Top 5 Best Mesh WiFi For Optimum

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If you are considering upgrading your WiFi system to a mesh system and you are using Optimum as your Internet service provider, you must confirm that the mesh system you choose is compatible with Optimum and that it will provide the greatest possible performance at all times.

There is nothing worse than discovering that you made a mistake too late, or that you might have saved money if you had chosen a different mesh system at the beginning. As you consider the mesh system that would provide the best coverage for your whole house, you should also consider whether or not it is compatible with Optimum

Our research and analysis of some of the mesh WiFi systems that are purportedly the finest on the market today has saved you time (and money), and we’ve cut down the list to include just the mesh systems listed below to save you even more time (and money).

1. Asus ZenWiFi ET8

With the ET8’s compatibility for 802.11ax (WiFi 6) technology, it can also take use of the 6GHz radio band to give quicker throughput rates as well as reduced latency and more bandwidth than you’ll receive from the more busy 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. However, the 6GHz band can only be used by client devices that support Wi-Fi 6E. Data transmission speeds of up to 160 Mbps are possible with Wi-Fi 6, which also has a channel bandwidth of 1024 QAM, MU-MIMO, WPA3 encryption, and beamforming of the signal from the access point directly to the client.

For houses up to 5,500 square feet, the ET8 is a two-piece mesh system that can offer coverage. In the old ZenWiFi AX XT8 system, two nodes were utilised, and they appear similar. On the outside, they’re white and have grilles on both sides to allow for ventilation.

An LED on the satellite node’s front flashes blue during setup and turns white when the wireless signal is strong. Signal strength is shown by a yellow light, while signal loss is indicated by a red light. It has a 2.5Gbps WAN port, three 1Gbps LAN ports, USB 3.1 port, power port, and power switch on the rear panel of the device. A LAN port or the broad 6GHz band may be used for cable or wireless backhaul.

Powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU, 512MB of RAM, and 256MB of flash memory for each node, it has six inbuilt antennas. With peak data speeds of 574 Mbps on 2.4GHz, 1,201 Mbps on the fifth generation, and 4,804Mbps on the sixth generation, ET8 is an AXE6600 system.

It comes with AIProtection Pro software, much as the AX XT8 and AC CT8 mesh systems from ZenWiFi. AI Protection, powered by Trend Micro, provides free lifetime protection against malicious attacks and utilises a proprietary Intrusion Prevention System to scan incoming and outgoing data, block Denial of Service (DDos) attacks, prevent access to malicious websites, and block network access to any client devices that are infected.

Customizable age-based web filtering, access scheduling, and use tracking are provided by the ET8 parental controls. In addition to denying access to sites with adult material, such as gambling, pornography, and violence, you may also block access to shopping, gaming, instant messaging, and media streaming websites. In addition, you may just press a button to turn off the internet.

2. Netgear Orbi RBKE963 WiFi 6E Mesh System

The ASUS RT-AX88U is an extremely powerful router that is compatible with every internet package offered by Optimum.

During testing, it achieved an average of 927.17 Mbps when measured from 5 feet, 571.36 Mbps when measured from 25 feet, and 472.95 Mbps when measured from 50 feet, all while utilising the 5Ghz band.

Those are some pretty strong findings, with a particular spotlight on how impressive the speed was despite the fact that it was measured at a greater distance. A sufficient amount to simultaneously view ten 4K movies.

The range of the router is also very good, as it can extend to a distance of around 110 feet. despite the fact that it is notoriously difficult to determine the precise coverage that a router offers.

Nevertheless, it will unquestionably be plenty for any except the most biggest of households.

The RT–AX88U includes excellent Parental Controls and Quality of Service (QoS), much like the majority of other ASUS routers. enabling you to set limits on what your child may do and prioritise the data they collect.

The problem with the RT-AX88U is that it offers features that are, in the opinion of many, too numerous. Therefore, I will only propose it to you if you have a plan for a fast internet connection and a network that is often used.

3. Google Nest Wifi

It’s simple to conceal Nest WiFi mesh devices since they appear like huge plastic marshmallows. They may also be placed on a windowsill or a coffee table for easy access. The router has a diameter of 4.3 inches and a height of 3.6 inches. The Point extensions, on the other hand, have a diameter of 4.0 inches and a height of 3.4 inches. In comparison to the equivalent Netgear Orbi devices, which are bigger and over 10 inches tall, both feature shotgun cooling holes in their bases.

Google Home’s growing design language of organic forms with no harsh edges and soft hues makes the Nest WiFi devices suitable for a wide range of home decors. There is just one colour option for the router: flat white, however there are three for the extensions: Mist (a light blue) and Sand (a tan).

For data transfer between the extension and host router, the Google Nest WiFi mesh system employs a dual-band technique rather than Netgear’s Orbi’s dedicated back channel. Is equipped with a proactive band steering mechanism that prioritises data transmission over the least congested channels and favoured extensions. Using beamforming, my two-pack can connect up to 200 devices; each device can connect to up to 100 customers at a time.

As part of Qualcomm’s QCS400 family of processors, the Nest WiFi router and extensions are powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core CPU and two Digital Signal Processors (DSP), while the extensions are equipped with far-field speech pickup. All three of the router’s extensions feature 768MB RAM as well as 512MB of storage capacity for firmware and settings.

When it comes to its automated firmware upgrades, the router employs a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Software modifications are safe as long as Google has digitally signed them before they are allowed. Only a small number of networking devices are capable of supporting WPA 3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security, which is incorporated into the system. WPA 2 is still an option if you like it.

At 15 and 50 feet, the performance of the Nest WiFi declined to 612.0– and 455.1-Mbps, or between 11- and 15 percent ahead of the Orbi RBK50 mesh system. With 478.3Mbps to the Nest’s 455.1Mbps at a distance of 50 feet, the Orbi flipped the script and claimed the lead. The Nest has 394.0Mbps accessible at 100 feet, compared to 315.5Mbps for the Orbi RBK50 system.

4. TP-Link Deco W7200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System

If you’re looking for an easy way to connect all of your devices to the internet, the TP-Link Deco W7200 ($229.99) is for you. TP-HomeShield Link’s network security and parental control software are included, like with previous Deco systems. It also did well in our testing of throughput and signal strength, making it an excellent option for houses with at least three bedrooms. For the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh system, you’ll need to fork up an additional $200 or more for the Asus ZenWiFi XT8, our Editors’ Choice winner.

There is a tiny LED indication on the front of the base of each node that shines green when the nodes are connected, blinks blue during setup, and glows solid red when there is a problem with connection. There are two gigabit LAN connections and a power connector on the rear of the computer. The reset button is located on the base. The TP-Link Deco X90 and the Asus ZenWiFi AX are more costly devices that enable multi-gigabit connection (XT8). USB ports are also absent.

A Deco X20 or X60 node may be added to the W7200 to enhance its coverage to residences with up to 5,500 square feet. You can get up to 574Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, 1,201Mbps on a 5-GHz band and 1,802Mbps on a second 5-GHz band, which is a tri-band AX3600. If you link the nodes with Ethernet cables, you may utilise the 1,201Mbps 5GHz band for wired backhaul instead of the conventional wireless backhaul setup.

Five internal antennae are included into each node, which is powered by a 1.5 GHz CPU. Direct-to-client beamforming, WPA3 encryption, 3X3 MU-MIMO data streaming, and OFDMA packet transfers are all supported by this Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology. In contrast to the ZenWiFi XT8 and other top-of-the-line Wi-Fi 6 routers, it does not offer the higher-bandwidth 160MHz channel bandwidth.

5. Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System

Three identical nodes in the Vilo Mesh cover up to 4,500 square feet of living space. $19.99 will get you a single node that spans up to 1,500 square feet, which is plenty for most people. At 5.9 inches (HWD), it contains three gigabit ports and four built-in antennae, making it ideal for high-density wireless networks. (This system lacks multi-gigabit ports or USB interfaces.) Mesh buttons are located on the front of each node and each node has a small LED that flashes amber when the internet connection is intermittent, solid blue when the internet connection is stable, and solid amber when the node has been successfully paired.

There are two bands of Wi-Fi 5: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band can achieve 300Mbps and the 5GHz band 867Mbps. Aside from MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming and beamforming straight to the client, it also supports automated band steering. 999MHz MIPS CPU, 128MB RAM, and 16MB flash memory power this device. Wireless backhaul is pre-configured, but you may also utilise a cable backhaul configuration; however, the satellite nodes must be restored to factory settings after installation.

By pressing the Dashboard button, you may access information such as the current firmware version, encryption technique (WPA, WPA2), Wi-Fi signal strength, and the signal strength of your device. Band steering and channel bandwidth optimization may also be enabled or disabled here. The Vilos panel brings you to a list of all the nodes in your network. The IP and MAC addresses of each node, as well as the kind of connection (wired or wireless) and the clients connecting to it, may be seen by tapping any node.

To view which clients are presently connected to the network, you may use the Devices panel. This panel shows you the IP address and MAC address of each client, as well as the node they are connected to. Additionally, each client gets its own internet access button and a consumption report that indicates how much bandwidth the client has used on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

How to choose the best mesh router for you(Buying Guide)

Finding the right mesh Wi-Fi system starts with deciding whether you even need one. 

Coverage:

If you live in a house with more than 3,000 square feet, you’ll need a router that can handle the traffic. A similar situation applies to residences with many floors and irregularly arranged layouts, whose range patterns don’t always match those provided by most routers on their own. No matter how well-suited a standard wireless router seems to your home, there are a variety of impediments and signal disturbances that may make it impossible to get robust Wi-Fi coverage across your whole house.

The general rule of thumb is that mesh Wi-Fi systems are preferable if your router leaves you with dead patches throughout your house or even in your yard.

Speed:

Choosing a mesh Wi-Fi system is much like choosing any other Wi-Fi equipment. Design, range and throughput performance, setup, and the settings you may change are all examined in our assessments. We take a look at the security and parental controls available. It’s important to consider if a mesh extension can be integrated into your home design, or whether it’s something you’ll want to hide away. Regardless of which product you choose, our reviews will go in-depth into these aspects, as well as any unique features you might want to keep in mind when making your final choice, such as whether or not you prefer voice interaction or how well a mesh solution works with other home automation systems.

Ports:

In addition to wireless connectivity, you should also consider wired connections when purchasing a mesh Wi-Fi system. USB connections are useful for connecting printers and storage devices to your network, while Ethernet provides speedier connectivity for devices like as gaming consoles and smart TVs that need more bandwidth. However, not all mesh systems include physical ports, so make sure you obtain a system that meets your requirements.