What is mesh WiFi and when is it worth it?

Mesh WiFi is a wireless internet system made up of two or more mesh devices that work together to create a strong and stable WiFi network throughout your home. It's designed to provide strong, reliable internet coverage in places where a single router might struggle to reach.

Unlike your usual router, which that broadcast WiFi from a single point, mesh systems have multiple access points that can be placed around your space to keep your connection strong at all times. This eliminates "dead zones" in your connection and provides uninterrupted internet connection in all areas of your home.  

Mesh WiFi is designed for people who live in large homes or multi-story spaces with weak or incomplete Wi-Fi coverage. If you live in a home that’s 3,000 sq. ft., has two stories or more, interior brick walls, or an unusual layout, then you would benefit from a mesh Wi-Fi system in your home.  

Mesh WiFi uses two or more mesh WiFi devices or “nodes” to create a mesh WiFi network. One node is connected to your broadband router, while the rest can be placed throughout your home to create a powerful wireless network. Unlike traditional routers, these nodes are all part of the same network and share the same login and password.   

When one unit links to the modem, that unit becomes the main hub. The other “nodes” will capture and rebroadcast the router’s signal, creating an efficient wireless network that provides a strong signal no matter where you are. 

These nodes are important in efficiently delivering WiFi, as each node acts as chain for other nodes in the system so that even nodes that are furthest from the router can still deliver a strong signal. Nodes also communicate with one another to determine the fastest band for your devices, and to reroute traffic in the event that one node fails. 

Whether mesh WiFi is worth it depends on your home, internet needs, and budget. For many people with large homes, thick walls, or areas with weak WiFi, a mesh system can be a great way to keep your connection strong throughout your home.

If you’re someone who struggles with buffering while streaming, lag when you're gaming, or slow internet in certain rooms, mesh WiFi might be worth the investment. 

Mesh WiFi is easy to expand if you've got a growing hosuehold too. You can simply add more nodes to the system to boost your connection, makes it a flexible and future-proof choice compared to traditional routers or boosters.

However, mesh WiFi systems are more expensive than standard routers or extenders. If you have a smaller home or live in a place where a single router provides strong coverage, you might not need a mesh system. In such cases, a high-quality router might be enough and more cost-effective. 

The main difference between mesh WiFi and WiFi extenders is how they improve your internet coverage. Mesh WiFi creates a single, seamless network using multiple devices (nodes) that work together, while. WiFi extenders, boost the signal from your existing router to reach further areas, usually creating a separate network with a different name. 

Mesh systems are generally more reliable and user-friendly than WiFi extenders, while extenders are cheaper and simpler fixing signal issues in one two specific areas in your home.  

Yes, a mesh WiFi system can replace your router, but it depends on how you set it up. In most cases, a mesh system is designed to take over the role of your router. It connects directly to your modem (the device that brings internet into your home) and creates a seamless WiFi network across your space.  

This is the best setup for getting a solid connection because it simplifies your network and ensures all the features of the mesh system work properly.  

If your router already works well but doesn’t provide enough coverage, adding a mesh system in bridge mode could help boost the connection to more areas of your home. In this setup, the router remains connected to the modem and the mesh system works in “bridge mode.”  

This means the mesh handles WiFi coverage while the router still controls the internet connection. This approach does work, but it might limit some of the advanced features of the mesh system, like parental controls or network management, depending on the brand and setup.  

If your current router is outdated or doesn’t provide good coverage, it’s usually a good idea to let the mesh WiFi system replace it entirely. Modern mesh systems are built to manage both internet distribution and coverage, so you’ll likely experience better performance and fewer issues.  

But if your router is new and works well, using the mesh system in bridge mode can be a good option to extend coverage without fully replacing your router. 

Of course we do! Our mesh WiFi system is known as ‘WiFi Pods’. A typical home struggling with coverage will only need two or three pods to build an adequate mesh that improves coverage in every room. 

The pods are designed to be placed wherever they’re needed. They fit into any normal three-pin socket in your home, so can go practically anywhere. However, they typically work best when they’re placed roughly halfway between your Virgin Media WiFi Hub and the ‘dead zone’ in your home.  

The pods form part of our intelligent WiFi network.  

The speeds you’ll get will be determined by the type of broadband package you’ve selected. So, for example, if you’re getting download speeds of up to 1,130Mbps with Gigabit broadband, you can expect to reach around this sort of speed across your home with the help of mesh technology. 

Our WiFi Pods are one of the easiest solutions to your coverage frustrations. They’re designed to work effortlessly with your Virgin Media WiFi Hub, and the Virgin Media app will walk you through all steps to install your pods in no time.