Today, more than ever, we are relying on in home wireless to keep all of our devices connected. The amount of devices that connect using wireless is growing by the day, from more traditional devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets, to smart TV’s, video doorbells, security systems, cameras, and other smart home add-ons. With all of these devices scattered around our homes, we require enough coverage and speed to keep all everything accessible, sometimes even remotely. Enter mesh wireless.
The technology and concept isn’t exactly new. Mesh wireless has been around in enterprise environments for a very long time. Even range extenders, the old way of extending your wireless coverage, has been available for many years now. But the enterprise offerings were always expensive, and the range extender route is spotty and sometimes clunky to set up and manage.
Today we’re going to take a look at some of the most popular consumer mesh wireless products to see what might fit your needs the best.
Google WiFi
First up is Google Wifi. Now, Google isn’t the “go to” when you think of wireless routers, but their 3 pack system is simple to set up, simple to use, and is extremely reliable.
The 3 pack from Amazon will run you $257, down from the original $299 price tag. Configuration is very easy using their iOS or Android app. Connect one of the units to your modem, use the app to go through initial setup wizard, then place the other two units around your home to extend the range.
Using this system, I have no problems getting my max download speed from my ISP at 280Mb/s, anywhere in the house. So speed is not an issue. A nice feature on this system is that if you have the capability to hard wire each unit to a switch, you do not have to rely on the meshing system, which can slow things down. This will give you the full speed of each access point, no matter which one you’re connected to. While it is fast, it is not the fastest that we’ll talk about today. These units run on the AC1200 standard, which is great, but if you need very fast connectivity between devices, for example if you have a NAS in your home and transfer files regularly from wireless devices, then you may want to move on.
Like most modern setups, you have the option to configure a guest network for when you have friends of family visiting. This will keep them out of any protected devices in the network, but you do have the ability to provide access to specific devices like a smart TV, so your guests can cast their shows or videos, for example.
The app has some nice built in features including regular internet speed tests, usage history information per device, easy port forwarding, and the ability to schedule accessibility times. There is also a mesh health check that will tell you if your access points are too far apart from each other and if it’s recommended that you move them closer.
According to Google, each wireless node is rated to cover up to 1500sq. ft, giving you a theoretical 4500 sq. ft of coverage.
Linksys Velop
Similar to the Google WiFi system, the Linksys Velop is available in a 3 pack, though you also have the option to buy a single or 2 pack as well. There are two different models currently available based on the speed required. The AC1300 version (3 pack) is selling for $249.97 right now, or if you want to kick it up a notch, the AC2200 version (3 pack) is selling for $429.99.
Like other systems, the Velop also is configured using an iOS or Android app. Setup is simple, taking about 5 minutes per node according to Linksys. The app has a familiar set of features, including easy port forwarding, device prioritization, parental controls, guest access and internet scheduling. The app appears to be very functional with almost 3,000 ratings in the iOS App Store and a 4.7 star average rating.
Units can utilize a wired back haul to provide additional speed and reliability over a strictly wireless mesh configuration, though Linksys states that there may be some reporting issues when using a switch to connect the units together. See this support article for more information: https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article/?articleNum=243552
Wireless coverage varies depending on the model you choose, with the AC1300 version covering up to 4,500 sq. ft (3 pack) and the AC2200 version covering up to 6,000 sq ft (also 3 pack). If you’re looking for a blazing fast (but a bit expensive) setup for your home, the Velop AC2200 system will certainly do the trick.
Netgear Orbi
Lastly, we have the Netgear Orbi. What I like about this setup is that there are multiple expansion kits available for both indoor and outdoor use. Of course, it can get a bit expensive depending on how many units you need to add, but as far as I can tell, the other offerings do not have an outdoor rated unit, so that makes Orbi a bit unique.
Just like the other units, Netgear offers an iOS or Android app to set up the system. The app is rated well in the Apple App Store with 1.46k reviews coming in at an average of 4.4 stars. Just like the rest of the apps, we have a similar set of features including a network map, device list, parental controls, traffic statistics, and internet speed monitoring.
Since this system is very modular, the speed varies based on which configuration you decide to go with. The AC2200 3 pack will be similar to the Linksys Velop in speed, and will cover up to 6,000 sq ft. However, if you want to add additional outdoor coverage, you can do so with the outdoor unit, rated at AC3000. The available 2 pack, rated at AC3000 as well, is rated for 5,000 sq ft, so pairing these with the outdoor unit would be a great combination for speed and coverage, indoor and out.
This gets a bit difficult to cover since there are many options, but here’s a couple of example setups with the system:
- Indoor only, high speed, coverage up to 5,000 sq ft – 2 Pack AC3000
- Indoor only, very good speed, coverage up to 6,000 sq ft – 3 Pack AC2200
- Indoor, high speed, outdoor large area coverage – 2 Pack AC3000 and 1 x Outdoor expansion unit
They also offer a smaller wall plug model if you’re looking for something a little more compact.
Wired back hauls are also support on the Orbi system. They can be chained off of the main router unit, daisy chained off of each other, or ideally individually connected to a switch. You can find out more here: https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System
As you can see, there are many different combinations that you can use to expand your wireless coverage. Depending on your needs, speed, indoor coverage, outdoor coverage, there are many valid choices. Because of the modular nature of the Netgear mesh system, I think it would have a solution for just about everyone, although it comes at a price. The Linksys setup is a familiar and reliable brand that gives you great coverage and speed with a reasonable cost, and the Google WiFi is a nice compact, cheaper but a tad slower than the rest solution.
I broke down some total setup costs for each system, including a few with the Orbi for easy reference.
| Brand | Speed | Coverage | Total Units | Usage | Price/Link |
| Google WiFi | AC1200 | 4,500 sq ft | 3 | Indoor, light outdoor | $257.00 Amazon |
| Linksys Velop | AC1300 | 4,500 sq ft | 3 | Indoor, light outdoor | $249.97 Amazon |
| Linksys Velop | AC2200 | 6,000 sq ft | 3 | Indoor, moderate outdoor | $429.99 Amazon |
| Netgear Orbi | AC2200 | 6,000 sq ft | 3 | Indoor, moderate outdoor | $299.99 Amazon |
| Netgear Orbi | AC3000 | 5,000 sq ft | 2 | Indoor, light outdoor | $319.95 Amazon |
| Netgear Orbi | AC3000 | 5,000 sq ft + 2500 sq ft | 3 | Indoor, extended outdoor | $319.95 + $289.99 Amazon (Indoor) Amazon (Outdoor) |
Of course there are other wireless systems available, so feel free to do some research. The feature sets will mostly be similar in consumer models, prices and coverage will vary as well as speed. The three configurations we talked about here should give you a decent idea of what’s available, and the different coverage and speed options available.
