You’ve made the right call and gotten a new fiber internet connection from Public Service. You’re getting ready to enjoy reliable video conferencing, cinema-quality streaming, and browsing at the speed of light. Now, you just have to get that hyperfast connection out to all your family’s computers, phones, and other devices.
With traditional Wi-Fi networks, connecting an entire home could be a hassle, especially in larger homes or those with many physical obstructions. Walls and ceilings block Wi-Fi signals, leading to dead spots. Routers have a limited range, leaving those on the other side of the house struggling to connect. Range extenders help increase the distance the signal travels but reduce connection speed and dramatically increase the complexity of your home network.
Fortunately, there’s a solution. With a mesh Wi-Fi network – like the GigaSpire/Mesh system available to Public Service customers – you can overcome all of these obstacles to get fast, reliable, and convenient internet connectivity to every room in the house.
What Is a Mesh Wi-Fi Network?
A mesh network is simply any computer network in which all of the different computers, routers, access points, and other devices are connected through multiple channels, providing several different routes for a piece of data to get from one point to another in the network.
When the concept of mesh networking is applied to Wi-Fi, you end up with a faster, more reliable network that covers a much larger footprint than a traditional Wi-Fi network.
How Does Mesh Wi-Fi Work?
The core of any mesh Wi-Fi network is a router, just like with any Wi-Fi network. The central router is responsible for linking your home network to the internet.
Where a mesh network differs is through the addition of satellite access points. These small, unobtrusive devices can be placed throughout the house and require no installation beyond plugging them into a wall socket.
Each of these satellite points, known as a node, makes a high-speed connection with every other node in the house that is within range. Once all nodes are set up, the entire area is covered with a single wireless network.
How Is Mesh Better Than a Range Extender?
Wi-Fi range extenders are an inexpensive way to increase the range of your wireless network, but there are a couple of reasons why range extenders might not be the best option:
- Speed loss – connecting through a range extender typically decreases your network speed by about 50%.
- Network complexity – each range extender creates an entirely new network, requiring you to log into various networks as you move through the house.
With a mesh Wi-Fi network, those problems are both eliminated. Regardless of which node you’re connected to, you’ll enjoy your network’s full connection speed. And, since the mesh network uses a single ID and sign-on across the entire network, your Wi-Fi connection is seamless, requiring no manual “network hopping” as you move around.
What Are Some Other Benefits of a Mesh Wi-Fi Network?
In addition to fast, seamless home networking, mesh Wi-Fi offers other significant benefits over traditional Wi-Fi networks.
Reliability
Due to the inherently redundant nature of mesh networks, a mesh Wi-Fi setup in your home is incredibly reliable. If any satellite access point or most other pieces of network hardware go down, the network can automatically re-route data around the failed component and allow you to stay connected.
Note: If the central router goes down, the internet will be unavailable until it’s brought back online.
Expandability
If you need to increase your network’s footprint and expand it into previously uncovered areas of your home, mesh Wi-Fi networks make it easy. Simply purchase and plug in an additional satellite node and enjoy your expanded coverage!
How Do I Set Up a Mesh Wi-Fi Network?
You can get started with mesh Wi-Fi through a couple of different routes:
Do-It-Yourself
You can purchase mesh Wi-Fi hardware at most electronics retailers. Dozens of companies offer mesh systems, many of which integrate with smart home ecosystems like Amazon Alexa or Apple Home. Most systems are relatively easy to install and configure, but if you DIY your mesh network, you’ll have to rely on the manufacturer for customer support.
ISP -Provided
Most internet service providers (ISPs) offer their customers one or more mesh options. When you choose to go with the mesh option provided by your ISP, you’ll get local support for setting up your system and may even be able to get your system installed by an ISP-trained technician.
Stay Online In Every Room With Lightning-Fast Fiber Internet and Reliable GigaSpire/Mesh Wi-Fi from Public Service.
Milk and cookies. Peanut butter and jelly. Fiber internet and mesh Wi-Fi. Some things just belong together! Call us today to get connected – 478-887-4267
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Public Service has provided exceptional communications service to Middle and South Georgia since 1910. Public Service is in the 4th generation of family ownership and remains one of the oldest privately owned communication companies in the United States. Our mission is to bring the latest technology to rural and city customers, offering affordable prices and exceptional customer service.
Public Service offers service to customers in and around these South and Middle Georgia communities:
- Reynolds
- Roberta
- Musella
- Macon
- Lizella
- Geneva
- Forsyth
- Culloden
- Butler
- Box Springs