What is Mesh Technology?
Wireless networks have become an integral part of our lives, and there is a Wi-Fi environment in almost every apartment. However, there are situations where a simple household router needs to provide proper coverage and signal strength.
For example, we can see that in a large country house or the case if we are going to set up internet distribution in the office. In this article, we will consider how to solve this problem with the help of Mesh-network. The network is essential for live games of teen patti for real money and other online broadcasts – a robust network is indispensable here.
What is a Mesh network?
Mesh system – a chain of several devices. Usually, it is a small box – in fact, separate equal access points connected to organize a large single Wi-Fi environment over a large area. It gives the user a stable Internet connection that does not require switching between different Wi-Fi networks: everything works within a single network.
Do you need to scale a regular Wi-Fi network?
There is a particular type of device called a Wi-Fi signal repeater. In theory, it can be used to increase Wi-Fi coverage. The advantage of this method is the relative cheapness, and the disadvantage is everything else. With this scheme of building a network (router + Wi-Fi repeater), connection speed in the farthest point from the router will be reduced by about one and a half to two times. In addition, the repeater will not be able to fully transmit the signal through the bearing floors in apartment buildings, which is why the connection will be constantly broken. In addition, each repeater requires a separate configuration and a separate pair of login and password to connect.
Mesh system is more expensive but devoid of all the above disadvantages.
How a Mesh system works
A Mesh network consists of several blocks equal in their characteristics and functions. The critical role will be the one to which you connect the Internet cable. Then the blocks are connected through a dedicated wireless channel, so the overall speed of the Internet will stay the same. The whole network will have the same name, and you must use the same password to access it. As you move around the house, a Wi-Fi-connected smartphone, laptop, or another device will take turns connecting to the closest or best signal unit.
Modern Mesh networks can be divided into two categories based on Wi-Fi class, AX, and AC.
AX supports the latest standard, IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), and AC supports an older standard, IEEE 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5). Accordingly, a mesh Wi-Fi system of the first type will be faster, more stable, and more expensive than a system of the second type.
Pros and cons of using a Mesh system
The advantages, of course, are more significant:
- No internet signal is lost when you move around a spacious living area when you change sources.
- Thanks to the multi-channel system, impressive data transfer rates are achieved.
- The wireless mesh network will not stop functioning if one of the modules fails. This advantage is achieved through decentralization.
- Mesh modules know how to select channels and change settings to ensure maximum traffic speed.
- Modules do not need to be configured. They are ready to work after power is connected and a few taps of the user in the application on the smartphone.
- Advanced Mesh models are capable of integrating into intelligent home systems.
- Parental control and content filtering functions are helpful when configuring an access point in a child’s room.
- Mesh modules look nice. As a rule, they do not have horn antennas, so they do not spoil the interior design.
- Mesh devices can be integrated into an existing home network. If you need help determining how many modules you need, start small and buy more later. It is possible to interact with access points that belong to different lines of the same manufacturer.
The disadvantages also exist:
- Instead, a high cost. Mesh modules cost more than conventional routers with similar characteristics.
- The limited functionality of mesh network elements is a direct consequence of the “plug and play” concept. For example, you cannot configure a DMZ.
Where else do they use Mesh technology
Mesh technology is actively used in innovative home management. For example, a kettle, alarm clock, and toaster connected through a Mesh-router “negotiate” with each other when they need to wake you up and how long after that they start to cook breakfast.
The business sector is also easier to imagine with Mesh technology. For example, in massive warehouses, keeping an electronic inventory of products is much easier if all devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Guest Wi-Fi in public transport, clinics, hotels, etc. – Mesh technology is already available and can be used everywhere.
How to build a mesh network for your home?
The classic scenario of building a home mesh network involves choosing a wireless configuration. When the signal is transmitted via Wi-Fi, there is no need to drill walls, pull cables, or install boxes. Changing the nodes’ location will not significantly cause inconvenience if the wiring in the house does not save on sockets. Nodes will not have to reconfigure. The placement of modules depends on the layout of the home.
A user who has never set up a router can figure out what Wi-Fi Mesh is. To make the network work, you do not need a computer: install the application on your smartphone and do some simple manipulations.
Mesh networks provide a comfortable Internet for owners of houses and apartments, with an area of 150-200 square meters. However, it was unlikely that even a powerful router could provide such an area before the appearance of mesh technology Mesh problem was solved by installing multiple routers or adding to one advanced device repeater capable of extending the signal to remote areas.
As you move around the living area, your laptop or smartphone will reconnect from the router to the signal repeaters. The result is an interruption of the connection. Moreover, unpleasant things happen when the Internet is lost for a short period: video chatting, online gaming, and other activities are interrupted.
Bottom line
In conclusion, it is worth noting that meshed networks have a promising future. At first, many experts did not take this equipment seriously, but there is progress in this direction: hardware and software are improving, and new exciting engineering solutions appear. There is hope for further improvement in the mesh device price-to-quality ratio.
