What is mesh WiFi and when is it worth it?

Key Takeaways

• Mesh WiFi uses multiple devices (called nodes) to spread strong, reliable WiFi throughout your home. 

• It helps eliminate weak spots and “dead zones”, ideal for large homes or with thick walls. 

• Mesh WiFi systems are flexible and easy to expand, so you can add more nodes if your coverage needs grow in the future 

• Virgin Media’s WiFi Pods work with your Hub to boost coverage and deliver seamless internet in every room. 

Mesh WiFi is a wireless internet system made up of two or more mesh devices, called nodes, 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. 

Instead of relying on a single router to broadcast the signal, mesh systems share the job. Each node connects to the others, so your devices can automatically switch to the strongest signal as you move around. This helps remove WiFi "dead zones", those spots where your internet drops or slows down.  

Mesh WiFi is ideal for homes that are: 

• Over 3,000 sq. Ft. In size 

• Spread across multiple floors 

• Built with thick or brick walls 

• Have tricky or unusual layouts that block signals 

In these cases, mesh WiFi gives you smooth, reliable coverage from the attic to the garden.  

Mesh WiFi uses two or more mesh WiFi devices or “nodes” to create a mesh WiFi network. Here’s how it works: 

1. Main node: Connects directly to your broadband router or modem, becoming the main hub.  

2. Other nodes: Placed throughout your home to create a powerful wireless network and boost the signal. They capture and rebroadcast the router’s signal. 

3. Single network: Unlike traditional routers, these nodes are all part of the same network and share the same login and password, so you don’t need to reconnect when moving from room to room.    

These nodes are important in efficiently delivering WiFi, as each node acts as a chain for other nodes in the system, passing the signal along and ensuring fast, stable WiFi in every corner of your home. 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. Mesh WiFi is worth it if: 

• Your WiFi signal drops in certain rooms 

• You experience buffering while streaming, lag when you're gaming

• You have thick walls that block signals 

• You want a system that’s easy to expand if you’ve got a growing household 

If you want a system that’s easy to expand later, you can simply add more nodes to increase coverage. This 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.  

Both mesh systems and WiFi extenders help boost coverage, but they work in different ways. 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. This means your devices can automatically switch to the strongest signal as you move around, giving consistent coverage in every room. They’re easy to set up and manage, though they tend to be more expensive than routers. 

• WiFi extenders, boost the signal from your existing router to reach further areas, usually creating a separate network with a different name. They usually create a separate network, which means you may need to manually switch between networks as you move around. However, performance can be less consistent compared to a full mesh system. 

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

Usually, yes.  

Most mesh systems are designed to replace your router completely, 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.  

Yes, if you’re happy with your current router, you can always add a mesh system in bridge mode to help 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.   

Our WiFi pods form part of our intelligent WiFi network, which automatically manages your signal for smoother streaming, browsing and gaming.   

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 WiFi.  

Our WiFi Pods are one of the easiest solutions to your coverage frustrations and remove dead zones, so everyone in the household can stay online without interruptions. 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. 

Virgin Media’s superfast broadband keeps all your devices connected, whether you’re streaming in the attic room, working from home in the garden or gaming in your bedroom. Check out all of our broadband deals and enter your postcode to see what’s available in your area.