What is a mesh network, and do you need one?

What is it?

Mesh networking provides Wi-Fi coverage for your entire home. Previously, expanding Wi-Fi in a large home would have required a Wi-Fi extender, which could be difficult to set up and would degrade Wi-Fi signal strength, meaning slower speeds.

With a mesh network, a main router is connected directly to your NBN broadband, and a series of satellite routers are dotted around your home. These all work in harmony, creating a whole-home wireless network for fast and reliable internet – inside and out.

Why do I need it?

Think about all the Wi-Fi-enabled devices you have, and how you use them. They're all reliant on the internet to work efficiently.

With mesh networking, you can reliably control smart lights from anywhere in the home, easily stream content without any buffering, and eliminate stuttering video calls. The entire home becomes part of the same fast, interconnected Wi-Fi network.

Mesh routers and their satellite units automatically manage network traffic to ensure everybody gets fast, responsive internet. They're a great solution for families with a lot of data demands, often simultaneously.

Is it easy to set up?

Short answer, yes! You don’t need to be a networking guru to get one up and running, because the devices do the heavy lifting. Setup just requires you to place the satellite units in the best spots so they can talk to the other devices on the network. Working this out is simplified by companion apps for whichever mesh system that you opt for.

Sorted!

Wireless internet could be frustrating for those in a home of average size or above, and the available solutions weren’t ideal. Mesh networking has changed all that – it’s easy to set up, is expandable by adding another satellite, and it's blisteringly fast.