Mesh Wi-Fi router systems are officially mainstream, and they’ve become so affordable that almost anyone should consider them when trying to improve network coverage for their home. Throwing extra mesh Wi-Fi nodes at a network problem is worth considering early on as not always a viable solution to coverage and speed issues. In fact, the strategic placement of mesh router nodes is more important than the number of access points in a system. Even the best mesh Wi-Fi networks won’t beat a wired Ethernet connection.
That said, not everyone has the ability or desire to wire Ethernet throughout their home. I am a renter, and my current apartment is rent only one A working coaxial jack for internet connection. Some of the Ethernet jacks throughout the apartment aren’t functional, and even if they were, the Cat5-based infrastructure would be slower than Wi-Fi. Like many of you reading this article, my only option is wireless networking. Fortunately, making the switch to a simple mesh system solved all my speed and coverage issues.
I can’t use wired ethernet runs – mesh is the best solution
A mesh system gives me great coverage and Ethernet ports
If given the chance, I’d probably go into debt to get fiber internet and run multiple wired ethernet connections in every room. One day, I will make it a reality. For now, my apartment is only wired to one internet provider, Cox, which uses coaxial cables to provide a maximum 1 gigabit connection. Although wired Ethernet connections are always preferred, Wi-Fi 6e and Wi-Fi 7 routers are more than capable of handling 1 gigabit speeds. I invested in a Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro system built on Wi-Fi 6e to handle the Internet connections in my apartment.
Before switching to a mesh Wi-Fi system, download speeds between 300MBPS and 400MBPS were provided using a traditional router. It wasn’t close enough to the 1 gig speed I was paying for, so I needed to make the switch. Google’s Nest Wi-Fi Pro Mesh system is incredibly easy to set up, and can fit into any networking situation. In my case, I used a primary Wi-Fi router connected to my modem over Ethernet, and spaced out two more mesh access points in my apartment.
Google lets you use the Nest Wi-Fi Pro mesh system with wired or wireless backhaul. I connected the Mesh Router Note wirelessly, as it would be impractical to run Ethernet cables to my apartment for each access point. However, I added an Ethernet switch to the primary Wi-Fi router to connect nearby devices—including a streaming box and gaming console.
Secondary mesh Wi-Fi nodes connect wirelessly to the primary router in this setup to increase the usable range of the network. Each nested Wi-Fi Pro router has its own Ethernet output for wired connections, even when configured using wireless backhaul. I put a Nest Wi-Fi Pro wireless access point in my office and connected my computer to the Node’s onboard Ethernet jack with a bit of speed. Using this method is still not as close as a real wired connection, but it eliminates a wireless connection in the chain, which in turn improves stability and performance.
Mesh Wi-Fi nodes helped me cover my entire apartment
I avoid interference and poor speed by spreading access points around
Wi-Fi 6E is more than capable of hosting 1 gigabit network speeds with the right equipment, and I was eager to see how much available speed I could get to my devices over Wi-Fi using this mesh setup. The Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro system absolutely blew me away. As you can see in the image above, I regularly hit 900MBPS download speeds on my home network using Nest Wi-Fi Pro routers. I was very happy to get this level of performance from a wireless network.
As with any mesh network, it is very important to place the nodes in the right place. This is not a “set it and forget it” type of thing – you should test different access point placements to see which arrangement provides the best speed. If the access points are close together, you may experience slow speeds or dropped connections, because your devices aren’t sure which node to connect to.
Additionally, it is important to avoid over-correction. If you have a dead zone in your home, don’t place the access point directly in that location. Instead, put a mesh Wi-Fi node in the middle between the dead zone and your primary router, as this will allow the access point to successfully bridge the gap and increase your system’s range.
For best performance, try to move mesh Wi-Fi access points away from the ground. Ideally, these should be open and in line of sight with each other. Google recommends that Nest Wi-Fi Pro nodes be placed no more than two rooms apart, ideally with no barriers between them. Obstacles like doors and walls can limit Wi-Fi range, which is one of the reasons I need a mesh router system in a two-bedroom apartment.
I found the best mesh Wi-Fi setup using the built-in test available in the Google Home app. The router’s software constantly monitors your mesh system and can recommend changes if things go wrong. You can always visit and check the stability and speed of your Nest Wi-Fi Pro system Wi-Fi → Points → Test Mesh In the Google Home app and waiting for results.
I changed a router configuration and my Gigabit Wi-Fi 6E setup finally felt faster.
Your router’s preferred device tool can help you avoid low-bandwidth devices that you need for faster speeds.
Other Charges for My Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro Mesh System
I use nested access points as thread border routers for a seamless smart home
There’s a lot to like about the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro mesh system, chief among them how it works It just works. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, but my Nest Wi-Fi Pro system is the first router solution I trust. Each access point doubles as a Threaded border router, powering your smart home—helping with stronger connections and lower latency when more Threaded smart home devices are active than is the case.
I’m also very happy with the default Google DNS and handy features like device preference and preferred activities. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to ensure performance is fast using Nest Wi-Fi Pro, and I’ve seen the benefits. Switching to this mesh Wi-Fi system eliminated my dead zones, improved my wireless speed, and simplified my home networking setup.