It wasn't that long ago when all you needed was a home Wi-Fi system to connect a few computers and maybe a smartphone. These days, it seems like everything electronic in a home requires an Internet connection, from tablets to TVs to smart gadgets. Traditional Routers Everything You Need to Know About Your Home Network Everything You Need to Know About Your Home Network Setting up a home network isn't as difficult as you think it is. Read More This is where Wi-Fi mesh systems come into play.
In this article, you'll learn more about this new type of home Wi-Fi system and learn more about three of the most talked about mesh Wi-Fi products on the market, Eero, Google Wifi, and Orbi.
In a home environment, most people have a modem from a service provider connected to a traditional Wi-Fi router, which allows users to connect to the network wirelessly. 5 Things Wi-Fi Routers Make Smart Routers Worth Buying Fi Routers Worth Buying Today, you can buy a new class of "smart routers," specifically designed to deal with the demands of running a smart home. Here are five things that make smart Wi-Fi routers worth buying. Read more . Depending on the size of your home, a Wi-Fi extender may be necessary to eliminate Wi-Fi dead spots. As the name implies, Wi-Fi extenders take your existing Wi-Fi signal and repeat it to extend the range.
Wi-Fi extenders require you to use a new network name, called an SSID. Depending on how many extenders you use, this can be a major hassle, especially when using mobile devices, as you need to manually switch which network to use, depending on where you are in the home. Extenders also tend to weaken Wi-Fi speeds, depending on how far away they are from the router.
With a mesh network, a network connection is spread between multiple nodes that "talk" to one another. By doing so, they share the network connection over a larger area, saving you time. Additional benefits of using a mesh network include easier setup and control over traditional systems, automatic system updates through the use of mobile apps, and more.
First introduced in 2015, Eero's first mesh Wi-Fi system launched in February 2016. Each Eero unit measures 1.3 inches tall and 4.75 inches wide. Connect one unit to your modem, with additional units recommended for every 1,000 square feet of living space.
Like the other mesh products in this article, it does most of the setup work for Eero using an iOS or Android app. The first unit pairs with the mobile app via Bluetooth; Additional units are installed on the network automatically.
Configuration includes the ability to name your network, set passwords How Password Managers Keep Your Passwords Safe How Password Managers Keep Your Passwords Safe Passwords that are hard to crack are also hard to remember. Do you want to be sure? You need a password manager. This is how they work and how they keep you safe. Read More You can also use the app to schedule downtime, which is great for households with children. Eero connects to a cloud, which triggers system updates, diagnostics, and fixes.
Eero uses TrueMesh, which the company claims "means your Wi-Fi is not only fast and resilient, but intelligently adapts to your home." It does this by finding the best route for the data to take home to avoid interference. Works with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Since the first release, Eero has added support for Amazon Alexa 7 Creative Uses for Amazon Echo and Alexa 7 Creative Uses for Amazon Echo and Alexa. You've seen the ads starring Alec Baldwin, but you're still not sure what the Amazon Echo does or if you need one in your home. We're about to find out. Read more . The integration allows you to communicate with Eero using your voice. For example, you can ask Alexa which Eero unit controls your laptop, or ask Alexa to stop connecting to the Internet.
Most of the reviews floating around the web point out that Eero is among the easiest mesh networks to set up. It has also received criticism for being one of the most expensive.
CNET notes that "the hardware is well designed, easy to use, and you can quickly expand your home network by adding more units." however, “the system is expensive, not fast enough for high-bandwidth local tasks, and requires you to connect to Eero servers to manage it.”
Business Insider justifies the higher price, explaining that with Eero, "you really do get what you pay for, which is strong, fast WiFi wherever you go in your home."
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An Eero three-pack is priced at $499, while a two-pack is available for $349. Individual units are $199 each.
The newest mesh solution on this list, Google Wifi, was released in late 2016. It stands out as one of the cheapest mesh products on the market and also the smallest. Each unit measures just 4.17 by 4.17 by 2.7 inches. Google says a single unit can cover a 1,500-square-foot home.
Like Eero, Google Wifi includes a 2.4GHz and 5GHz band, with setup and maintenance done in a mobile app. You can also use this app to share your Wi-Fi password, view devices online and prioritize them for better performance. The Google Wifi app also offers familiar controls, allowing you to pause the signal to individual devices at certain times.
With Google Wifi, you connect to Google servers. A cautionary tale:When Google decides to keep your personal data and won't let go A cautionary tale:When Google decides to keep your personal data and won't let us trust Google with our personal information every day:What happens when allow us to use it when we need it? Here's a cautionary tale from a Google Takeout experience. Read more 24/7, for better or for worse..
Early reviews suggest that Google Wifi is just as good as Eero, but at a lower price.
The Verge, for example, says "Google Wifi strikes a good balance between price, performance, and ease of use." He concludes that “If all you care about is raw performance, Orbi is a better router, but for the overall experience, including cost and maintenance, Google Wifi is a more user-friendly system.”
Meanwhile, CNET says "Google Wifi is the best Wi-Fi system on the market." However, they admit that some may not want their home network to be connected to Google at all times.
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A Google Wifi unit is priced at $129, while a pack of three is $299.
Netgear's Orbi first appeared on the scene in late 2016. An Orbi unit plugs into your modem, with satellite units placed in key locations. Each unit measures 6.67 by 2.36 by 8.89 inches. An Orbi system (one router, one satellite) provides Wi-Fi coverage of up to 4,000 square feet.
Like other Netgear products, what are the best brands when buying a wireless router? Which brands are better when buying a wireless router? Not all wireless routers are created equal, and the same goes for router brands. These are some of the most trusted brands along with some that are not so trustworthy. Read More You can also use the Orbi app, which provides step-by-step instructions. At launch, this app is not as robust as those offered by Eero and Google Wifi.
Unlike the other two solutions on this list, Orbi creates a dedicated connection that works between each Orbi unit to transmit internet data. Netgear says that this dedicated connection leads to faster connection speeds on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
They note that "Orbi's Tri-Band system creates a high-capacity highway, while other systems experience slow speeds as you add units."
Business Insider found that Orbi performs slightly better than Eero when it comes to recorded download speeds. However, in "real life," they didn't see much of a difference.
The reviewer noted, “There was no discernible difference between the two systems. I was able to surf the web and stream videos from YouTube and Netflix just as well with the Eero as with the Orbi.”
In another post, Business Insider praised Orbi for its "great performance" and "sleek design." Still, he thought each unit was "big" and the setup was not "As easy as Eero or Google Wifi.."
The Wirecutter disagreed, claiming “The Orbi two-unit kit is faster and easier to set up than every three-unit kit we tested.”
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An Orbi system costs $399, while an additional satellite is $250 each.
My research couldn't find too negative a review for any of these mesh Wi-Fi systems. Each received high marks for reliability and performance. Installation and price were two areas of concern, however.
Most celebrate the easy setup for both Eero and Google Wifi, while the Orbi gets high marks for its wireless range. Eero, while receiving high praise overall, has often been criticized for its premium price.
For most people, Google Wifi is probably the way to go. For those in a larger home, Orbi is probably the answer. Since it's been around a bit longer, you might want to pick Eero. Look for occasional discounts through Amazon.com or another retailer.
The bottom line: If you're looking to eliminate a Wi-Fi dead spot in your home, you can't go wrong with any of the solutions presented here.
What mesh solution are you using in your home and why? Let us know using the comments below.
