Wi-Fi Mesh vs Multiple Access Points: Which is the best?

February 2023 · 6 minute read

Most Wi-Fi users often get torn in the debate about the best connection between Wi-Fi mesh vs Multiple access points.

Having a stable, fast, and reliable Internet connection has become a must for every home, business, and organization.

With this in mind, planning how to get your home connected to a fast and consistent wireless connection is necessary and can also be tricky.

The comparison between Wi-Fi mesh vs multiple access points is a confusing one and it takes a simple breakdown to make it easier for you to understand. Some even get it mixed up and ask if mesh Wi-Fi the same as an access point?

This is why it is always hard for most people to choose between the two options. That being said, we should understand that both Wi-Fi mesh and multiple access points have their pros and cons.

So, we are going to put the two options side by side and do an extensive comparison to help you choose which one best suit your needs and capabilities.

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What are the differences between a Wi-Fi mesh and multiple access points?

What is a Wi-Fi mesh?

The Wi-Fi Mesh is a router system made out of several nodes to provide uninterrupted connections to every part of your home.

That is, every place in your home enjoys the same consistency and speed in Wi-Fi connectivity, eliminating issues of dead zones.

Mesh technology is great for the kind of services it provides. It makes use of intelligent technology that dispenses one network to your entire home.

With the help of multiple mesh nodes, you can connect multiple home devices at the same time, and this would not affect the productivity and strength of your bandwidth.

Mesh routers are easy to set up and manage, and with little knowledge of how it works, you can control the network settings, and check the speed.

If you want to buy such a device, check our list including the best mesh routers to enhance coverage on your premises.

What are multiple access points?

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An access point is actually another router or extender that creates a WLAN, also known as the wireless local area network.

Using an Ethernet cable, an access point connects to a router, switches, pivots Wi-Fi, and broadcasts a wireless signal to a specified area.

In other words, to enable a Wi-Fi connection in any part of your company or building, you need to install an access point and then run an Ethernet cable to get to the designated area.

An access point is suitable for big offices because it has the capability of serving more than 50 devices at a time without affecting the network connection.

You can also buy access points for small businesses as they function well for them too.

Multiple access points enable you to be able to move around from one office to the other without having a network breakage or slowdown.

This is because your device changes from one access point to the other as you move around, and it doesn’t affect your high-speed Internet connection.

It can be configured to offer dedicated bandwidth to certain devices or the same to all the devices connected to it.

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How do I set up a Wi-Fi mesh?

  • Choose a system of your choice and download its app on your phone as this will give you control access.
  • Unplug the router and connect the Ethernet cable to the main node. After that, reconnect the router and let the main node power up.
  • Create an account with the mesh network, after which you’ll be asked to log in to your account.
  • Input the serial numbers or scan the QR code to link your account to the main node.
  • Input the name or location for the main node and specify the number of satellite nodes that are to be connected to it.
  • Plug in each of the nodes and then set up the rooms they are located in.
  • After setting up your nodes, go around the house to check your network speed.
  • When it comes to ease and fast setup, the Wi-Fi mesh is the best as it takes less time to be put together.

    The network setup process may differ in slight details depending on the products of mesh router you buy but the setup process is mostly the same.

    How do I set up multiple access points?

  • Install the router or switch, connect the device to an Ethernet cable or a power source, and switch it on.
  • Find a good spot with minimal interference to mount the access point, connect the device to an AC/CD adapter, and plug it into a socket.
  • Connect the Access point to the router by using an Ethernet cable in the appropriate ports.
  • Attach the router to the computer by using an Ethernet cable.
  • After the devices have acknowledged each other’s presence on the network, they will be configured automatically.
  • Should I buy a Wi-Fi mesh or set up multiple access points?

    Wi-Fi Mesh is very productive in its way, and it is easy to set up because you can but the whole system and install it in one go.

    Depending on the need for setting it up, there are some things you should take note of before making your decisions.

    Pros Wi-Fi Mesh is easy to set up and manage It provides a fast Internet connection Makes use of nodes to deliver a better coverage It allows its user to roam freely within the network coverage Cons It is quite expensive Cannot accommodate more than 20 devices at a time Possibility of a dead point if not properly covered

    Building an access point network can be very tricky to set up, especially if the nodes have different standards and you buy them from different manufacturers.

    However, when it comes to workloads the multiple access points solution will perform better if you set it up properly.

    Pros It can accommodate up to 60 devices at a time without any interruptions in the network speed Wide transmission range Allows equal signal strength for every device It's a cheaper solution Cons It is difficult and takes time to set up There may be overlapping channels and networks

    If you’re running into trouble when you set up the multiple access points, check our article on access point related issues to fix the problems.

    Picking one can be a bit confusing but you should go through this guide carefully to identify the one that best suits your needs.

    Anyways, judging by the comparison that has been done in this guide, Multiple access points is a better option, but we shouldn’t dispute the fact that it has shortcomings also.

    Leave your comments and suggestions below in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you.

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