Your modem is your ticket to the Internet. That makes your router is the show... and Mesh WiFi? That’s like front-row seats in every room! With Mesh - no matter where you are in the house, you’re getting the best view—strong signal, fast speeds, no interruptions.
Mesh WiFi is fast becoming one of the most popular home network solutions, especially in large homes and expansive properties. What is Mesh WiFi and how it works with your modem or ISP isn’t always fully understood, so here we explore the role of modems and routers in mesh networks, and how to make the right WiFi upgrade for your home.
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The word modem comes from a blend of “modulator” and “demodulator”—a nod to its original purpose: converting digital data to analog signals and back again. While early modems crawled along old-school voice phone lines, today’s models ride the much faster waves of cable TV and digital networks.
You’ve probably heard the terms “modem” and “router” used in tech talk, but you may not understand what they are. Think of a modem like an on-ramp to the internet superhighway—it connects your home to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), giving you access to the wider web. Your router, on the other hand, is like the network of streets inside your neighborhood—it manages traffic between all your devices (phones, TVs, laptops, etc.) and makes sure each one can reach the internet without crashing into the others.
The router creates the WiFi device network, while the modem connects that WiFi network to the internet. When connecting to WiFi, you connect to your router, which forwards traffic between the internet and your computer. Many internet providers offer combined modem/router units.
A mesh WiFi system consists of the main mesh Router WiFi and multiple Mesh WiFi satellites. Mesh WiFi systems such as NETGEAR Orbi connect to a modem for fast and seamless WiFi coverage for the whole home. It’s worth noting that WiFi modems provided by internet service providers (ISPs) aren’t necessarily the latest WiFi standard.
An underpowered or outdated modem, or a slow ISP plan might not keep up with the latest WiFi 7 router speeds, so it could be time to upgrade your modem and then connecting it with a Mesh WiFi system. And – if you stop renting a gateway your investment in purchasing a separate modem and WiFi router will be recouped over time, as you will no longer be paying monthly ISP equipment rental fees.
Smart homes get the most out of WiFi 7 mesh router systems when they can take full advantage of our ISP speeds. For instance, the top performing Orbi WiFi 7 970 series system unleshes up to 27Gbps of WiFi speed to deliver greater bandwidth, faster speeds, a more stable network, and robust security. An an up-to-date modem connection is crucial for optimum WiFi 7 mesh performance. Your modem should support the speeds provided by your ISP, and it will should have powerful 2.5Gbs ethernet WAN port get the most from your WiFi mesh system.
For top ISP speeds and WAN performance learn more about the CM3000 cable modem with Mid/high-split technology.
NETGEAR has WiFi routers, mesh systems, range extenders, and modems for every type of home and budget. For example, the all-new Orbi 770 tri-band WiFi 7 mesh system is a cost-effective alternative to top-of-the-line Orbi 970 systems. The best WiFi networks of today can connect with 200+ devices simultaneously, with speeds up to 27Gbps and WiFi coverage of more than 10,000 square feet. Orbi Mesh systems are protected by the top rated NETGEAR Armor security system. And they use the handy Orbi App for easy setup in minutes.
Yes – a cable modem (or another ISP connection device such as Fiber optic, DSL, 5G Internet or Starlink) is needed for your Mesh System system to connect to the internet. It is an essential component of any broadband WiFi setup. The modem connects to your router to establish WiFi connections with the devices in your network.
If your existing router is several years old, or you want the best mesh WiFi router technology and fastest internet speeds, consider upgrading to a WiFi 7 mesh router system. Wireless technology has come a long way in a few short years from dual-band WiFi 5 systems to quad-band WiFi 7, and now is the perfect time to future-proof your home network with the best modem, router, and Mesh WiFi for a blanket of blazing-fast NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 7.
You will need a modem (or other ISP device) to connect to the internet. With mesh systems, the main router connects directly to the modem while the router satellites connect wirelessly with each other and the main router. Unless you own a modem/router combo, you will need a separate modem for your mesh system.
NETGEAR Mesh WiFi with WiFi 7 is next-level internet connectivity with the ability to manage an entire smart home with 200+ devices. If the modem provided by your ISP is outdated, it’s time to update to the most recent WiFi standard to satisfy today’s mesh WiFi modem requirements. Shop top NETGEAR Modems.
For a WiFi 7 upgrade, you should consider a cable modem that can handle the fastest ISP Tier that you’ve chosen and includes 2.5gb WAN connection or Link Aggregation technology. Choose an ISP that offers the WiFi data speeds you need so you can connect to the internet with the best modem for Orbi Mesh WiFi.
If the modem/router can handle today’s lightning-fast WiFi 7 speeds, it might work for your mesh WiFi. It’s recommended to disable the WiFi on your Gateway device to reduce interference with your Mesh WiFi system. You might also consider a Modem upgrade. You will experience the full benefit of WiFi 7 as you progressively upgrade your network devices.
Your NETGEAR Orbi mesh router connects to the modem via ethernet cable and WAN ports. The mesh satellites include wireless connectivity and Ethernet connections for dedicated devices. Use the Orbi App to learn how to set up mesh WiFi with a modem. See our How to connect a Modem and Router blog.
