Mesh vs Router

Understanding Your WiFi Options

A traditional router WiFi access point connects to the modem and delivers internet access to your devices. Standalone routers can be powerful, but they have a limited WiFi signal range. WiFi mesh systems include the main router and multiple router satellites that relay and broadcast the WiFi signal as a unified system. This allows you to expand WiFi coverage throughout your home with dramatically improved performance, even in previous WiFi dead zones.

• A single router connects to your modem and manages the internet connection provided by your internet service provider (ISP). This setup works well for smaller homes and units.
• Mesh router systems also connect to the modem and ISP. Mesh systems typically start with at least two satellites, with the flexibility to add more for even greater coverage.

Unlike WiFi extenders, mesh satellites deliver reliable speeds no matter how far you are from the main router. Your devices automatically connect to the satellite with the best signal, allowing you to move seamlessly around your property with your devices, without connection issues.

Routers, Extenders, and WiFi Mesh

Traditional Routers

Traditional routers deliver reliable WiFi signals to connected devices within a limited range from a single point. The wireless signal naturally weakens with distance from the router. Obstacles such as thick walls also restrict and weaken the wireless router signal. The best NETGEAR Nighthawk Routers can deliver WiFi speeds up to 19Gbps and range up to 325 sq. m.

WiFi Range Extenders

WiFi range extenders are sometimes used to rebroadcast the wireless signal even further. This setup can help extend the WiFi range but may occasionally lead to interference between the router and extenders due to the different SSIDs (network names). This can result in buffering and latency issues.

WiFi Mesh

WiFi Mesh is a robust solution for whole-home WiFi coverage. A WiFi mesh network can extend wireless coverage upstairs and downstairs, from the front door to the backyard. Mesh offers a reliable WiFi experience with high-speed internet plans from your ISP. NETGEAR Orbi 970 WiFi 7 Mesh Systems can reach speeds up to 27Gbps and coverage of up to 660 sq. m.

Explore a detailed overview of “How Mesh WiFi Works“

Mesh WiFi vs Router Performance - How to Choose?

A traditional router can give you the WiFi coverage you need if you live in a small home with few connected devices. If yours is a larger home or expansive property, your existing router might struggle to provide the WiFi signal required. If your home is more than 3,000 square feet, consider Orbi Mesh WiFi with satellites so you can roam freely throughout your home with a strong connection for laptops, gaming consoles, streaming services, and smart home applications. WiFi mesh is recommended even if your home is less than 3,000 square feet, as it can cover all rooms with a more reliable high-quality WiFi signal.

Top performing NETGEAR Router and Mesh Systems include:
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S Router – 19Gbps and up to 320 sq. m. coverage.
NETGEAR Orbi 970 Whole-Home Mesh System – 27Gbps and up to 660 sq. m. coverage (3-pack).

Challenging WiFi Environments?

Certain areas can pose challenges to maintaining a strong WiFi signal. These include:
Garages and Workshops: Metal fire doors, large aluminum garage doors, and heavy tools can reflect and weaken WiFi signals.

ISP Drop Location: Modems or gateways often placed at the corner or side of a home can compromise optimal router placement, which ideally should be central.

Basements, Attics, and Bathrooms: Signals struggle to pass through multiple ceilings, walls, and materials like tiles and tubs that block WiFi.

Outdoor Areas and Separate Units: Coverage is challenging when the router is on the opposite end of the home, especially with additional obstacles like walls and insulation.
Large and Heavily Constructed Homes: Extended layouts and dense materials like brick and concrete walls significantly impede WiFi signals.

Mesh WiFi systems can overcome these WiFi challenges, providing seamless and reliable coverage throughout your entire home and beyond.

Checklist for Routers and Mesh Systems

1. How many people live in your home?

2. Is everything connecting to the internet at the same time?

3. Do you enjoy high-definition gaming, 8K streaming, and other data-intensive activities?

4. Do you have many devices such as smart speakers, security cameras, and gaming consoles?

5. Does your home layout or materials hamper your WiFi signals?

6. Are you getting the performance you expect from your ISP plan?

While you can get a solid and stable performance from a traditional router, there are higher risks of lag if many devices are connected simultaneously or you’re too far from the Router. In addition, older standard dual-band and tri-band WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 routers are not always equipped to handle high network congestion and multiple smart home devices.

NETGEAR Nighthawk Router Performance

A powerful new WiFi 7 Nighthawk Router can be an excellent choice for peak WiFi performance in a compact space or open-plan home layout. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S Router is considered by many to be the best WiFi router for gamers and streamers. The RS700S provides up to 2.4x faster speeds than comparable WiFi 6 routers. It includes a 10 Gig internet port plus 1x 10Gig and 4x 1Gig LAN ports for ultra-fast wired connections.

For a cost-effective alternative to the RS700S, the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 Router offers speeds up to 9.3Gbps and impressive signal strength with up to 2,500 sq. ft. of solid WiFi coverage. The Nighthawk RS300 includes a 2.5 Gig internet port, plus two 2.5 Gig and two 1 Gig LAN ports for fast wired connections.

NETGEAR Orbi Whole-Home Mesh System Performance

NETGEAR Orbi 970 Mesh Systems are among the most advanced WiFi home networking products on the planet. The Orbi 970 Series WiFi 7 3-pack is designed to cover up to 10,000 sq. ft. Each additional Orbi 970 Satellite expands WiFi coverage by an extra 220 sq. m. Orbi 970 offers 360° mesh WiFi network coverage for up to 200 devices in concurrent use, with blazing-fast internet speeds of up to 27Gbps. The main mesh router includes a 10 Gig internet port, a 10 Gig Ethernet cable port, and four 2.5 Gig Ethernet ports.

The mesh 970 satellites include 1x 10 Gig Ethernet port and two 2.5 Gig Ethernet ports. Orbi 970’s Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul seamlessly links the satellites and router to create wired-level performance in a wireless network.

Exploring WiFi 7 Router Technology

NETGEAR WiFi 7 systems are a significant leap forward from WiFi 6 mesh systems. WiFi 7 mesh allows you to establish three WiFi networks: a home network, a guest network, and a smart home IoT network. NETGEAR Orbi 970 Mesh WiFi Router Systems come with NETGEAR Armor WPA3 encrypted security, automatic firmware downloads, and the option for Smart Parental Controls to ensure everyone under one roof is protected from spam, malware, and other malicious intrusions. Advantages of WiFi 7 technology include:

Wider Channels and Additional Bandwidth – Up to 320MHz channel bandwidth, double that of WiFi 6E.

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) – WiFi 7 supports 4096 QAM, enhancing WiFi speeds by 20% over the 1024 QAM offered by WiFi 6E.

Multi-Link Operation (MLO) – MLO in WiFi 7 aggregates multiple frequency bands into a single connection, reducing buffering and congestion.

Preamble Puncturing – WiFi 7’s Preamble Puncturing allows the channel to be split into useable portions for ultra-low latency and high speeds even when part of the channel is in use.

Routers and Mesh Systems Summary

Pros and Cons of Routers

• Great Price & Compact Performance for smaller spaces.
• A single router without complications.
• Fast and easy setup.
• Potential dead spots where wireless signals don’t reach.

Pros and Cons of Mesh WiFi

• Powerful mesh networking performance.
• Wireless and Ethernet port connections.
• Wider internet coverage.
• Ability to expand along with your network demands.
• Can cost more than traditional routers.

Choosing NETGEAR Routers and Mesh Systems

NETGEAR Orbi and Nighthawk systems work with any internet service provider. Setting up a home WiFi network is easy using the handy Orbi or Nighthawk mobile app. You can download games, movies, and large files at multi-gigabit speeds using NETGEAR WiFi 7. You will appreciate stronger WiFi connections and superior network reliability for a better user experience. Savvy WiFi users worldwide choose NETGEAR.

NETGEAR has been a wireless router technology leader for decades, continually pushing the boundaries of WiFi performance. Explore our unbeatable range of routers and mesh systems to suit your needs for an unparalleled online experience. The future is now with NETGEAR.