How to Set Up a Wi-Fi Mesh Network
Spotty Wi-Fi in certain 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 set it up for optimal performance.
Since they first hit the scene a few years back, mesh Wi-Fi systems have changed the look and feel of home networking. In place of an unsightly router that you would normally tuck away in a closet or somewhere out of sight, mesh systems typically use smaller, more attractive components (nodes) that are meant to be displayed out in the open in various rooms throughout your house. These systems usually come with free mobile apps that make it easy to install and manage the network using a phone or tablet, and since all of the nodes use a single SSID and password, you can roam from room to room without having to log in to an extended network.
Mesh systems are all about ease of use and are known for their quick and simple installation procedures, but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind when selecting and installing your network. Read on to find out how to set up your new mesh system to blanket your home with glorious, strong Wi-Fi.
What Is a Mesh Wi-Fi System?
Wi-Fi systems usually consist of a main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, that you place throughout your house. They are all part of a single wireless network, and share the same SSID and password. This means you won’t have to switch networks and passwords as you do with a range extender.
Most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router and to each other. Each node serves as a hop point for other nodes in the system. This helps the nodes farthest from the router to deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal as they are talking to other nodes and not relying on one-to-one communications with the router. Not all Wi-Fi systems use mesh networking, however; some use a dedicated radio band to communicate with the router and with each other. As with mesh, the dedicated band frees up the standard-use 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for client use.
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
Before you go out and buy a mesh Wi-Fi system, you’ll need to figure out how much wireless coverage you’ll require. To start, figure out the square footage of your home and any outdoor areas that you want to cover, and don’t forget to factor in the distance between floors for multilevel homes. Coverage varies from system to system, so make sure you check the specs before plunking down your hard-earned cash, and keep in mind that all homes are different. Structures such as walls, doorways, and flooring will affect wireless signal transmissions, as will interference from other wireless devices such as microwave ovens and portable phone systems. Almost all mesh systems are expandable, so if you find that your system doesn’t quite reach certain areas in your home, don’t worry: You can easily add another node after the initial installation.
Getting Started
Most Wi-Fi systems require a mobile app and an internet connection for setup. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll have to create an account and an administrator password. Be sure to remember the password to avoid having to reset your system later on. It’s also a good idea (and recommended by most companies) to unplug the modem or router that you’ll be connecting your mesh system to so that it can reset itself and assign a valid IP address to the mesh router node. To begin setup, open the app and follow the instructions for connecting the mesh router to your modem and adding satellite nodes.
One of the most important things to consider when setting up your mesh network is where to position each node for optimal Wi-Fi coverage without any dead zones. The main router node, which provides internet connectivity to all of the other satellite nodes, should be installed in close proximity to your cable modem or existing router as it will be connected to it using a LAN cable. The router node should also be placed out in the open (not in a closet or cabinet) 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 the satellite node placement, you’ll have to give your new network a name and password that will be used by all connecting clients. It’s worth noting that most Wi-Fi systems use automatic band-steering and will create a single SSID for both radio bands, but some will let you split the bands, in which case you’ll have to create separate names for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
Satellite node placement varies with each system: Depending on their specs, some nodes provide more square feet of coverage than others. A good rule of thumb is to place the second node halfway between the router and the dead zone as you would with a range extender, but limit the distance to no more than two rooms, or about 30 feet. If you’re using more than one satellite, follow the two-room rule. Place each node close to a power outlet, out in the open and off the floor on a bookcase or table top. The same goes for multistory homes: Try to limit the distance between upstairs and downstairs satellites to no more than 30 feet or so. Thankfully, many systems offer an in-app signal test or a physical LED on each node that will let you know if you’re too far away from the main node or the previously installed node. If this is the case, reposition the node and perform another signal test.
When positioning your nodes, you should also consider how you’ll connect to things like gaming consoles, TVs, and other entertainment components. These devices are almost always better off using a wired connection as it offers faster speeds without interference from other wireless devices. Most mesh nodes are equipped with at least one LAN port that lets you use a wired connection, so try to place nodes within cable distance (6 to 10 feet) of any devices that would benefit from a wired LAN connection.
Wired or Wireless Backhaul?
Backhaul refers to the process of transmitting data from satellite nodes back to the main router and the internet. By default, mesh Wi-Fi systems are configured for wireless backhaul. Some systems use both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands for backhaul, while others use a dedicated 5GHz band for this purpose. However, some systems can 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.
Configuring Parental Control and Device Prioritization Settings
Once your mesh Wi-Fi system is installed, it’s time to take advantage of its features. Many of these systems offer parental controls that let you create profiles for each family member, limit access to certain websites, and automatically turn off network access during specific times of the day such as bedtime and dinner time. Almost all Wi-Fi systems give you a pause button in the app that lets you disable internet access with the touch of a button, and some systems offer age-appropriate parental controls. For example, a child preset will deny access to social media, gambling, and adult-oriented websites, while a teen preset will be slightly less restrictive, and an adult preset will offer unlimited access. You can apply these controls to a family member’s profile and then to every device used by that person, and you can create custom controls to suit your family’s needs.
If you have any online gamers in the house, or use your mesh system to stream video, use the QoS (Quality of Service) settings to allocate bandwidth where it’s most needed. These settings typically let you drag and drop devices into High, Medium, and Low priority boxes so that gaming consoles and devices that stream video can be given the lion’s share of bandwidth without having to compete with other devices on the network. The more user-friendly systems have QoS presets for things like gaming, streaming, surfing, and chatting and will let you prioritize both devices and applications.
Management Options
Once your mesh Wi-Fi system is set up and running smoothly, it’s a good idea to make periodic checks on network usage, visited websites, and client lists. Most systems worth their salt will send a push notification when a new client joins the network, allowing you to deal with unwanted clients immediately. Many systems offer embedded anti-malware utilities that protect against viruses and other malicious content, so make sure to keep an eye on network attack logs and quarantine any client devices that have been flagged as infected. Finally, make sure your firmware is up to date, as the latest versions often boost performance, add new features, and provide security fixes.
If you live in a smaller house or apartment, check out our roundup of the best wireless range extenders, which can quickly and easily spread your Wi-Fi to additional areas of your home. Or if you’re simply ready to upgrade your traditional Wi-Fi router, we’ve rounded up the top-rated performers. And once you have your system set up, you can test your internet speed with Ookla Speedtest.
Originally published at https://www.pcmag.com on December 27, 2019.
