Are you certain you require a mesh setup?
Are you certain you require a mesh setup?
I’m thinking about a modest upgrade for my network. All the information I’ve gathered points to either buying a mesh system or going all-in with multiple access points. I see myself as someone who enjoys tech but hasn’t mastered it—spending money on gadgets without really diving deep enough to become an expert.
My home is about 4,400 square feet, two stories, with a three-car garage built in the past two decades. The yard is decently sized, and I have a solid wired setup using Cat 5e cables for my PCs, TVs, and stationary devices. My wireless connection comes from one Netgear R7000p router placed in a cabinet, not perfectly centered on the first floor.
I currently manage around 30–40 IoT gadgets mostly on 2.4GHz, plus a few phones and laptops that use my 5GHz network. Outside the main areas, my Wi-Fi isn’t great—especially in the front yard and parts of the back yard. My internet speed is 900MB, and all my networking gear runs at gigabit speeds. I’m not planning to jump into a mesh just yet because I’d likely rely on wired connections for the backhaul and wouldn’t need the full wireless features.
I’ve read that a mesh might not be ideal here since I’d be using wired backhaul instead of letting the mesh handle everything wirelessly. On the other hand, using a single router could simplify things—I won’t have to manually switch devices between APs or mesh nodes. Also, some sources say Wi-Fi 6 routers can cover up to 100 feet, which could comfortably reach my house and yard.
If that’s accurate, a 4,400 sqft home with a 50x50 ft footprint should be well within range of one router setup, still delivering enough speed for my IoT devices and enough bandwidth for phones and streaming. I’ve seen someone nearby offering an ASUS ROG Rapture GTAX11000 for $225—probably a noticeable upgrade from my current model.
I’m not sure if it’s necessary to spend over $1,000 on a full unification system just to boost laptop performance slightly. Maybe I can keep the existing setup and upgrade only what’s essential. What do you think? Would you advise me to go with the router-only approach or explore a mesh later?
I’d prefer to leave things alone if they’re functioning well, being honest. If you managed to get one router to work in such a big house, it’s quite remarkable. You’re correct—it will cost at least around $1,000 to switch to a Unifi system. It offers more control, but it requires a lot of adjustments. Most people aren’t open to this change, though. The multiple antennas on the cheaper models can cover more area than many of Unifi’s ceiling-mounted APs are designed for. That means you’ll need additional units depending on your setup. I chose that path because wall and outdoor versions weren’t available when I began. It really depends on how much coverage you need for 5 or 6 GHz bands. Unifi can switch APs smoothly as long as the signal is strong enough. You’d definitely see a boost in the 5 GHz range, but the 6 GHz usually calls for one AP per 1,000 square feet in my opinion. Even then, it might not be sufficient. I used two APs for the 6 GHz in a 2,000 sq ft home—one on each floor—but I couldn’t get a signal in my garage on that frequency. Moving to 5 GHz made a big difference. I placed an outdoor AP at the end of my garage and now I have full coverage throughout my front yard. I haven’t noticed a noticeable gap between 5 and 6 GHz for everyday use. Unless your router fails, I don’t think it’s worth the investment.
A mesh network wireless setup usually involves several access points connected via Wi-Fi to form a cohesive system, offering significant improvements over outdated extenders. However, this approach still consumes some of your internet bandwidth for the underlying connection. The speed at which data travels depends on how far each node is from the central router; closer nodes can provide faster performance than distant ones. Each mesh device radiates its own signal, forming a series of overlapping zones. Your goal should be to arrange these zones so they overlap effectively rather than being isolated. In your scenario, the main router appears to be in one place, but delays may occur if a device must pass through multiple nodes before reaching the core network. This can reduce overall speed compared to a direct wired connection.
You might notice that the main mesh AP’s signal coverage is shaped like a sphere, and optimizing their positioning helps maximize reach. While you may have a central router, performance drops can happen when devices hop through several nodes before reaching the primary source. This loss of bandwidth can be mitigated by ensuring your setup minimizes hops.
If your home already supports Ethernet (Cat5e or better), it’s usually sufficient. Otherwise, opting for a wired connection to mesh APs or a dedicated backhaul is advisable. Options are plentiful and can grow with additional nodes if needed.
I personally don’t favor Amazon products like Eero, though their mesh systems are user-friendly and dependable. They simplify setup and work well whether you use a single router or expand with more devices. The Eero system doesn’t require a dedicated router, so you can choose any device as the central point—just ensure it connects properly.
If you have a Netgear R7000, it performed reasonably in my home (about 2300 sq ft), but coverage could be improved. The Eero 6 pack is affordable at $200 with free returns, though upgrading to an ASUS router might offer better reliability if you prefer a single device. You could also consider purchasing the Asus unit and using it as a hardwired node for additional coverage.
The AIMesh series from Asus is straightforward to install; even without the app, setting up SSIDs and passwords is simple. Handoff between your main router and a hardwired connection works smoothly, delivering better signal strength both indoors and outdoors. If you decide to go that route, adding more AIMesh devices later can further enhance coverage.
Thanks guys, I just offered 190 for the ASUS. Hopefully that person is agreeable and if so I'll give that a shot since it will be the cheapest and most familiar option for what I have currently. I am thinking perhaps the reason I have had such good signal is that I don't have a lot of interference from neighbors and my house doesn't have a lot of brick and stone and other dense materials. Either way I'm not complaining about it. If I do get the AX11000 and use that as my main router if I did want to keep the R7000P in the picture could i put that out in my garage and just change it to AP mode or would it not be a good idea since Netgear and ASUS are not the same company or device type? If it is doable do i just make that R7000P the same 2.4ghz and 5 ghz ssid's and passwords and the main router and allow the devices to self select or is that not how it works and that process has to be done manually since the R7000P would not be listed as the same network name as the Asus? Thanks again.