Several Wi-Fi devices operate together to form a unified wireless network in a mesh Wi-Fi setup. The objective is to spread a dependable wireless signal evenly throughout a sizable house or workplace.

A single gateway is used in a simple Wi-Fi network to send a wireless signal to numerous devices. This works well in a small room, but in a bigger one, the signal might not reach all places. Signal power can considerably decrease in "dead zones" caused by obstructions like solid walls and floors. The answer is to disperse a network of servers throughout the region.

A main gateway and one or more terminals, also known as "points," make up a mesh network. To build a single wireless network, the gateway and devices collaborate perfectly. Dead zones can be removed and a building or workplace can have constant Wi-Fi service by carefully putting routers there.

Wi-Fi 6's increased range means that most spaces under 2,000 square feet only need one device. A modem with two nodes may be adequate for spaces up to 6,000 square feet, while a mesh Wi-Fi network with a single node typically spans areas up to 4,000 square feet. For constant coverage in a big structure with many levels, a mesh network might need a few dozen devices.

Range Extenders versus Mesh Networks

Another method to increase the Wi-Fi service area is with range extenders or repeaters. Range extenders don't offer "clever" swapping, unlike mesh nodes, which do nothing more than replicate the Wi-Fi signal. Each extender needs its own network, which may have a distinct wifi passcode. Range extenders can't build a smooth network, so Wi-Fi mesh networks are a more preferred alternative.