- The Signal
- Category:Internet Devices
Internet DevicesCategory
4 min read
So, you’ve tried it all and your connectivity at home just isn’t cutting it. Whether you’re unable to stream a movie without constant buffering, can’t hop on a conference call in a certain room, or just notice Wi-Fi dead spots around the house—mesh seems to be in your immediate future.
The good news is—the T-Mobile Home Internet Plusplan comes with a Wi-Fi Access Point that is optimized for the T-Mobile 5G Gateway. If you’re not a T-Mobile Home Internet Plus customer, it’s a great way to see whether it’ll resolve connectivity issues within the home without investing in expensive equipment upfront.
That said, let’s take a quick look at how mesh works, so you have a better understanding of how to install a mesh Wi-Fi system.
How do mesh Wi-Fi systems work?
Just as Wi-Fi extenders and repeaters aim to tackle weak signal issues, a mesh system does the same, but using a different approach. Rather than depending on a single router, mesh Wi-Fi can use one or more access points called "nodes" strategically positioned throughout your home to ensure complete coverage.
These nodes communicate with each other and are able to latch onto the strongest signal, so you get a more reliable Wi-Fi experience. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are unique in that they’re able to navigate the best path for your data, steering you clear of any connectivity bottlenecks.
Mesh Wi-Fi is often a great solution if you have a multi-story home, a large house, or a lot of acreage with multiple out buildings (e.g., guest houses, barns, workshops, etc.). Even if your home or property isn’t large, certain building materials or layouts can affect how your Wi-Fi signal travels, which can make mesh beneficial, as well. Another benefit: you can fine tune mesh to fit your needs, adding or removing nodes as your Wi-Fi demands change. Mesh also solves the problem of dealing with multiple Wi-Fi networks with different names and passwords.
Now that you know a little about how it works, let’s get to the setup.
How do you set up your mesh Wi-Fi system?
If you’re a T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plus customer, your gateway and mesh access point are optimized to work together, so you only download one simple app, the T Life app, to set it up. The app will also help you find the perfect location for your access point. From the app’s home page, scroll down to your home internet settings to begin.
“T-Mobile is doing what we do best, listening to customers and offering new plans to meet their needs,” said Allan Samson, Chief Broadband Officer, T-Mobile. “Customers are demanding better choices and innovative connectivity, and these new plans deliver. Whether it’s expanding your home Wi-Fi signal to cover more spaces and connected devices, or taking the internet with you on the road, T-Mobile has the internet options that fit your needs — and it’s all backed by the nation’s leading 5G network.”
If you’re not a T-Mobile customer, you may need to download and use multiple apps (one for the mesh router, one for the mesh node) and try to figure out the best spot to put your mesh access point.
So, what is the best location? Place it between your gateway and the weak Wi-Fi signal area and near a power outlet. Make sure it is in an open space and:
- Away from devices that may cause interference.
- Not behind TVs and monitors.
- Not behind walls or obstructions.
- Not behind heavy-duty appliances or electronics such as microwave ovens and baby monitors.
- Not behind metal fixtures, enclosures, cabinets, reinforced concrete, or pipes.
How many nodes will you need? That depends on your home size, setup and the number of floors you have, as well as the mesh system you purchase, since coverage varies from system to system. (Like we mentioned earlier, it’s always easy to add a node later if you don’t have the coverage you want.) But here’s a very rough estimate based on your home size:
- 1,000 square feet or less = 1 mesh router
- 1,000 to 2,500 square feet = 1 mesh router + 1 mesh node
- 2,500 to 3,500 square feet = 1 mesh router + 2 mesh nodes
- 3,500 to 4,500 square feet = 1 mesh router + 3 mesh nodes
- 4,500 or more square feet = 1 mesh router + 4 or more mesh nodes
Ready to try T-Mobile Home Internet Plus? Find out if it’s available in your area now.
Sources:
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-wi-fi-mesh-network-systems
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/home-internet/home-internet-plus
https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/what-is-mesh-wifi
https://www.howtogeek.com/827044/how-many-wi-fi-mesh-nodes-do-you-need
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-set-up-a-wi-fi-mesh-network
https://www.speedguide.net/faq/wireless-repeater-extender-vs-access-point-385
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/home-internet-plus-and-away
