Question Help me understand the difference between Mesh and normal routers please

[pcslookout]

I don't get it.

Do more than one device with mesh routers transfer you over to the other closer device if need be seemlessly ?

 

[JackMDS]

First read this to get the idea of how Repeaters/Extenders work.

The read this about Mesh - https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/wi-fi-range-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference

So... Mesh is a nice "Magic Word". But in reality some Mesh are just fancy Extender and some that have Multiple Transmitter Receiver do a Little better.

 

[pcslookout]

First read this to get the idea of how Repeaters/Extenders work.

The read this about Mesh - https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/wi-fi-range-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference

So... Mesh is a nice "Magic Word". But in reality some Mesh are just fancy Extender and some that have Multiple Transmitter Receiver do a Little better.

So for a 1900 sq feet house would a single wireless router just be better ? If possible a little outside too but only very little is needed outside.

 

[mv2devnull]

Distance from center of 1900 sq feet square to corners is about 31 feet, isn't it?
Range of wireless access point (WAP) indoors is probably 100 feet or more (depending on how thick the walls are).

However, wireless connection has two players: the WAP and the WiFi client device (your laptop, phone, etc).
The effective range is the range of the weaker party, WAP or client.

Similarly, when you have more than one WAP that all advertise the same wireless network, it is up to the client device whether it switches (roams) from currently connected WAP to stronger signal WAP. The WAPs can merely give cues, like cut weak connections (they assume that client is closer to some other WAP).

 

[Eric Fazekas]

Yea, 1900 square feet doesn't really give enough info. Is it a two story town house or a long ranch? Is your router centered in the house or off to one corner. Chances are most routers with give you signal in all parts of your house, but as the signal drops, often the bandwidth drops too. Take your phone and install a bandwidth app. Stand next to the router and take a reading, then go as far away as possible inside (and outside if you have a patio or something) and take a measurement. Is the difference acceptable?

I don't read a lot of positive things about mesh here, but I think its helpful in a lot of houses with dead zones. Most do a good job of handing your device off when it does switch. It's seamless to you, or should be. I have four mesh nodes, three inside and one in a detached building. All broadcast the same SSID and I never have to think about it.