Wireless internet is becomes more and more popular as the world moves towards a wireless future. Mesh Wi-Fi and routers are two different ways to provide your house with access to high-speed internet, but which should you choose?
What is Mesh Wi-Fi?
Mesh Wi-Fi presents a decentralized solution for the problem of local connectivity. Instead of locking down wireless connectivity, you can set the network for the whole house.
Collectively, this node behaves as a single seamless network. It is the same network, but the devices will link for you to feel the maximum sense.
This also allows higher speeds and more reliable wireless coverage. As a system, the system is highly scalable and can be personalized. If you have trouble with one corner of your home, expanding with a mesh Wi-Fi network can be easy.
How Does Mesh Wi-Fi Work?
Mesh Wi-Fi comes in a few configurations, but the basic idea is to create an extensive wireless network using multiple devices. Mesh networks are composed of individual nodes or additional mesh points that communicate to provide internet coverage throughout your house.
Mesh system devices use mesh technology, the same as how old cordless phones used to work. Each device communicates wirelessly with nearby meshes, creating an extensive network without any wires or complicated setup. Mesh networks expand as more nodes (devices) join them; this means they can cover homes of just about any size.
Mesh systems also offer advanced features like smart speed technology, which automatically selects the best band for your devices. By looking at the table below, Mesh Wi-Fi seems to be perfect. But, still, there are some disadvantages a mesh Wi-Fi has. There are some of the cons you may want to know before you get into purchasing the Mesh Wi-Fi.
PROS
CONS
What is Router?
A router is a computer network device that routes data packets. It connects your computer to a more extensive network, so it's usually placed close to where you connect. Routers come in a variety of sizes, with different numbers of antennas, ports, and, most significantly, performance.
How Does it Work?
On computer networks, a router receives and transmits data. Routers are often mixed up with network hubs, modems, and network switches. On the other hand, routers may integrate the operations of various components and link with these devices to enhance Internet access or assist in creating corporate networks.
A router uses an internal routing table, specifically a list of paths to various network destinations, to direct packets effectively. The router reads the header of a packet to determine its destination, then consults the routing table to determine the most efficient path to that destination. The packet is then forwarded to the following network in the path.
PROS
CONS
Mesh vs. Router
Design
Mesh routers are typically bulkier than standard single-unit routers, though they still easily fit on or under a desk. Mesh router models designed for larger spaces will have multiple units that you place around your home to extend the mesh signal. In contrast, router models are typically designed to be set on a flat surface. Therefore a typical router wins this round.
Speed
Suppose you're looking for the fastest connection speeds available. In that case, Mesh is likely a good choice for you because it can utilize multiple bands at once to deliver maximum internet speed where other routers can't.
Mesh routers are usually designed to provide users access to the bandwidth they require for each device, so you won't have to worry about one device slowing down the connection speeds of another. Mesh will win this round by a landslide!
Security
The newest Mesh router models offer some of the industry's best Wi-Fi security features available. For example, mesh systems like Google Wi-Fi and Eero use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
It means that your devices will be able to connect with 256-bit encryption on networks where it is enabled - providing an extra layer of data protection from hackers trying to steal personal information or other sensitive data transmissions over open wireless connections. Traditional single-unit routers cannot compete in this area - Mesh systems are leading the way.
Privacy
One of Mesh's biggest advantages is that you can easily set up your Mesh network to keep all personal data under lock and key. Thanks to industry-leading encryption standards like WPA/WPA-PSK (AES) with TKIP or WRT open-source firmware.
It enables secure wireless connections using broadcast SSIDs in conjunction with DHCP services for automatic IP address assignment. With Wi-Fi passwords being shared across multiple units, hackers have a much harder time accessing each Mesh node when connected through unique encrypted tunnels on the mesh backbone!
Mesh routers offer increased privacy means more opportunities to continue browsing freely without worrying about other snooping on your online activities. Mesh routers are the future of today's homes, and more people should be upgrading with the benefits offered in mind!
Gaming
Mesh routers can be set up in minutes and provide better coverage without configuring each Mesh unit. Mesh routers use Mesh technology to provide a broader and more reliable range than single-unit routers.
In some instances, mesh Wi-Fi may provide faster speeds, higher dependability, and broader wireless coverage of your house than a traditional router. They're also highly scalable and easy to customize as systems.
If you're experiencing difficulty with one area of your house, it's simple to extend a Mesh Wi-Fi network and create the home networking solution that's best for your needs. Therefore Mesh wins this round.
Streaming
Mesh routers allow for faster speeds while streaming, plus Mesh routers offer better security than traditional wired routers. Mesh networks are also easy to set up and install. In this round, we voted for a mesh router.
Standout Features
We chose the TP-Link Deco Mesh Wi-Fi System (Deco S4) and the Eero Mesh Wi-Fi system for their broader coverage, consistent speed, and excellent performance as Mesh routers. They both offer dependable sophisticated security measures as well.
For the standard router, we chose the TP-Link Archer A7 and the TP-Link Archer AX11000 because of their distinctive design and dependability. They both offer sophisticated technological characteristics that we must examine while purchasing a router.
All of these routers we chose are reliable when it comes to connections and speed. However, there are some features distinction among these routers that make them stand out from one another.
Mesh Routers
- Mesh Technology- Design for larger homes to experience full Wi-Fi speeds and strong signals to cover your whole house.
- Mobile App- Lets you manage your network on your mobile device and see how much bandwidth is being used by each device on your network.
Standard Routers
- Visible Antenna- Typical routers mostly have visible antennas that make them attractive to consumers' eyes. The more antennas a router has, the better its performance.
- Multi-gig ports- Routers have multiple ports for you to be able to connect more devices simultaneously.
Conclusion
Mesh router systems offer several advantages over traditional wireless routers, making them almost always worth it for home users who want to improve their connection speeds and increase network range.
The Mesh Wi-Fi vs. Router debate is over! Mesh offers the ultimate protection in today's online world. Mesh routers have emerged as an industry leader amongst homeowners who want their personal space free from cyber threats every time they connect to the internet. Mesh Routers come highly recommended by us.
Choose the mesh router if:
- You have a large home, and you need broader coverage on every edge of your home.
- You have enough budget to buy.
- You have multiple devices to connect simultaneously.
- You want a more secure device.
Choose the router if:
- If you can’t afford expensive mesh.
- If you want a simple device.
- If your home is small.
- If you don't need more features.
