[Review] WiFi Mesh network - a premium setup that's well worth it!
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Always been battling patchy network connectivity at homes, all thanks to the robust concrete Indian constructions!
Used to always struggle with connectivity just 2 rooms away from the WiFi router.Had some pricy WiFi routers in the past, only to see them fail in 2 to 3 years. Ever since then, I was only relying on the free routers provided by broadband providers.
I tried a few range extenders but only to be disappointed in being reliable.
Fast forward to 2024 - invested into a WiFi mesh network after receiving good feedback from friends about how reliable they were for purchases made 6+ years ago as well! That's quite promising to be honest.
Model chosen: TP Link Deco AX3000 (Deco X55) 3 podsLink for reference (not affiliate link): https://www.amazon.in/TP-Link-Deco-AX3000-Syste...
Wall Mounting stand: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0D5VRLYHM?ref=ppx_yo2...
Pairing using the "Deco" app was super easy. We have broadband from Act Fibre and all I did was to connect the input cable and wait for a few minutes.Post that, connect any device to your new router post which you are prompted to login into your Act Fibre account. That's it! Your base router is configured.We got the other 2 pods installed a few days later duly owning to the drilling of wall mounts and adding a plug point. Realised that the 2 new pods automatically connect to the base router and forms a mesh network with 0 additional efforts.
Advantage of mesh network:
- You get way better network coverage. I have not yet encounter any part of our home that has a weak patch. I get to see 150Mbps+ speeds across and goes up to 300 Mbps easily. I am subscribed to a 500 Mbps connection from Act.
- Single SSID throughout the home. This helps connect smart devices to a single network and operate any smart device throughout the home with ease.
- Wireless CCTC cameras. Due to almost nil WiFi coverage in our front verandah, I was considering wired CCTV cameras but duly considering the dangling cables and ugly setup I refrained from it. I know wired CCTC cameras have inherent advantages but I am ok with the tradeoff and want to opt for wireless CCTC cameras. Will be setting these up soon (waiting for the upcoming prime day sale).
Range of devices being used
- Mobiles
- Tablets
- Smart TVs
- Smart home equipment (vacuum cleaner, plugs, lights)
- CCTV cameras
- Laptops
The cost and value of technology infrastructure are relative to the purpose it serves. If your work depends on a reliable network connection at home and your job compensates well for it, that infrastructure may provide greater value compared to someone who primarily uses it to watch YouTube or Netflix and browse Instagram from the dining table and also the bedroom.
investment cost for routers and setup cost (drills - carpenter, etc)
Routers 15k
Wall mount 1.5k
Electrical and drilling 2k (mostly for new plug points)
Overall cost me 18.5k
But then again, 3 camera CCTV system with screen was costing me 25k plus the dangling cables all around. Wireless cameras costing me 3k to 4k including micro sd card for each unit. Plus screen, in case I need one. So partly saved money from the CCTV setup as well overall that went into the mesh network.
This will be a pretty expensive setup but good option for home owners who anticipate living in the same house for a long time.
What's the major difference between these and if we put one router and two wireless repeater setup .. ( as u used both ) ...?
wireless repeaters are useless imo and the setup you have done is pretty decent I would say... there is nothing worse than having a patchy internet... I have seen ppl spending 30-50k just to get good coverage
I assume you had to go via Mesh because you did not have hard wire running from main to all other rooms?
If there was hard wire provision you could have saved a lot and could have done the setup under 3-5k at max... I had done the same 4 years back with 3x Mi Router 4A (Gigabit) which I had got for 1k each 
Flashed OpenWRT and running them in wired mesh with fast roaming. This along with network wide adblock thanks to OpenWRT
Sounds great to read about your setup. Sadly, I am not capable of doing all of that myself 
Did you end with a single ssid in the end and can operate any smart device across the network irrespective of which router it's connected to?
FYI if anyone looking to do the same with budget option you can do this.
buy This one first https://www.amazon.in/TP-Link-C80-Wireless-Giga...
the use that router as a range extender https://www.amazon.in/TP-Link-AC750-Dual-Router...
within 4500 rs you can get great coverage.
Why not use wired router extension?
I had the same problem but didn't have the budget to invest in mesh WIFI.
Couldn't use Internet from my bedroom and no office work from the room.
Tried different bunch of wireless extenders all failed then I came across LAN over powerline from TP link.
Got it around 3k I think from amazon. The experience is flawless. It a range extender only but lot lot more robust and reliable compared to wifi range externder.
The signal is transferred via the house powerline thus have better singal/strength compared to wifi extender..
People under budget should consider Lan over powerline.
here's what i might have done, get a beefy router with lan isolation to isolate IoT devices from my main lan, get an beefy access point with mumimo and beem forming with configurable power settings and call it a day. Well it's not easy nonetheless and mesh routers makes it easier for user's end. But for guys like me they are just not worth it. Mesh routers works in same way a repeater will work but with more tuning in software experience and interconnection with router and nodes. All's well if you are happy.
Good post bro... But how much area you covered with 3 mesh?...
I get good connectivity in the ground floor and even on the 1st floor I get 2.4 but need to increase the 5ghz range.... For that 1 mesh is enough?
Mera to tenda ka router hai total 3+(1 jio router) laga hua.. all 4 floor covers.. connected with wired from jio router.. never faced any signal issue ground to roof. All floor wireless connection many mobiles and tv
"2 new pods automatically connect to the base router" - there was no requirement of LAN connection for the pods?
Yup, do we not have many wifi based CCTV cameras? Planning to get one from TP link.
Shortlisted this
TP-Link Tapo 3MP 1296p High Definition Outdoor CCTV Security Wi-Fi Smart Camera | Alexa Enabled | Weatherproof | Night Vision | 2-Way Audio | SD Storage (Tapo C310) White https://amzn.in/d/00...w5
Good details.
Even i got a 3-pack of x60 few months because of a flipkart deal. Later realized it wasn't enough for the coverage and hence got a 3 pack of m5. (Entire cost - 15k for 6)
Now the mesh spans across my house and it's very convenient for various reasons inc its easier to switch or swap various cctv accross the house.
Also speeds are pretty much the same across the house. ( 2 decos are connected via LAN)
Must say it's totally worth it for someone with multiple floors.
Deco mesh network is too good for home owners.
I have 3 x20 on 3 floors and the coverage I get is phenomenal. Even a single device has better coverage than jio fiber router.
I used to have wired repeater setup, which works as well. But once a person gets a taste of mesh network, it's hard to turn back.
Well worth the invested price.
Which will be better - a single X20 or AX53 - both are for 5K currently.
I was going to ask to ask about paint bucket on the wall then decided against it 
Ye sab to 1 chote se wifi router se bhi jo jata hai. Haan wo alag baat hai ki mera ghar bahut chota hai 
EMF Radiation +Faraday cage = CANCER X Vaccine= DEATH
-now just cope
I bought two tplink Archer c6 last year and put the first one on the ground floor and second one on the 2nd floor. Main connection installed on the 1st floor and connected both through wirless connection and it's called WSD bridging, it's pretty simple to do that. I am getting full speed on all the floor. I think, you could achieve all this with a way lesser price like one third than this.
Mesh networks are becoming quite popular.
Will there be significant difference between these mesh devices or if I buy a good quality Wifi6 router and connect it will Cat6LAN cable?
Our house is around 2300 sq ft. The router provided by Airtel with 200 mbps plan provides decent enough coverage at ground floor. I have a LAN cable already in place from ground to first floor.
QUESTION
For first floor, if I connect with LAN cable, which is recommended for good speed & range - AX53 (3000mbps) at Rs 5000 or single piece of any Mesh router like X20 (1800mbps) at Rs 5000.
i have mesh network because I need one network in my home using my mobile when i walk around the house. I have 3 mesh setup and all my rooms are covered. It is great mesh wifi (TP-link deco)
Very expensive setup . My Jio Fiber company provided router works well throughout the home. Plus, I am too weak to understand the technicalities and set up you are talking about. Also, I am not looking to install any CCTVs , so apparently not of my use. On the other hand OP , can you update the link as this stock is unavailable now.
Just a note, do not buy any Tenda Mesh routers.
I have MW6 (3 units) and too many problems.
When it works it's very smooth, but a lot of times it creates connection issues.
Sometimes one of the unit shows red light even if the internet is working, sometimes a secondary node fails to connect with the parent node and I have to reset those and re-configure.
In my case i have ground + 2 storey so I have installed main JIO Air fiber in Stairs on 1st floor and one wifi extender in Ground floor and 2nd on 2nd floor it just cost me around 3k as JIO setup free was along with connection
Paisa ho to kya kya nahi krte log
Dude I use a jio 5G hotspot from my mobile. Spped are crazy fast in my home.
Your post just made me realise how poor I am 
.
Bro I got the better configuration from Mercusys(TP-link), 4 nodes for 13000 rupees only.
![Apple iPhone 15 (Green, 128 GB) [Exchange Offer ₹7,000 + Flipkart Axis Credit Card]](https://cdn3.desidime.com/topics/photos/1896578/medium/Screenshot2024-12-24000623.png?1734979004)
investment cost for routers and setup cost (drills - carpenter, etc)
Routers 15k
Wall mount 1.5k
Electrical and drilling 2k (mostly for new plug points)
Overall cost me 18.5k
But then again, 3 camera CCTV system with screen was costing me 25k plus the dangling cables all around. Wireless cameras costing me 3k to 4k including micro sd card for each unit. Plus screen, in case I need one. So partly saved money from the CCTV setup as well overall that went into the mesh network.
wireless repeaters are useless imo and the setup you have done is pretty decent I would say... there is nothing worse than having a patchy internet... I have seen ppl spending 30-50k just to get good coverage
I assume you had to go via Mesh because you did not have hard wire running from main to all other rooms?
If there was hard wire provision you could have saved a lot and could have done the setup under 3-5k at max... I had done the same 4 years back with 3x Mi Router 4A (Gigabit) which I had got for 1k each
Flashed OpenWRT and running them in wired mesh with fast roaming. This along with network wide adblock thanks to OpenWRT
Sounds great to read about your setup. Sadly, I am not capable of doing all of that myself
Did you end with a single ssid in the end and can operate any smart device across the network irrespective of which router it's connected to?
I personally prefer 2 SSIDs 2.4 and 5... this ensures no matter what my priority devices are always connected to 5ghz and does not fall back to 2.4ghz... have connected all my iot devices to 2.4ghz and mobile/tab/laptops/tvs to 5ghz
Single SSID is also possible to setup in Openwrt
Yes I can operate/access any device across the network... this setup is exactly like mesh but using cheaper devices... this is only achievable via openwrt
You can check out https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wif... for wireless mesh using openwrt and below video to set up simple fast roaming