We’ve all been there—one minute you’re at home FaceTiming your best friend across the country, listening to your favorite podcast, or playing a game online, and suddenly everything stops. You’ve stepped into a Wi-Fi dead zone, where the signal is slow, or worse, non-existent. Every other room in the house gets a full signal, but for some reason, the Wi-Fi doesn’t want to reach the one you’re in.
The main answer to the problem of dead spots has been Wi-Fi range extenders, which plug into your wall and bounce your Wi-Fi signal only slightly farther than your router can, and at the expense of signal quality. But now, there’s a new kid in town: Whole Home Wi-Fi.
Today, we’re going to explain what exactly Whole Home Wi-Fi is, and how you can make it work for your home. If you are more of a visual learner, watch our latest Tech Tip video to follow along with tech expert Riley. Let’s get started!
What Is It?
Wi-Fi dead spots can be created by a number of obstacles in your home, including distance from your router and thick walls or doors (check out this Tech Tip blog for more information about the causes of weak Wi-Fi!) A Whole Home Wi-Fi system works with the design of your home, rather than against it, in order to bring you lightning-fast internet in every room.
Whole Home Wi-Fi, or “Mesh Wi-Fi,” consists of a series of access points, often called nodes. One access point either replaces your traditional router or directly connects to it using an Ethernet cable, and then shares your signal with the other access points in its range. These nodes are strategically placed around your house and share the same SSID and password, creating a single, uninterrupted Wi-Fi network that covers your entire home.
How Does It Work?
Luckily, Whole Home Wi-Fi systems are flexible, scalable, and easy to install. You can choose where to place each node, based on where your signal typically drops off. Whole Home Wi-Fi systems are often sold in sets of three nodes, which is enough access points for a typical home, but you can purchase additional nodes if and when you need them.
Additionally, most mesh systems use a mobile app to make set-up a breeze. The app walks you through the set-up process, including where to place nodes for optimal coverage. These mobile apps also come with built-in features to help you manage your Wi-Fi, like parental controls, guest access, and more.
Not all Whole Home Wi-Fi systems are created equal, and it’s important to examine the technology that each brand uses. Give us a call today to find a Whole Home Wi-Fi system that’s right for you, and never step into a dead zone again.
That’s it for this edition of Tech Tips! Check back soon for another tip to make your technology work for you.
