A mesh WiFi system is a package of WiFi devices that works together to provide much greater WiFi coverage than conventional routers or access points (APs). Mesh WiFi systems typically contain a single router unit and one or more satellite units that expand WiFi coverage from the router unit, though some business-oriented APs have mesh features as well. Unlike conventional WiFi routers, which have limited WiFi coverage because they have only one broadcast device, mesh WiFi systems broadcast from every device in the mesh system, and can be further expanded simply by adding more mesh satellite units to the system.
/General%20NETGEAR/img/source_lang/wifi_mesh_home_diagram.jpg)
Mesh WiFi system performance is heavily affected by how any given system manages communication between the mesh router and its satellites, known as backhaul. The highest performing mesh systems use a dedicated backhaul WiFi band so that the backhaul connection doesn't compete with client devices for network bandwidth. Budget-oriented mesh systems perform backhaul and client device communication on the same WiFi band, which can reduce WiFi performance. Overall, dedicated WiFi backhaul offers the best of both worlds with easy setup and great performance. For more information, see What is backhaul?
Like conventional WiFi routers, mesh WiFi systems use the single wired Ethernet connection that your modem provides to broadcast a WiFi signal. Mesh WiFi systems also typically provide one or more Ethernet ports on the router and the satellites for connecting your wired devices. You can’t use a mesh WiFi system by itself; you also need a cable or DSL modem to convert the Internet signal delivered by your Internet service provider (ISP) into an Ethernet connection that you can use to access the Internet. For more information about modems, see What’s a modem?
/General%20NETGEAR/img/source_lang/orbi_963_lifestyle.jpg)
For the best mesh WiFi performance, consider Orbi mesh systems with dedicated WiFi backhaul. Orbi WiFi 7 mesh systems provide whole home coverage and ultra-fast speeds for cutting-edge 6 GHz WiFi devices with access to a new 6 GHz wireless band, while Orbi WiFi 6E mesh systems deliver the same excellent coverage with optimal performance for new and old devices at a lower price point. Orbi Cable mesh systems combine your mesh router and cable modem into a single unit for even easier setup, but still provide Orbi's excellent WiFi performance with dedicated WiFi backhaul.
For a great mesh WiFi experience at a lower price point, NETGEAR Nighthawk mesh systems sacrifice the dedicated WiFi backhaul to provide WiFi 6 features with a low cost of entry.
For more information:
- What's a router?
- What is Ethernet?
- What is WiFi 6 (AX WiFi) technology?
- What are the benefits of 6 GHz WiFi?
- What are the major enhancements delivered in WiFi 7 (IEEE 802.11be)?
- What are WiFi bands and how many do I need for my network?
- What is the difference between 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz wireless frequencies?