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Mesh Router vs Traditional Router – Which Is Better Choice?

Mesh Router vs Traditional Router

Connectivity is a recurrent thread across all the gadgets we use every day and is present in almost all of our technological activities. Specifically, Wi-Fi provides the foundation for our devices, whether we are at home, in a public setting like a cafe, or an office. It’s how we interact with the outside world.

If you have a traditional router, which you either purchased or received from your internet service provider a few years ago, that single device is distributing a network throughout your entire house.

And that’s a lot to ask of one piece of equipment, especially if you live in a house with multiple stories or a large number of rooms. There is a limited amount of network space available.

It is more than possible that you don’t have enough bandwidth to support all the devices if you have been experiencing slowdowns.

And that’s where a mesh router can be useful, such as the Atlas Pro 6 MX5503. A mesh router is essentially several routers working together to cover your house with a broader network. You can purchase a set of two or three routers rather than one that powers the network for the entire house.

It’s simple to become perplexed while deciding which Wi-Fi kind is suitable for setting up Wi-Fi in your home: A conventional home router or a modern Wi-Fi mesh network? Here are some fundamentals to assist you in making the best choice.

How does Mesh Wi-Fi work?

Mesh Wi-Fi, also referred to as Whole Home Wi-Fi, is a type of home networking that chooses a more decentralized method of addressing the issue of local connectivity.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems rely on numerous Wi-Fi nodes rather than requiring each device in your home to connect wirelessly to the internet via the same router. They begin by assuming that your standard router is most likely not in the best location to service every connected item in your home, and they move forward from there.

One node serves as the primary router in a mesh Wi-Fi system and is directly connected to your gateway connection, while the other nodes serve as satellites. These nodes work together to form a single, seamless network.

You will connect to the nearest Wi-Fi node if you are in the living room. You will establish a connection with the nearest Wi-Fi node if you are in the kitchen. Even though everything is connected to the same network, your devices will still connect logically.

As a result, performance is improved and network congestion is decreased. In some cases, mesh Wi-Fi can provide your home with better wireless coverage, quicker speeds, and better stability than a traditional router.

A Mesh Wi-Fi network can be easily expanded if you are experiencing issues with a particular area of your house. This allows you to create the ideal home networking setup for your specific needs.

How is a Mesh Wi-Fi Router Different than a Traditional Router?

The primary distinction between mesh networks and regular routers is that the former is centralized, whereas the latter is not.

All wireless traffic using an outdated router will be dependent on that one point of access. Regardless of how many devices you connect to it, your router is connected to your NBN or ADSL connection and distributes connectivity to them all. The quality of service for devices farther away will frequently be lower than for devices closest to your router.

Recent innovations like MU-MIMO and Wi-Fi 6 have somewhat fixed these issues but haven’t changed the naturally centralized structure that comes with this kind of home network.

A reasonably priced Wi-Fi 6 router will work if you don’t mind not having Wi-Fi in the most isolated areas of your house but still want a quick and dependable connection.

A mesh Wi-Fi system, meanwhile, offers you many points of access. Mesh-based networks may be able to provide superior coverage and speeds in the real world in some circumstances, though not always. You will notice a difference more than you would in a tiny, one-story residence if you live in a large or multi-story building.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems, when compared to many current routers, tend to have slower processors and fewer antennas. Even though they can occasionally handle connections from several devices more effectively or efficiently, this can result in lower performance from them than from a top-tier traditional router.

What Features Should a Mesh Wi-Fi Router Possess?

Here are some features you should consider when buying a mesh Wi-Fi router:

Design

Considering that you’ll be placing multiple of these Mesh Wi-Fi nodes throughout your home, it’s a good idea for them to have an attractive or at the very least unobtrusive appearance.

While there was a trend toward minimalism in 2021, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E have led to some unit sizes somewhat increasing in 2022. Therefore, rather than seeking the smallest feasible design, choose a product that blends effortlessly into your home’s interior.

Speed

It’s always preferable to have more speed than less when it comes to any kind of wireless access. Systems using mesh Wi-Fi are no different in this regard. A faster connection enables more bandwidth-demanding activities like 4K media streaming. Additionally, multiple devices can perform such functions without interfering with one another on the same network.

Coverage

While it’s a good idea to have extra mesh nodes on hand in case there are any blind spots, it’s also a good idea to use fewer mesh nodes when you can. Your mesh Wi-Fi system will require fewer mesh nodes overall to cover your home.

All in All

As shared above, a typical router is a single device that serves as the hub for your whole network. Many houses only need a basic or traditional router, but if you want better network visibility and coverage for a growing number of devices, a mesh router can be the best option.

You will probably experience better speeds and a smoother online experience with a mesh router. Check out deals at first energy home

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