A Pro and a Con of Mesh Networks

Routers are Not the Only Way to Go When it Comes to Home Networking

When it comes to home network setups, routers are usually the first thing you think of. However, they are not the only option for connecting your devices to the internet. A popular alternative that is quickly gaining popularity is mesh networks.

In a mesh network, there’s no central hub like a router that deals with the traffic caused by your devices. Instead, all of your devices actually talk to each other. A mesh network is all about cooperation.

They are many advantages to having a mesh network, but there are also some cons. At Ratio AV, we will help you make an informed decision on whether a mesh network is right for you.

SEE ALSO: Why Your Smart Home Network Might Need to Step Up to Wi-Fi 6

Pro—Scalability is Easy

Additional routers in your home are not required when it comes to mesh networks. The size of your network can be changed easily and quickly. Printers, tablets, and laptops will connect automatically in a room where a mesh network is present.

This doesn’t work just for devices like computers and tablets. You can control things such as lights with a mesh network.

Adding range is also relatively easy when dealing with a mesh network. Nodes are connected to gateways that allow messages to quickly pass through the network. Self-optimization allows a mesh network to discover the fastest path for a message to be delivered.

Con—Latency Issues with a Low-Power Network

You could possibly encounter latency issues if you are using a wide-area network that is low-power. This could call for an upgrade to your entire mesh network.

For the most part, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to mesh networks. For instance, when a mesh network is already set up it is relatively easy to add additional nodes. However, the initial setup can be quite complicated. That is why getting advice from a team of experts is the way to go when deciding whether or not a mesh network is for you.

We Can Help You Decide If a Mesh Network Works for You

Connect with us today so we can help you with all of your mesh network questions and needs. We’ll walk through more pros and cons that are more specific to your home during a hassle-free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!