect the new channel.

8. Update your firmware or network adapter driver

Router manufacturers regularly offer free updates. Sometimes, these updates can increase your router’s performance. To receive the latest firmware updates for your router, visit your router manufacturer’s website.

Network adapter vendors also occasionally update the software or driver that Windows uses to communicate with your network adapter. These updates can improve performance and reliability. You can check your vendor’s website for updates or sign up for email newsletters to receive notifications. 

9. Buy equipment from a single manufacturer

Although routers and network adapters from different manufacturers work together, they might perform better if produced by the same manufacturer. These improvements can be helpful if you’re using wireless-G devices to transmit over a long distance or live in an older house where thicker walls can block more of the signal.

10. Upgrade 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g devices to 802.11n

In general, when buying new equipment, purchase wireless-N technology. Although wireless-G may be the most common wireless network, wireless-N is at least two times as fast. It also has better range and stability. Wireless-N is backward compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g, meaning you can still use any wireless equipment that you already own. However, you won’t see much improvement in performance until you upgrade your device or network adapter to wireless-N.