2025 01 Spring with bleed - Flipbook - Page 66
WEB
IT guru Steve
Cowling from
Tangled Bank
shares some advice on improving connectivity at home
These days, almost everything relies on a strong Wi-Fi
connection4streaming shows, working from home, or simply keeping your
smart devices running. But if you9ve ever experienced poor connectivity or
dead spots in your house, you know how frustrating it can be. Luckily,
there are cheap solutions like mesh Wi-Fi systems and powerline adapters
to help.
What is Mesh Wi-Fi and What Are the
Advantages?
Traditional Wi-Fi setups usually rely on a
single router, but this can leave some areas
of your home with weak signals or no
connection at all. This is where mesh Wi-Fi
steps in. Mesh systems use multiple devices,
called nodes, to create a single, seamless
network
How It Works: Imagine your Wi-Fi signal as a relay race. Instead of one
router doing all the work, each node in a mesh system hands off the signal
to the next, ensuring strong coverage throughout your home.
Better Than Extenders: Unlike extenders, which can often slow down
your internet and may require separate networks, mesh systems keep
things simple and fast with one unioed network.
Easy to Manage: Mesh systems are controlled through apps, making
setup and management user-friendly4even for those who aren't techsavvy. Big names like Amazon, Google, Netgear, and TP-Link all offer
mesh systems. I9ve personally used Amazon Eero and Google Nest. Both
are easy to set up and often go on sale, so you don9t need to pay full
price. I currently use Eero because, after researching, I found it was
particularly good for older houses with thick walls. With four nodes, my
system covers the main parts of the house, and the annex.
Tips for Setting Up Mesh Nodes For the best performance, here9s how to
place your nodes:
Think Spheres: Wi-Fi signals radiate in all directions, like a sphere, so
placing nodes higher up (like on a shelf) can help improve coverage, even
to upper noors.
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