Why I Skipped the Wi-Fi Repeater and Bought a Mesh Wi-Fi System Instead

Wi-Fi has a limited range, and walls, floors and ceilings can further limit its range. If you have a large house and your router can’t reach every corner, you have two options: a Wi-Fi repeater or a mesh system. Here’s why I chose the latter.

1 It works like a mobile network

The biggest advantage of a mesh router system is that it turns multiple access points (called nodes) into one continuous network. This makes connecting to Wi-Fi inside your home more convenient because you don’t have to change networks when you’re out of range of the access point you’re connected to. It works similarly to mobile networks – when your smartphone is out of range of a cell tower, it automatically switches to another, so your network remains uninterrupted.

This solves the problem with Wi-Fi repeaters where your phone sometimes stays connected to a remote Wi-Fi router even though there is one with a much stronger signal. This means you’ll have to manually switch to closer, which can be a problem if you move to another room while playing an online multiplayer game.

2 Easier setup and better reliability

Another reason I chose a mesh router when I moved to a bigger house and needed more coverage is because it’s so much easier to set up. When I finally got an Internet connection in my childhood home, I realized that my room was out of reach of the Wi-Fi router. However, there were no mesh routers back then, so I had to make do with a Wi-Fi repeater.

Unfortunately the Wi-Fi repeater was not reliable and even when I had some wireless in the room the internet was usually slow and unusable for gaming. So if I wanted reliable internet, I needed to run an Ethernet cable from the original router to the Wi-Fi repeater. This is quite inconvenient if I wanted a clean install with hidden ethernet cable as I would have to run it through the attic.

While it can be much easier to set up a Wi-Fi extender these days (the Mi Wi-Fi Range Extender Pro setup is a good example) and the reliability of the internet connection has improved, you still have to struggle with switching networks manually. On the other hand, ease of installation and setup is one of the things you should look for when purchasing a mesh Wi-Fi system, and my TP-Link system did not disappoint. All I had to do was plug in one router, wait for it to boot up properly, plug in the other router, hit the sync button and it was good to go – no apps or Bluetooth required.

3 It looks better than Wi-Fi repeaters

This may not be a priority for most people, especially if you keep the access point or node hidden, but another benefit of network routers is that they often look a lot better than Wi-Fi extenders. Wi-Fi extenders typically plug directly into an outlet, with status lights and antennas sticking out of their bodies.

On the other hand, most mesh routers have a minimalist feel and can be placed virtually anywhere. Some are even designed to be installed on the ceiling to look like part of the decor. And if you’re after a gaming aesthetic, some manufacturers even offer mesh systems that would go well with your gaming PC.

4 Easier scaling

Another advantage of mesh Wi-Fi systems is that they scale more easily. For example, let’s say you bought two network routers to cover your house, but then you realize they don’t have the range to house a wireless security camera like the Baseus Security N1 to protect your shed.

In this case, you can purchase another network router of the same model to extend the Wi-Fi coverage. It is also easy to set up, just press a few buttons and the network range will go further.

The main disadvantage of a network router is that it can be more expensive than a Wi-Fi router extender. However, if you’re trying to save money, you can try these ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal before buying an extender or mesh system. In the end, buying a network system may be a better choice in the long run if you want ease of setup and convenience.