Hello everyone!
I’m trying to figure out what is wifi mesh exactly and can’t really find answers.
I’m wondering if it’s a real tech or just a nomination, example: if I’m setting up multiple old wifi routers on the same local network with DHCP turned off (except on the main of course) and just put the same SSID and passphrase on all of them: could we call it a mesh wifi or does the technology really add something to it?
I made my parents buy some TP-LINK Deco wifi mesh routers for their property ^(which I regret now because openwrt is not compatible but that’s a other story) and I don’t really see any difference from them and the basic wifi repeater(cable) I’ve put in a last dead zone.
Here’s what android sees
Wifi access points generally work in 2 ways. Point to multipoint access or point to point bridge.
Mesh wifi devices do both at the same time. The form a bridge from itself to another access point then also advertise itself as a point to multipoint access device
Mesh access points also imply some form of smarts to prevent network storms and traffic balancing.
I agree.
If you put Ethernet backbones between the access points, then it would no longer be a proper Mesh, but it’s equivalent to a Mesh and you can even buy Mesh routers and connect them with wired backbones. You’d be forgiven for calling it a Mesh.
Proper mesh networks have a wireless backbone between the access points. That’s what makes them look like a Mesh when you try to visualize the topography.