The Wi-Fi signal does not arrive in some areas of your home? A mesh network system can bring seamless connectivity to every corner. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right system and configure it for optimal performance.
Since they first came on the scene a few years ago, Wi-Fi mesh systems have changed the appearance of the home network. Instead of an unpleasant router that normally stows in a closet or somewhere away from the eyes, mesh systems typically use smaller and more attractive components (nodes) that should be placed outdoors in various rooms of the house.
These systems usually come with free mobile apps that simplify the installation and management of the network via phone or tablet and since all nodes use a single SSID and password, it is possible to roam from one room to another without having to log in. to an extended network.
Mesh systems are based on ease of use and are known for their quick and easy installation procedure, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind when selecting and installing your network. Read on to find out how to set up a Wi-Fi mesh network to cover your home with glorious and powerful Wi-Fi.
What is a Wi-Fi mesh system?
Designed to cover your home with a wireless signals, Wi-Fi systems usually consist of a main router that connects directly to the modem and a series of satellite modules or nodes, located throughout the house. They are all part of a single wireless network and share the same SSID and password. This means you won’t have to change your network and password as you do with a wifi extender.
Most satellites in the Wi-Fi system use mesh technology to communicate with the router and with each other. Each node acts as a point for other nodes in the system. This helps nodes farther away from the router to provide a strong Wi-Fi signal while talking to other nodes and not relying on one-to-one communication with the router.
However, not all Wi-Fi systems use mesh networks; some use a dedicated radio band to communicate with the router and with each other. As with mesh, the dedicated band releases the standard 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for client use.
How much coverage do you need?
Before going out e purchase a Wi-Fi mesh system, you need to understand how much wireless coverage you need. To get started, discover the areas of your home and all the outdoor areas you want to cover and don’t forget to take into account the distance between floors for multilevel houses.
Coverage varies from system to system, so be sure to check the specs before spending your hard-earned money and keep in mind that all houses are different.
Facilities such as walls, doors, and floors will affect wireless signal transmissions, as well as interference from other wireless devices such as microwave ovens and portable telephony systems. Almost all mesh systems are expandable, so if you find that your system isn’t reaching certain areas of your home, don’t worry.
let’s begin
Most Wi-Fi systems require a mobile app and an Internet connection for configuration. Once the app is downloaded, you will need to create an administrator account and password.
Make sure you remember your password to avoid recovering your system later. It is also a good idea (and recommended by most companies) to disconnect the modem or router to which you will connect your mesh system so that it can reset itself and assign a valid IP address to the node of the mesh router.
To start the installation, open the app and follow the instructions to connect the mesh router to your modem and add satellite nodes.
One of the most important things to consider when configuring the mesh network is where to place each node for optimal Wi-Fi coverage without dead zones.
The main router node, which provides Internet connectivity to all other satellite nodes, must be installed in the immediate vicinity of the cable modem or the existing router as it will be connected to it via a LAN cable.
The router node must also be located outdoors (not in a closet) and within reach of an AC wall outlet. The app will search for the node and let you know when it is discovered, at which point the node will acquire an IP address. Before moving on to positioning the satellite node, you will need to assign a new name and password to your new network which will be used by all connection clients.
The location of the nodes varies by the system: depending on the specifications, some nodes provide a wider coverage than others.
A good rule of thumb is to position the second node halfway between the router and the dead zone as you would a range extender, but limit the distance to no more than two rooms, or about 10 meters.
If you are using more than one node, follow the two-room rule. Place each node near a power outlet, outdoors, and from the ground on a bookcase or table. The same applies to multi-story houses: try to limit the distance between the satellites above and below to no more than 10 meters. Fortunately, many systems offer an in-app signal test or a physical LED on each node that will let you know if you are too far from the main node or the previously installed node.
When positioning your nodes, you should also consider how you will connect to things like game consoles, TVs, and other entertainment components.
These devices almost always work better using a wired connection as they offer higher speeds without interference from other wireless devices. Most mesh nodes have at least one LAN port that allows you to use a wired connection, so try to place the nodes within a cable distance (2 or 3 meters) of any device that would benefit from a wired LAN connection.
Wired or wireless backhaul?
Backhaul refers to the process of transmitting data from satellite nodes to the main router and the Internet. By default, Wi-Fi mesh systems are configured for wireless backhaul.
Some systems use both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands for backhaul, while others use a dedicated 5 GHz band for this purpose. However, some systems may use Ethernet cabling for wired backhaul, which offers optimal performance and tighter security. If your home is wired for Ethernet connectivity, you can improve overall network performance by connecting your nodes via a wired connection to provide wired backhaul to the main router.
Configure parental controls and device priority settings
Once you’ve installed your Wi-Fi mesh system, it’s time to take advantage of its features.
Many of these systems offer parental control which allows you to create profiles for each family member, limit access to certain websites and automatically disable network access during specific hours of the day, such as the time to go in bed and dinner time.
Almost all Wi-Fi systems offer a pause button in the app that allows you to disable Internet access at the touch of a button and some systems offer age-appropriate parental controls.
For example, a children’s preset will deny access to social media, gambling, and adult websites, while a teenage preset will be slightly less restrictive and an adult preset will offer unlimited access. You can apply these checks to a family member’s profile and therefore to all devices used by that person,
If you have online players at home or use your mesh system to stream video, use the QoS (Quality of Service) settings to allocate the bandwidth where it is most needed.
These settings typically allow you to drag and drop devices into boxes with high, medium, and low priority so that game consoles and devices that stream video are given the most part of the bandwidth without having to compete with other devices on the network.
The most intuitive systems have QoS presets for things like games, streaming, browsing, and chat and will prioritize both devices and applications.
Management options
Once your Wi-Fi mesh system is configured and running smoothly, it is a good idea to periodically check your network usage, the websites you visit, and the client lists.
Most systems will send a push notification when a new client joins the network, allowing you to manage unwanted clients immediately.
Many systems offer integrated anti-malware utilities that protect against viruses and other harmful content, so be sure to keep an eye on the network attack logs and quarantine all client devices that have been marked as infected.
Finally, make sure your firmware is up to date, as the latest versions often increase performance, add new features, and provide security fixes.
