Wiki source for WifiMeshRouting
======Mesh Routing for Wifi======
=====Standard Wifi Routers=====
Standard, single router wifi is no-longer practical
- Houses are too big
- people have too many wifi devices
- speeds for streaming media etc are a limiting factor
- signal dropouts are noticeable on connections like zoom calls
=====Wifi Repeaters=====
Wireless repeaters really can make matters worse. A typical repeater uses the wireless router's capacity in the same way as anything else that connects to the wireless network. It is not a standalone access point. The signal is not actually boosted or amplified, it is repeated (hence the name repeater).
A repeater can help, but only if placed in a specific location with sufficient coverage, otherwise it can actively help make your entire Wi-Fi network worse.
=====Mesh Routers=====
With mesh routers - you get multiple, and place them around the house. The more the better, and when you move between them it is seamless. They are usually small and not too obtrusive. You can wire them together (better) but that involves cables in walls. Otherwise they just talk between themselves over wifi.
Some have a separate wireless channel (backbone) and this is a bonus for smooth communications between them (if you can't hardwire them). Not critical though.
If you want more, you probably need to know a product won't be discontinued in the future (although most TP Link models seem to work together - not sure about other brands)
They often have AC1200 or AC2200 or similar as a spec. This is a measure of wifi thoughput, so higher is better, but generally an AC1200 set will be find for most smaller/medium households.
=====Network ports=====
Another tip, mesh routers usually have at least 2 network ports. 1 is used for wiring them together (if you want to) but you can use the other for hardwiring a nearby device such as a TV, computer, game console etc. It should improve the network performance of that device (even if the routers aren't hardwired together themselves)
=====Product options - **Feb 2022**=====
**Mercusys Halo H30G**
this set seems incredibly cheap (but don't know much about brand) - seems to be fine on specs. Get 2 packs for that price, or even 3 with a bigger house - i.e. 4 or 6 routers. **$129 for a 2 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETMES351302/Mercusys-Halo-H30G-AC1300-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-Sy
**TPLink Deco E4**
TP Links are pretty good (I have earlier versions of these) **$179 for a 2 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9404/TP-Link-Deco-E4-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---2-P
- There is a more expensive M4 version, which is only better if you plan to hard wire them together as they have Gbit network ports on them
**Mercusys Halo H50G**
Again, don't know the brand but cheap, and this is a 3 pack. Also slightly better specs than their 2 pack above **$229 for a 3 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETMES351901/Mercusys-Halo-H50G-AC1900-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-Sy
**Google Nest AC2200**
Higher spec & great product, but probably not needed unless multiple people are streaming HD streams or gaming etc **$230 per unit**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETGOG0595/Google-Nest-AC2200-WiFi-Router---1-Pack--GA00595-A
**TP-Link Deco X20**
If you were going to spend $500, this is probably the best for the money as it uses the wifi6 technology which should be faster with less lag **$482 for a 3 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9623/TP-Link-Deco-X20-Wi-Fi-6-Whole-Home-Mesh-System
=====Standard Wifi Routers=====
Standard, single router wifi is no-longer practical
- Houses are too big
- people have too many wifi devices
- speeds for streaming media etc are a limiting factor
- signal dropouts are noticeable on connections like zoom calls
=====Wifi Repeaters=====
Wireless repeaters really can make matters worse. A typical repeater uses the wireless router's capacity in the same way as anything else that connects to the wireless network. It is not a standalone access point. The signal is not actually boosted or amplified, it is repeated (hence the name repeater).
A repeater can help, but only if placed in a specific location with sufficient coverage, otherwise it can actively help make your entire Wi-Fi network worse.
=====Mesh Routers=====
With mesh routers - you get multiple, and place them around the house. The more the better, and when you move between them it is seamless. They are usually small and not too obtrusive. You can wire them together (better) but that involves cables in walls. Otherwise they just talk between themselves over wifi.
Some have a separate wireless channel (backbone) and this is a bonus for smooth communications between them (if you can't hardwire them). Not critical though.
If you want more, you probably need to know a product won't be discontinued in the future (although most TP Link models seem to work together - not sure about other brands)
They often have AC1200 or AC2200 or similar as a spec. This is a measure of wifi thoughput, so higher is better, but generally an AC1200 set will be find for most smaller/medium households.
=====Network ports=====
Another tip, mesh routers usually have at least 2 network ports. 1 is used for wiring them together (if you want to) but you can use the other for hardwiring a nearby device such as a TV, computer, game console etc. It should improve the network performance of that device (even if the routers aren't hardwired together themselves)
=====Product options - **Feb 2022**=====
**Mercusys Halo H30G**
this set seems incredibly cheap (but don't know much about brand) - seems to be fine on specs. Get 2 packs for that price, or even 3 with a bigger house - i.e. 4 or 6 routers. **$129 for a 2 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETMES351302/Mercusys-Halo-H30G-AC1300-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-Sy
**TPLink Deco E4**
TP Links are pretty good (I have earlier versions of these) **$179 for a 2 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9404/TP-Link-Deco-E4-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---2-P
- There is a more expensive M4 version, which is only better if you plan to hard wire them together as they have Gbit network ports on them
**Mercusys Halo H50G**
Again, don't know the brand but cheap, and this is a 3 pack. Also slightly better specs than their 2 pack above **$229 for a 3 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETMES351901/Mercusys-Halo-H50G-AC1900-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-Sy
**Google Nest AC2200**
Higher spec & great product, but probably not needed unless multiple people are streaming HD streams or gaming etc **$230 per unit**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETGOG0595/Google-Nest-AC2200-WiFi-Router---1-Pack--GA00595-A
**TP-Link Deco X20**
If you were going to spend $500, this is probably the best for the money as it uses the wifi6 technology which should be faster with less lag **$482 for a 3 pack**
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9623/TP-Link-Deco-X20-Wi-Fi-6-Whole-Home-Mesh-System