Question

Guys, I know this is little bit off-topic, but since I will use it for smarthings and Smarthome stuff, I'm posting it. Which is the best WIFi-Mesh system out there? I live in a two stories house which is completely in concrete, so wifi signal suck from time to time (mostly ALL the time)! I get tired of this situation and I want all my devices connected. So, what did you recommend me? Thank you so much in advance!  

Answer 1

I have Orbi and it improved my system dramatically. Love it

Comments

@shrewish4338 I had orbi, struggled with a large number of clients (50+)

Answer 2

Orbi mesh, 1 router & 2 satellites. Very reliable

Answer 3

Can you run wire? I was able to wire my 2 story and install Unify WAP, would do it again in a heartbeat.  

Comments

I added two access points in my house. No need to run wires. Very easy to setup and manage. Best move I ever made going with unify equipment.  

Answer 4

I also have the orbi mesh with 2 satellites. My experience is that it really needs to have the wired backhaul configuration between the router and the satellites (vs using wireless connections). It does work with the wireless connection - mostly - but it shines with the wired backhaul. Oh, and the android app is a little funky. but again, it works.  

Comments

@enginery7236 I’m assuming “wired backhaul config” means that the satellites are Ethernet wired? I have RBR50, RBS50, and a RBW30. I may not have it configured properly because my wifi sucks! Sometimes i cant have a Zoom conference, other times its ok. If i do any wifi calling, it gets choppy. No clue how i can fix it.  

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@enginery7236 correct. Backhaul is the nodes communicating to each other. Wired is wired.  

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@algonquin6112 see my edits above. But YES: ethernet wired.  

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@enginery7236 Thanks for clarification- ok so how does that work? There are no Ethernet input ports on the RBS or RBW units

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@radiocarbon650 Can you explain this? I’m thinking you don’t mean that the satellites get wired- so how would I do what you’re describing?  

Answer 5

I’m on eero and have been happy so far. Good compromise between performance and price. Ethernet backhaul was a requirement for me that somewhat limited my options.  

Answer 6

I have Orbi, Eero, and Google WiFi. The best is Eero. The worst is Google WiFi, there are a lot of advanced and basic stuff that Google WiFi wouldn’t let you set. Orbi is very good in terms of coverage, but their App is the worst and horrible.  

Comments

@macbeth great comparison. I have eero and love it. Haven’t tried Orbi or Google and now I’m glad.  

Answer 7

This "little off topic" question gets asked approximately every other day.  

Comments

@unclothe1851 sorry pal, I didn't see it. Otherwise, won't post it.  

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But, thanks for let me know. Now I have an other post to check (if I find it). Sorry again.  

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@dunaville just search the group for the word mesh

Answer 8

Unifi AP's will make almost any consumer router look like a water pistol in a gun fight. They can do mesh too. I'd almost bet with the LR (long range) you may even be ok with 1

Comments

@aidoneus9 really? I going to check this. Thanks!  

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@dunaville I cover 5100ft2 with 2 AP's, and the LR I've got upstairs gives me full signal at the neighbours house. At my camp I use 1 Ap-Lite inside and an Uap-ac-m-pro outdoors and cover about 4 acres

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@aidoneus9 i can 100% agree with this. i had every type of router from nighthawk to linksys mesh network nothing covered my 1600sq ft house until i completely revamped my network with unifi equipment. I bought a USG, 8 port POE switch and 2 AP-AC-PRO access points and my coverage is amazing!  

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Do you recommend the Dream Machine or Amplifi Alien? Is one AP-LR better than going with 2 Pros?  

Answer 9

Look at TPLink Omada. I’ve two hard wired EAP245s and they’re fantastic. I also have around 80 active devices with all my kids crap. Super stable and simpler to setup than SmartThings. They DO offer mesh support.  

Answer 10

I have Eero but I had to keep my Netgear router since Eero won’t let me choose a specific internal IP address. However, all my WiFi problems have disappeared.  

Answer 11

I second orbi with wired backhaul

Comments

In other words, not mesh.  

Answer 12

If you have concrete walls, then running Ethernet for backhaul between the mesh points will be an issue. If you have cable co-ax drops in any of the rooms, then you could use moca adapters to get full speed between the mesh points at each co-ax point. Works like a charm for me.  

Comments

I second MoCA over coax. That’s how my Orbi satellites talk.  

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What is this? How it works? I never hear of it. where can I find more info?  

Answer 13

Stay away from Linksys Velop. They introduced some ‘premium’ features that broke 2. 4GHz network and still struggle. I had to downgrade firmware and disable updates.  

Comments

@kali55 I have four of the three band versions and have been unhappy. They periodically go down and have to be rebooted.  

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@kali55 i had the linksys velop with 3 nodes. it was horrible. never looking back since switching to unifi

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@kali55 I tried the triband and the signal was strong but the speed terrible. Removed a black spot and gave poor performance everywhere. It was out of the box single digit hours before I sent it back.  

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I have a wired backhaul and decent speeds. It’s just the stability has been awful.  

Answer 14

I have a similar older house with plaster over metal lath construction (every room is basically a Faraday cage). Tried most of the suggestions in this thread. Finally got the Samsung smartthings mesh. It solved my wifi problem and my zigbee/zwave problem as well. It was a pain to switch everything over, but it's been so much more reliable than what I had before that I haven't regretted it for a minute.  

Comments

@akee3951 Stanley I am looking for the same thing but wanting to see if I can have the same experience but conecting all 3 with an Ethernet cable

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I have two of the three on my house ethernet. Works pretty well. But it also worked OK when I only had one on ethernet. I added a backup cable to the furthest out puck as a minor speed increase to the wifi in that part of the house.  

Answer 15

AMPLIFI get two main units and back haul if possible to the second. Great app, rock solid and also the teleport feature to Vpn to your home network when you are out, great for monitoring cameras etc.  

Comments

@sinistrorse5864 +1 on the amplifi. I use two repeaters and still get good speeds but I get the point for wired backhaul.  

Answer 16

Plume is flawless.  

Comments

@matland and for those with Comcast, xFi pods are plume.  

Answer 17

Eero for me. Love it, no complaints.  

Answer 18

Why wouldn’t you use the Samsung APs? They also extend range of Zwave and Zigbee signals. I have 3 of them in my house, they work great.  

Comments

@incline do you have them connect all 3 with the ethernet cable?  

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@vaseline no, only 1, the other 2 act as repeaters.  

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@leader5 what’s the point of sending that link?  

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You asked why someone wouldn't go with Samsung mesh wifi and that link provides a good reason why you wouldn't. If there is a platform outage like there was today, your internet goes out.  

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@leader5 I have samsung mesh and haven't noticed a wifi problem. If it did i could jump to the comcast but the range would not be as good.  

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Also the extended range for my smartthings devices reach out to my pool and its pump.  

Answer 19

It is not the "best" option. But it's the easiest and really fucking good option, Google Best.  

Answer 20

Netgear Arlo. Can we mesh or star or wired. Not had to reset in 2 years !  

Comments

@homily46 how do you create a mesh out of cameras? (I assume you meant Netgear Orbi)

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@unclothe1851 Sorry - yes I was half awake and probably shouldn't have replied! I thought it was about a Wifi Mesh and Yes I my brain said Orbi, my finger said Arlo! I think I'll give up today!  

Answer 21

I just built a house that is poured 6” concrete walls throughout. I had the luxury of running Ethernet to most rooms but as plans changed and you can’t just ‘run another drop’ in concrete I ended up with Ubiquity Unify APs. They can do wired and wireless Backhauls. Work great and they can balance loads between them for best performance.  

Answer 22

I have the Orbit and am using wireless backhaul. No issues at all, great coverage over my 3000sq ft house.  

Answer 23

I have an Eero in San Diego an Orbi in Kauai. I like my Orbi better.  

Answer 24

Ubiquiti UniFi

Answer 25

For fastest connections and throughput consider a mesh system that is WiFi 6 and tri-band. Having a second 5GHz radio for the backhaul solves the bottleneck that sharing a single 5GHz radio for devices and backhaul that dual band systems have.