Page 33 - Take Control of Wi-Fi Networking and Security_Neat

multi-hub networks just disappears, because they configure them-

selves automatically.

• Low-stress device placement: You don’t have to put in a lot of

effort to locate nodes, because the hardware and software that come

with mesh systems offer varying kinds of help to achieve optimum

results. If you’re not using Ethernet with them, you can easily move

them if the initial positioning isn’t optimal.

• No-worry changes: The network self heals if a unit crashes or

dies—or a cat knocks its plug out of the wall.

• Invisible channel selection: You ignore this entire topic, be-

cause mesh network devices silently and automatically handle it on

their own. In fact, they have to, because they need to be able to shift

among channels based on current needs among all the nodes.

• Wireless backhaul: Mesh nodes don’t require Ethernet, allowing

for the pure joy of wireless connections when connecting them up.

(Some mesh node models can additionally use Ethernet to enhance

inter-node communication, as noted above.)

• No-sweat adjustments to density and coverage: Is your Wi-

Fi coverage or throughput poor? Did you just add another floor to

your house? Buy and plug in more nodes, and everything is magical-

ly better.

This all sounds terrific, but let me detour briefly to temper your expec-

tations with some of the drawbacks.

Not To Pick Mesh
Why

Mesh networking is still new enough that there are some significant

downsides to buying in now, despite the quality of systems on the

market:

• High cost: I’ve discussed this tradeoff before, but it’s always an

issue. You could easily pay two to four times as much for a mesh

network as you would for the equivalent, fussier coverage of a

standard Wi-Fi network. (You’d also require Ethernet or powerline
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