Whole-House WiFi: Setting Up a Mesh Network

Summary: Set up whole house (mesh) WiFi Network to eliminate WiFi signal dead zones in your home or office and achieve seamless signal performance.

WiFi has come a long way. The recent increase in remote-access work has generated innovation in internet connectivity. However, even with networks springing up and growing worldwide, situations, locations and structures still interfere with signal strength and stability. Walking from your desk to the conference room with a laptop can cause disruption and dropped signals in the middle of a meeting.

Even with excellent WiFi hardware, some areas can limit or completely block signals due to structural issues such as cement and brick walls, unusual layouts, heavy electrical wiring or thick metal doors and interior beams. Few things are more frustrating than being slowed down by WiFi dead zones in your home or office, with your signal varying from room to room.

What Is a Mesh Router?

In simple terms, a mesh router helps a WiFi signal travel with you as you move around your office or home space, keeping your connection intact. In tech terms, a mesh network (or meshnet), “nodes connect directly to as many other nodes as possible and cooperate with one another to efficiently route data to and from devices.” A mesh router is one of the nodes that transmit WiFi signals directly, evening out signal strength throughout your home or office.

Mesh routers are designed to cover large areas of up to 6,000 square feet, including those with brick or cement walls, multiple stories and unusual floorplans. Mesh routers use one or more radio nodes positioned strategically throughout your office or home to carry the WiFi signal and integrate numerous device endpoints into a strong WiFi connection.

Mesh network setup is a valuable and complex system enhancement. IT experts from a reputable WiFi installation company should be consulted to design the best possible layout to achieve a stable and secure network connection, especially if business data will be transmitted through the WiFi signal. For instance, your company may need one mesh router in the office, one in the basement and one in the garage or second level of your business. In addition, whole-house networks offer some cool advanced features:

• Stable Long-Range Signals – Work anywhere throughout your space without losing signal strength or dropping the signal.
• Only One Network Required – One network covers everything.
• Better Control of Smart Devices – Mesh routers also act as Smart Device “hubs” and give users much better control over all types of connected devices.
• Seamless Streaming – Whole House WiFi can operate at peak performance with more than 100 devices streaming at the same time. As a result, no one gets “bumped off” the network slowed down by heavy traffic.

Most users have added more wireless devices (such as smart thermostats, smart TVs, robotic vacuums, printers and security cameras) spread around their offices and homes. Unfortunately, WiFi signals from a stand-alone router can only reach so far before the signal begins to degrade. Mesh routers function as “signal dispatchers,” that relay your wireless traffic more efficiently than traditional routers, affording stronger signals at greater distances. In addition, they stabilize your WiFi signal and allow your network to operate at the highest possible speeds from everywhere in your space.

Whole house WiFi costs more than signal-range extenders. Also, depending on the size of the space to be covered, you might need to purchase multiple satellite devices, which adds further cost. However, “time is money,” and signal drops and slow connections are time-consuming and distracting from the focus of your online activities, in addition to being embarrassing in a business setting.

What is a Professional Mesh Network Setup?

A professional business network technician can quickly and securely set up your mesh network, test it for coverage and configure it for network security. Small and midsized businesses (SMBs) and anyone with a wireless network should consider the assistance of network connectivity services to help make informed and cost-conscious decisions about routers and your specific system requirements best for your home or company. There are locations that can interfere with and shorten the signal, like metal filing cabinets or desks. A professional technician will be aware of this and will also properly set security settings and make sure everything works properly before leaving the site.

Setting Up a Router: WiFi Installation in NYC

A WiFi installation company can supply home networking services and ensure your system has strong network security from the start. In addition, IT experts can help you define computer-system priorities to serve business and personal IT needs. In addition to wireless connectivity, network technicians can offer advice on other solutions to make your business network productive and secure. Finally, when needed, onsite and remote IT support can troubleshoot and repair any network issues that surface.