Mesh Network vs Router: What are the Differences?

When setting up a home or office network, two primary options are a Wi-Fi router and a mesh network system. Both provide multiple devices with internet access, but there are significant differences between them: routers broadcast their signal from central locations, whereas mesh networks utilize multiple access points to extend coverage over larger areas.

Mesh networks offer seamless coverage in large spaces, while routers are more cost-effective and easier to set up. Eventually, which option best meets your individual needs will depend on what features are most important to you as an end-user. Let’s look at the aspects to consider before making a choice between these two technologies.

Mesh Network vs Router: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Mesh Network	Router
Range	Better coverage due to multiple access points	Limited range, may require range extenders
Performance	Consistent signal and speed throughout the network	Decreased speed and signal strength further away from the router
Scalability	Easily expandable by adding more nodes	Limited by the number of devices the router can support
Ease of setup	Simple setup with the use of a mobile app	More complex setup with the need for manual configuration
Price	Generally more expensive than traditional routers	Less expensive compared to mesh networks
Security	More secure due to multiple access points and automatic updates	Requires manual updates and may be vulnerable to security breaches
Ideal use case	Large homes or buildings with multiple floors or obstacles	Small apartments or homes with minimal obstructions
Popular brands	Google Nest, Eero, Netgear Orbi, AmpliFi	Linksys, Asus, TP-Link, Netgear

Mesh Network vs Router: What’s the Difference?

Traditional routers and mesh networks share some fundamental similarities, but there’s more to these Wi-Fi setups than just their hardware. What sets a mesh network apart from a router?

How do factors like coverage area, network scalability, and device handoff affect their performance? Let’s take a closer look at some of these key differences below, beginning with the coverage area.

Coverage Area

A mesh network is designed to offer more coverage area than traditional routers. In a mesh network, multiple nodes are placed throughout the house and communicate with one another to form an uninterrupted wireless network.

This enables it to cover an expansive area without losing signal strength or speed. Furthermore, these nodes work together to route data from the source device to the destination device, guaranteeing strong signal reliability throughout your house.

Contrary to popular belief, traditional routers are only designed to cover a certain area. Their signal can be weakened or lost completely when passing through walls and other obstructions. Therefore, if your house has multiple floors or large areas with many people, you may experience slow or intermittent Wi-Fi service in certain spots.

Network Scalability

A key benefit of a mesh network is its scalability. As your requirements grow, add extra nodes to the system to extend coverage and customize for specific requirements (like adding more devices or expanding living space) and no additional hardware investment is necessary. This allows for easy customization to fit individual needs within your home network infrastructure.

Traditional routers, however, are less scalable. Additional hardware, such as range extenders or access points, may be required to expand your network’s coverage area. This can prove more expensive and time-consuming than simply adding another node into a mesh network.

Device Handoff

A mesh network is designed to facilitate seamless device handoff. As you move from one area of the house to another, your device will automatically connect to the strongest node in the network; meaning, there won’t be any interruption in the Wi-Fi signal as you move around the house. This ensures that everyone stays connected at all times.

Traditional routers, on the other hand, often experience issues with device handoff. As you move away from your router, your device may lose connection and require a manual connection to a different access point or range extender. This can be tedious and time-consuming if you’re trying to work or stream content across multiple devices simultaneously.

Network Management

Mesh networks are designed for ease of management. Most come with a mobile app that lets you set up and control your network from your smartphone or tablet. This app helps monitor network performance, troubleshoot issues, and control access. You may even use the app to set parental controls, guest networks, and other features.

Traditional routers can be more challenging to manage. Logging into a web interface to make changes can be confusing and time-consuming. While some routers do offer mobile apps, they may not be as feature-rich as the apps included with mesh systems.

Security

Mesh networks typically offer greater security than traditional routers. Most mesh systems come equipped with built-in features like WPA2 encryption, firewalls, and automatic firmware updates.

Some even feature advanced security measures, like malware protection and network intrusion detection, to safeguard your network and devices from online threats. These measures help safeguard both the hardware and the data contained within them.

Traditional routers may not provide the same security level as mesh systems. While most do offer WPA2 encryption and firewalls, these may not be updated as frequently as the security features on a mesh system, leaving your network and devices vulnerable to online threats.

Cost

Mesh networks tend to be more costly than traditional routers. A basic mesh system typically costs between $200-$300, while more advanced models could reach up to $500. While this may seem like a lot of money upfront, a mesh network offers superior coverage and scalability over traditional routers, making it an attractive investment for some users.

Traditional routers are more cost-effective than mesh systems, with a basic model available for as little as $50 and more advanced models for around $150. They may not provide the same coverage or scalability as mesh systems, but traditional routers still provide reliable Wi-Fi connectivity to most users.

Internet Speed

Mesh networks can maintain high internet speeds even when multiple devices are connected to the network. This is because each node in a mesh system is connected to other nodes in the network, meaning data travels more efficiently through it.

As a result, mesh networks offer faster internet connections and more dependable connections than traditional routers do. Traditional routers may struggle to provide consistent internet speeds when multiple devices are connected to the network.

This is because each device is directly connected to the router, creating congestion and slowing down the connection. Therefore, traditional routers may not be as dependable as mesh systems when it comes to providing consistent internet speeds.

Hardware Requirements

Mesh networks require specific hardware in order to function optimally. This typically consists of a base station and multiple satellite nodes spread throughout your home or office. Each node must be connected to both power sources and the internet, meaning you may need additional accessories like Ethernet cables or power adapters.

Traditional routers don’t need as specialized hardware as mesh systems; you only need a single router connected to your modem and a power source. This makes traditional routers a cost-effective option for users who don’t require the additional coverage or scalability provided by mesh systems.

Compatibility

Mesh networks are designed to be compatible with a range of devices and operating systems. This means you can connect devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and gaming consoles to your mesh network without any compatibility issues.

Furthermore, mesh systems support multiple wireless standards like 802.11ac and 802.11ax, so you can utilize the most up-to-date Wi-Fi technologies when connecting to your network. Traditional routers are generally compatible with a variety of devices and operating systems.

However, some older models may not support the most recent wireless standards, limiting your network speed and performance. Similarly, certain types of routers may not be compatible with certain types of devices, which could present users with compatibility issues.

Mesh Network vs Router: 9 Must-Know Facts

1. Mesh networks are wireless systems in which nodes communicate to extend a network’s range. Routers connect devices to this same infrastructure and route traffic between them.
2. Mesh networks are ideal for larger homes or areas with multiple floors and many devices, as they provide seamless coverage without dead zones — something a single router may struggle to provide in larger spaces.
3. Traditional routers are cheaper than mesh network systems. However, they may need additional range extenders or access points to cover larger areas, which could prove more expensive in the long run.
4. Mesh networks are self-healing, meaning if one node goes down, the network can reroute traffic to other nodes to maintain connectivity. Conversely, traditional routers may require manual troubleshooting to resolve connectivity issues.
5. Mesh networks typically come with a mobile app to simplify setting up and managing the network. Traditional routers may need more technical know-how to set up and operate properly.
6. Mesh networks can prioritize traffic to guarantee that devices requiring more bandwidth, like streaming players, get the necessary speeds. Traditional routers may struggle to provide consistent coverage across multiple devices.
7. Mesh networks can be easily scaled by adding additional nodes, providing effortless scalability as your needs evolve. Traditional routers may need additional hardware upgrades to expand their capacity; however, mesh networks offer this flexibility.
8. Mesh networks use multiple channels for communication between nodes, eliminating the likelihood of interference and congestion that traditional routers may experience from nearby networks or devices.
9. Mesh networks tend to be pricier than traditional routers, but they provide a more robust and dependable connection that’s ideal for larger homes, or areas with multiple floors and devices.

Wireless Mesh Networks Explained

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are a type of network that enables the creation of self-healing and decentralized infrastructure. These nodes or devices connect wirelessly to other nodes, creating an intricate mesh-like structure for data transmission between them.

The primary advantages of Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) lie in their capacity for high network availability, scalability, and coverage. Furthermore, WMNs reduce the costs of network deployment and maintenance compared to traditional wireless networks.

One of the primary advantages of Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) is their multiple wireless hops used for transmission, helping them bypass coverage limitations and provide better connectivity in areas with weak or no signal.

These hops enable data to travel through multiple nodes before reaching its destination. With each acting as a relay, they create a more reliable and resilient network in which nodes can still communicate with one another, even if some fail.

WMNs are especially useful in large-scale deployments such as public Wi-Fi networks, industrial automation, and smart cities. In these instances, a single access point or router may not be enough to provide full coverage, and multiple points would be too expensive to deploy and maintain.

The Evolution of WiFi Routers

WiFi routers have revolutionized how we access the internet, making it faster, more dependable, and simpler than ever before. Since their inception in the late 1990s, WiFi routers have evolved tremendously, becoming faster, more dependable, and easier to use than ever before.

When WiFi routers first came out, they were slow and only offered basic internet connection. Operating on the 802.11b standard, their maximum speed was 11 Mbps. Over time, routers improved as new standards like 802.11g and 802.11n were adopted, drastically improving signal speed and range.

One of the major advances in WiFi router technology was the introduction of dual-band routers. These devices operated on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, increasing speed while reducing interference, making them ideal for large households with multiple devices.

Today’s WiFi routers are more advanced, featuring features like parental controls, guest networks, and remote management options. Furthermore, they support the latest WiFi standards like 802.11ac and 802.11x, which provide faster speeds and better performance.

Mesh Network vs Router: Pros and Cons

Pros of Mesh Network	Cons of Mesh Network
Mesh networks offer easy expansion by adding more nodes to the network, providing coverage in areas that might not be accessible with traditional routers	Mesh networks tend to be more costly than traditional routers due to the requirement of multiple access points
They enable device mobility around the home or office without losing their connection	Setting up a mesh network can be more intricate than setting up an ordinary router, as it necessitates configuring multiple access points
Mesh networks feature multiple access points, ensuring the network remains reliable even if one goes down	Some devices may not be compatible with mesh networks, limiting their usefulness
They offer better coverage throughout your home or office, as they use multiple access points to send a strong signal throughout all areas	Mesh networks with multiple access points are more vulnerable to security breaches than traditional routers due to their multiple entry points

Pros of WiFi Router	Cons of WiFi Router
Setting up and configuring a Wi-Fi router is usually easy	Wi-Fi router coverage can be limited in large homes or offices with multiple floors, leading to weak signals and slow speeds
Wi-Fi routers tend to be more cost-effective than other networking devices, such as switches or hubs	Routers can be susceptible to interference from other devices, such as microwaves and cordless phones
A single Wi-Fi router can offer Wi-Fi coverage to a large area, making it an ideal solution for homes and small offices alike	Wi-Fi routers can pose a security risk if not properly secured
A Wi-Fi router can simultaneously handle multiple devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and smart home items	Wi-Fi routers can become outdated quickly as technology progresses, necessitating you to replace yours regularly

Mesh Network vs Router: Which One Is Better?

When selecting a mesh network or traditional router, the individual’s needs and preferences should be taken into consideration. Mesh networks are ideal for larger homes or environments where coverage is an issue, offering a seamless and dependable Wi-Fi experience. On the other hand, traditional routers may work better in smaller homes or spaces where coverage is not an issue.

When it comes to speed and performance, both mesh networks and routers can provide high-quality Wi-Fi connections; however, mesh networks tend to be more consistent and dependable. Furthermore, mesh networks offer the capacity for expanding coverage by adding nodes or access points. In contrast, traditional routers may need additional devices or range extenders in order to achieve the same level of coverage.

Ultimately, when selecting between mesh networks and traditional routers, one must take into account factors like budget, coverage needs, and the number of connected devices. Both solutions offer reliable Wi-Fi connections that satisfy users’ demands with proper consideration.