Mesh WiFi

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A mesh WLAN ( English mesh , mesh, 'intermesh ) is a wireless local area network from a plurality of wireless components, the "Area Mesh" located by connecting and common control of the components (base and satellite) from the terminals uniform as a WLAN is seen and is intended to ensure the most comprehensive reception possible with constant transmission speed. These components can e.g. As a router with access point and other wireless devices such as repeaters or Powerline - Adapter be.

motivation

Changing a terminal device from one WLAN component (WLAN radio cell) to another is the task of the terminal device in simple WLAN networks. Particularly with mobile devices, this roaming ( English roam , wander, roam, 'wander often) a vulnerability between multiple wireless stations. A mesh WLAN system should improve roaming: the components of a mesh WLAN actively intervene and support the end devices in the transition to another WLAN station or another frequency band with the most powerful connection at their respective location.

features

Uniform cross-manufacturer characteristics that define the term mesh , which has been used increasingly in marketing for home networks since 2016 , are not specified. However, the following properties are seen as the basic characteristics of the network of active WiFi mesh components:

  • automatic connection of the mesh components with each other and synchronization of all settings and firmware updates
  • Automatic uninterrupted transition of a WLAN end device from one mesh component to another ( access point steering ) : the mesh decides on its own which station delivers the best performance for a device - especially for mobile end devices in the mesh area
  • Automatic assignment of the most powerful frequency band at the location of the end device ( band steering , e.g. assignment of the 2.4 and 5 GHz WLAN bands)

advantages

  • High to completely comprehensive reception coverage
  • little loss in transmission rate
  • same (radio) network name ( SSID ) of all components for the end devices

disadvantage

  • higher acquisition costs compared to a simple access point
  • higher energy consumption, because the mesh components should remain switched on as constantly as possible to ensure functionality
  • Binding to one manufacturer, as usually only components from one manufacturer form a mesh

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Patrick Skoruppa: The new WLAN miracle - 5 mesh systems in the test . In: Computer Bild . 11/2018 from May 12, 2018. Computer Bild Digital GmbH, Hamburg 2018, p. 68 .