Recently I switched to Google WiFi and quite happy with this new mesh router. After setting up with three mesh, there is no WiFi dead spot in my home, no buffer delay or drop-offs. And best of all, I can control my kid’s online time. Google WiFi is coming with an excellent app for iPhone and Android users. You can do pretty much everything with this WiFi app. It doesn’t matter how many mesh routers you have; you can control all of them with this WiFi app right from your Phone.
Standalone vs. Mesh - A standalone 802.11ac router can provide decent coverage, but if you have an especially big house, you’ll probably still end up with dead spots. Look for a router that uses mesh networking, which allows you to place wireless relay points around your home. Synology Mesh Router MR2200ac VPN Support. VPN Plus Server makes your Synology Mesh Router MR2200ac a powerful and intuitive full-featured VPN solution. VPN Plus Server provides remote workers with security and convenience to fully meet the needs of remote access to intranet resources. Keep all of your gadgets cruising along with a top-notch Wi-Fi router. Here's what you need to know to optimize your network, along with the best wireless routers for all budgets. A set of a RT2600ac and a MR2200ac (back) routers make an excellent mesh Wi-Fi system. Best DYI Mesh Wi-Fi System: Asus’ AiMesh or Synology Mesh Asus introduced AiMesh earlier this year as a free feature via firmware updates and it quickly became my most favorite way to build a mesh. As for sharing drives from a router, I don’t think any of the mesh options will do this, at least none that I’ve tried. There are some routers that will, most notably the Synology ones, but.
Lets us see a bunch of cool tips and tricks that you can do with Google WiFi router to get most out of it.
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How to use Google WiFi App?
When you set up the Google WiFi for the first time, you have to download the WiFi app to configure the router. Not only the WiFi setup, you can do pretty much everything with this Google WiFi app.
Google did an excellent job of integrating all functions in this nice app. The first tab (Network Assist Tab) on the app brings the cards to show the different status of Google Wifi. This will show you the last speed test data, mesh device status and the number of devices connected, etc. The second tab (Network Tab) for internet information and the device connected to the network. The third tab (Settings Tab) is for device configuration and different network and device setting.
Get Common WiFi Name for all Mesh
When we chose WiFi extender, we are supposed to assign a different WiFi name for the extended WiFi. For Google WiFi, it doesn’t matter the number of mesh devices you have. You can have a common network name for the office or home WiFi. This is pretty easy to manage from the app, and there are a lot of things you can do with these Google WiFi app. Also, the Mesh WiFi Router is not reducing the speed into half like other WiFi extenders. You can get the full speed while you connect any mesh network on the system.
How to run WiFi Speed Test on Google WiFi?
When you suspect something going wrong or low WiFi speed, you can do a WiFi speed test right from the Google WiFi app. There is no need to depend on any third party website or app to perform the speed test on your WiFi network.
Google WiFi will perform the download and upload speed test and report back. To check the speed, go to Settings Tab > Network check > Tap on Internet. Google will start the network check at this point. There is one bonus feature on this; you can see the history of network speed for past 60 days. Select Network Tab > tap on Internet > Network Usage > Speed > See last 60 days internet speed history.
How to test each Mesh Speed?
This will show you the signal strength of each WiFi mesh and the mesh speed of Google WiFi. You can move the mesh around your home or office for best reception and quality signal based on this test.
To check the mesh speed, go to Network Tab > Tap on WiFi Points > Test Mesh. You will get the result of the network check after a few minutes. If you want to look at individual mesh speed, tap on the 3-dot menu on right top (2nd screenshot). Now select Details from the pop-up menu. Here we got 160MBPS for one mesh router and 133MBPS for the second one, that is far away from the base unit compared to the first one. You can adjust the position of the mesh devices based on this test for more quality network and performance.
How to run Device WiFi Speed on Google WiFi?
The recent update on Google WiFi supports to test the device speed test that connected to the WiFi mesh. Based on this speed test, you can move around the devices or mesh to get the best speed and performance.
Open Google WiFi app > Setting Tab > Tap on Network check > Tap on Devices > To Test Wi-Fi. This will take a while and populate a list of all connected devices with the maximum speed that can connect. Keep in mind, this does not have any relationship with your provider’s WiFi speed. This is the speed between with device and the mesh and gives you a better result to rearrange the mesh or device position for better performance.
Google Updated this feature on May 15, 2018, make sure you have updated version to get this feature.
How to find Unauthorized Devices on WiFi?
Google WiFi App will show you the number of devices connected to the network. You can rename the device according to your choice and always have a look at the device list to see if there is an intruder device connected to the network. Open Google WiFi app > Network Tab > Tap on Devices > See Devices Connected. Once you find any device that can’t recognize, you can block the anonymous device as the first step. Then you can change the WiFi password to a new secured one.
How to get Device IP and MAC Address?
I often required to get the IP address of my printer to check the settings and update the firmware. You can get the connected devices IP address and MAC address with Google WiFi app.
To get the IP or MAC address of the device connected on your network, open Google WiFi app > Network Tab > Tap on Devices > Devices > Tap on a device > Open Details Tab to see the IP and MAC address of that particular device. The Google WiFi will select 2.4GHz or 5GHz connection automatically based on the device capability. You can see this connection information of individual device at there.
How to find Device Bandwidth?
This very helpful feature to find out the culprit when you are using a metered or limited bandwidth internet connection. You can check each devices bandwidth usage for a different period of the day, seven days period and the maximum you can see for 60 days. You can see each device bandwidth usage, right from the device list itself.
To see the device bandwidth usage, open Google WiFi app > Network Tab > Tap on Devices > Devices > Tap on a device > Open Usage Tab. You can see a snapshot of all devices bandwidth usage right from the device list as shown in the screenshot above.
How to see real-time Network Usage on Google WiFi?
Google WiFi can display your bandwidth usage. It can display network usage for a certain period, say 60days. There is a tab in the network usage that displays the real-time bandwidth usage of all devices connected to the network. To check the real-time bandwidth usage of your household WiFi, open Google WiFi app > Network Tab > Tap on Internet > USAGE Tab > See Real-time Download usage and Upload usage.
How to prioritize WiFi Speed for Devices?
When you have too many devices connected to the network and see NetFlix movie is buffering, you can prioritize the device from the device list. Once set the priority for one device, Google will dedicate the bandwidth to that device with more priority than other devices to perform better.
Open Google WiFi App > Network Tab > Tap on Devices > Devices > Tap on a device > Tap on Green Icon On bottom Right of the screen. You can prioritize any device from the list for one hour, two hours or four hours of time.
How to control individual Device’s WiFi Connection?
To control the individual device connection device is my favorite feature of this Google WiFi App. As you prioritize the device for WiFi, you can control any devices WiFi connection from the network. You can pause the WiFi to any particular device for a period or until you resume back again. When you want to give kids a break from their online activity, you can pause their device from using the internet.
To pause a device, Open Google WiFi App > Settings Tab > Family WiFi > Devices > Tap on Device > Tap on Pause Button > Add an End Time. You can group and label a bunch of devices to pause altogether or schedule internet off time for bedtime or dinner time.
How to block Adult Sites Automatically on Google WiFi?
Google can block millions of Adult Sites using Google’s SafeSearch technology that helps to block adult sites automatically. You can take advantage of this Safe Search Technology with Google WiFi by turning on Site Blocking.
Go ahead to Google WiFi App > Settings Tab > Family WiFi > Site Blocking > Select the Group > Turn on Site Blocking for Each Label. If you want to get more powerful sie blocking, you can use OpenDNS and change the Google WiFi DNS to Open DNS Server IP number (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 for IPv4 access). Please see the exclusive article for Google WiFi users to Block Websites on Google WiFi Router.
How to block Websites with Google WiFi?
The website blocking is not fully supported by Google WiFi. As we mentioned before, you can filter the websites based on the category. If you want to block individual websites on Google WiFi, you have to depend on OpenDNS, a free DND server.
From Google WiFi app, you can change the DNS server to OpenDNS server and yo have full control to block a particular website from OpenDNS dashboard. Please see the article block websites on Google WiFi for step by step instructions to add individual websites on the blacklist.
How to schedule WiFi On/Off Time on Google WiFi?
When you want to control Kids online time, you can group them and set a schedule for Internet usage. You can set the time for each label and schedule to turn off internet automatically.
Open Google WiFi App > Settings Tab > Family WiFi > Scheduels > Select Label/Group > Set On/Off Time for WiFi.
How to share/view WiFi Password on Google WiFi?
Sometimes we forget the WiFi password that we set for WiFi network. Google allows viewing your WiFi password direct from the app. You can see WiFi password from Google WiFi > Settings Tab > Show Password.
You can share the password with your family member or colleague using the chat app or any other sharing platform from Android or iPhone. This is pretty easy. Keep in mind; the password is sharing in plain text. It is not encrypted or masked, and we encourage to use the latest feature of iOS to share WiFi password to keep security.
How to add Network Managers?
You can add multiple network managers to control your WiFi. WGne you want to allow your spouse to control Kids online time, this is a trouble-free, easy solution. Open Google WiFi App > Settings Tab > Network & General > Managers > Tap Right Bottom Corner > Enter the Name/Email. Google will pick the name and email address from your contact list to add as Network manager.
How to control Individual Mesh Routers?
You can connect as many as devices in the mesh network to improve the performance of the WiFi connection. The good thing about the Google WiFi is, you can control the individual mesh devices independently.
Open the Google WiFi App > Settings Tab > Network & General > WiFi points > Network device Settings > Select the mesh device. You can change the device brightness, restart individual mesh, move the location of the device for more quality network, etc. You can get the device IP address and status of connection under device details.
How to reserve IP for Devices on Google WiFi?
You may need to use Static IP for some printers security cameras in your home. You can create DHCP IP Reservation for the devices connected to your network. Open Google WiFi App > Settings Tab > Network & General > Advanced networking > DHCP IP Reservations > Add button > Select Device > Set manual IP.
How to control Google WiFi from outside WiFi network?
Whether you are traveling outside or not at home, still you can control Google WiFi home network from outside. As long as you logged into the Google WiFi app with the Google credentials, you can use the app and control any device from outside. You don’t need to be in the home to control WiFi or Kids online time. As long as your mobile connected to WiFi or mobile data connection, you can use all perform all the controls of Google WiFi app.
How to set Guest Network on Google WiFi?
This comes in very handy when you want to arrange a party at home. There is no need to share the WiFi password with your friends. You can create a guest network from Google WiFi app > Settings > Guest WiFi > Next > Guest WiFi name > Guest Password. You can share this password with your visitors and change when you finish the party. All your home connected devices will be secured, and the Guest connected devices can’t access your main WiFi network devices.
When you want to control Kids’ online activity and want to have more quality of WiFi network, Google WiFi is going to be your best bet. Instead of checking the settings and controls form web-based app for traditional routers, Google Wifi bring all these on your mobile app. If you don’t have Google WiFi, you can buy from Amazon or Google Store.
The beauty of this app is you can control and change any settings even from outside the WiFi network. You can check the status of devices connected to your WiFi network, and the active devices on a certain time, everything you can get right from the app even when you are away from home.
Wi-Fi networks have evolved tremendously over the last few years. The latest technology that can take your home Wi-Fi to the next level is mesh networking. So, what’s unique about this mesh network you may ask? Well, suppose you live in a huge house with several rooms separated by walls built out of solid concrete, a regular Wi-Fi router will simply not be good enough for providing an adequate range. This is exactly where Wi-Fi mesh routers come into play and show their prowess.
Best Mesh Router For 2018
There are already plenty of mesh routers are available in the market right now. You may have a hard time deciding on which one to go for. Here are the 7 best Wi-Fi mesh routers to ensure maximum Wi-Fi range.
What is WiFi Mesh Routers?
These routers are designed to fill every nook and corner. Mesh is to offer Wi-Fi coverage that’s free of any dead spots. The network range of a conventional Wi-Fi router can be improved with the help of a range extender. However, the results are nowhere close to what these mesh routers have to offer. The technology has in fact been used way earlier for federal and military applications, where the signal strength is absolutely crucial.
The Wi-Fi routers working is pretty straightforward. These devices make use of multiple access points that are totally spread out in a given area. This is to ensure maximum possible coverage. The covered area is significantly the better option when compared to a single high-end router. Drop-offs, buffering, slow and dead spots can be nearly eliminated with these high-end mesh routers. If you’re currently living in a huge home with at least 3000 square feet, you will be able to immediately notice significant improvements in your home Wi-Fi network by purchasing a Wi-Fi mesh router.
That's enough to fill your room and then some. I love the because they sound great, look great, and the $99 price tag makes them pretty affordable. Your Mac is going to sound better and be louder if you connect a dedicated set of speakers to it, rather than relying on the internal speakers.
Fiddling with the equalizer sorts this issue out, however. While the full range sounds excellent at normal volumes, the highest of the high-end does fall a bit flat and can get pretty tinny at very high volumes.
Related: Best Portable WiFi Routers for Travelers.
Routers For Mac
Best WiFi Mesh Routers
If you’re still sticking with a conventional router, it’s high time to upgrade your home Wi-Fi to a mesh network. Mesh Routers can significantly enhanced coverage that’s free of dead spots, drop-offs and buffering.
Eero Pro Wi-Fi System
This is the company that pretty much started the craze for home mesh networking. For gaining such a reputation, the company doesn’t fail to impress us with their Pro Wi-Fi system. This includes three Eeros, that’s fully capable of covering a 3-5 bedroom home. Thanks to the inclusion of three Eeros. The Pro Wi-Fi system will be able to provide a powerful tri-band mesh. Make no mistake, as this is the second generation Eero that we’re talking about. You can expect the performance to be twice as fast. The Wi-Fi system supports both MU-MIMO and beamforming, so we’ve got no doubts regarding its potential. The Eero has two auto-detecting Ethernet ports that allow you to connect to your modem and any other device, say an Ethernet switch or printer. Unlike several other home Wi-Fi systems and traditional routers, Eeros receive automatic security updates frequently. In case a new threat arises, an update can be made immediately, so there’s nothing to worry in this regard. The companion app for the Eero is pretty simple and straightforward so that even beginners find it easy to understand. All in all, this home mesh Wi-Fi system is literally perfect for Ethernet-wired homes, if you’re looking for the best possible performance.
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Google WiFi System
Coming from a hugely popular and reputed brand, we have no doubts regarding the potential and quality of the Google Wi-Fi system. Thanks to the use of mesh networking, Google Wi-Fi will be able to provide coverage throughout your home, regardless of its size, and also help in eliminating dead zones and buffering. A single Google Wi-Fi point covers up to 1500 sq. ft, but considering that the entire system comes with a set of three points, you’ll be able to cover homes up to 4,500 sq. ft in size. If that’s still not good enough for you, additional Wi-Fi points can be purchased for even more coverage.
The Google Wi-Fi system adopts a technology called Network Assist, that keeps the connection fast by always selecting the clearest channel and fastest band for all your devices. Unlike most Wi-Fi routers that are currently out there on the market, the Google Wi-Fi has no web-based interface. Instead, the only way to set up and control this network is by making use of the new Google Wi-Fi mobile application that’s available for both iOS and Android devices. The app is polished and neatly designed with uncluttered controls that let you check out what’s connected, prioritize devices and restrict Wi-Fi access on children’s devices.
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Linksys Velop Triband Home Wi-Fi Mesh System
What Is A Mesh Router
Next, on the list, we’ve got a powerful tri-band Wi-Fi mesh system that’s capable of covering even the biggest homes, as the maximum range goes all the way up to 6000 sq. ft, due to the inclusion of 3 nodes, each of them providing 2000 sq. ft coverage. This mesh Wi-Fi solution is built to connect with each other in a single network configuration. Suppose a node loses connection, the remaining units will automatically re-establish the internet connection, so there’s no need to worry as far as this department is concerned. Similar to the other mesh routers that we discussed above, the Linksys Velop comes with a companion app that guides users through a quick setup process. It’s pretty simple to use and lets you set parental controls, guest networks, auto-fix node using a smartphone and much more. Due to the dynamic tri-band technology that the Google Wi-Fi packs, Velop will be able to provide super-fast speeds through its combination of three Wi-Fi radios. That being said, the icing on the cake is support for Amazon Alexa voice assistant, thereby letting you use voice for controlling your new home mesh Wi-Fi system.
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Luma Whole Home Wi-Fi
There are three hexagon-shaped modules included in this home Wi-Fi system that promises to cover any home up to 3000 sq. ft without any dead zones and buffering. This mesh network automatically scans and neutralizes any malware that’s detected, to make sure your devices remain protected. Smart parental controls let you restrict the Wi-Fi access to children, by setting a user rating of G, PG or PG-13 for each person on the Wi-Fi network. It’s worth keeping in mind that this is just a dual-band router and not a tri-band router like some of the devices featured in this list. However, it’s powered by quad-core Qualcomm processors, so we’ve got no complaints regarding Luma’s performance. Just like the other mesh routers that we discussed above, the Luma Home Wi-Fi system includes a companion app that’s available for both Android and iOS, with which you’ll get complete control over your router. The app also lets you know all the devices that are connected to the Wi-Fi network and everything they’re doing on it. Similar to Linksys Velop, the Luma fully supports Amazon Alexa voice assistant, so that you can control your home Wi-Fi without even using your hands. Compared to the Eero, the Luma is much more affordable, thereby making it an option that you simply cannot resist.
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Netgear Orbi Home Wi-Fi System
When it comes to Wi-Fi routers, Netgear has a huge reputation and fan following. A Mesh Wi-Fi system from this brand is something that was much awaited. The Orbi Router manages to live up to the expectations. The Netgear Orbi comes with two Wi-Fi satellites those are capable of providing a range up to 5000 sq. ft. However, you can boost the coverage even further by purchasing an additional satellite separately. The Wi-Fi system supports tri-band technology. With this, the data flow for your connected devices is well-maintained using a dedicated backhaul connection. Dead spots and drop-offs should no longer be a concern to you once you start using the Orbi.
Setting up the Orbi is quite simple and can be quickly done by making use of the Orbi app that’s available for Android and iOS devices. All you got to do is, plug in your system, and follow the simple instructions displayed on the PC or mobile device, to get the entire home online. This tri-band Wi-Fi system provides a single Wi-Fi network for every single device at your home. Users will also be able to set up a separate and secure Wi-Fi network for visitors and guests to use. That being said, one of the standout features of the Netgear Orbi is its Amazon Alexa support. This lets users control their Wi-Fi system with just their voice.
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Samsung Connect Home Mesh Wi-Fi System
Next, on the list, we’ve got a smart home Wi-Fi system with mesh networking from Samsung. It’s capable of covering homes up to 4500 sq. ft, without leaving any dead spots, drop-offs and buffering. This blanket covering is to be expected from a mesh Wi-Fi system with three nodes. Coming from Samsung, the Home Mesh Wi-Fi system fully supports Smart Home Hub functionality. Samsung Connect lets you easily connect electronic devices including cameras, lights and voice assistance. This Wi-Fi system comes in a pack of 3. If you want even more coverage, you can purchase additional modules separately. Users will be able to set up and configure their Wi-Fi networks by making use of the Samsung Connect app that’s available for iOS and Android devices. Setting up parental controls and creating network access for guests have been made easy with the help of this application. Manufacturer claim that this Wi-Fi system is capable of providing speeds up to 866 MHz on the 5 GHz band. This is an impressive number, to say the least. For an asking price of just under 280 bucks, we think this router-cum-smart hub that eliminates dead spots and drop-offs is worth every penny that you’re paying for.
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TP-Link Deco M5 Home Wi-Fi Mesh System
TP-Link has gained popularity for pricing their Wi-Fi routers aggressively compared to their competition. Deco M5 Home Wi-Fi mesh system is no exception in that regard. Deco comes in a pack of three, where each module is capable of offering coverage up to 1500 sq. ft. TP-Link’s Adaptive Routing Technology chooses the fastest path for device connections and keeps the Wi-Fi network running fast. The Wi-Fi system also supports the company’s HomeCare feature, that brings comprehensive security in a home Wi-Fi system. It also features built-in antivirus and malware protection, which is powered by Trend Micro. Drop-offs, dead spots and buffering will no longer be a problem once this Wi-Fi system is installed in your house. Users will be making use of the Deco app to control their home Wi-Fi. This app lets you adjust parental controls and create separate accounts for guests. The maximum coverage of 4500 sq. ft provided by these three nodes. You can purchase an additional unit for even better coverage. Users will also be able to prioritize bandwidth depending on the tasks. This is to make sure the best performance from every device. With prioritization, you can keep your preferred connections running fast.
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Well, Are you interested in getting your hands on Mesh WiFi? We’re glad that we could list some of the best home Wi-Fi mesh systems, available in the market. Depending on your budget and coverage requirements, your choices may vary. So, which one of these mesh Wi-Fi routers are you planning to go for, and why? Do let us know in the comments section down below.