Question Is there a mesh system that lets you use a laptop instead of a phone?

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ingeborgdot

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Jan 12, 2005

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• Nov 11, 2024

• #1

As the title asks, is there a mesh system that lets you use a laptop instead of a phone to install the system? Thanks.

 

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Tech Junky

Diamond Member

Jan 27, 2022

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• #2

The SSID / passphrase should be on the box and you just connect and configure. Or connect an Ethernet cable to the main unit and configure that way.

The better question is why are you looking at mesh instead of actual APs to extend your coverage?

 

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ingeborgdot

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Jan 12, 2005

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• #3

Because that is what my friends want, and there is NO way to get a wire to places because of their house layout and type. I guess a certified person with big time tools, MIGHT, be able to, but unlikely. What would you do for a system? Thanks.

 

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Tech Junky

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• #4

A pro wouldn't be that expensive to run a cable. It's just the hassle of getting quotes that throws most people off the idea. I got 5 quotes when replacing indoor/outdoor AC and they ranged from $4300-15000 for the same equipment.

I build my own network stuff but went with an AP after waiting for AX parts that's still don't exist. I have the parts now for BE but waiting on the OS side to light it up.

Actual APs though can also do wifi backhaul as long as 1 is wired. The problem with MESH is you pay way more than you need to for mediocre performance.

To know what is needed though means knowing more about the space being covered and the clients being used. Budget though is usually the biggest hurdle to doing it right vs cheap. If all of the devices are a few years old then cheaper options are likely but, if they're getting fiber from the ISP then bandwidth might be the priority. If they live in a metal studded space then the signal needs more nodes to get beyond the studs.

There are a lot of different options from the $50 AC AP to the full fledged node in every room well over $1000.

 

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ingeborgdot

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Jan 12, 2005

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• #5

Well, they are not going to come close to paying anything like that. $300 is about all they want to go. They just want wifi upstairs where it doesn't hit now. They have 250megs down and up. The mesh system I had recommended for a good price was the TP Link X55. If it doesn't work well enough, we send it back. I usually use Tp Link Omada where I can wire all my EAP's and am able to remotely update and work on the system.
I have never installed a mesh system like the X55, so it will be interesting to see how it works and if it will be sufficient enough for them.

 

In2Photos

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Mar 21, 2007

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• #6

ingeborgdot said:

Well, they are not going to come close to paying anything like that. $300 is about all they want to go. They just want wifi upstairs where it doesn't hit now. They have 250megs down and up. The mesh system I had recommended for a good price was the TP Link X55. If it doesn't work well enough, we send it back. I usually use Tp Link Omada where I can wire all my EAP's and am able to remotely update and work on the system.
I have never installed a mesh system like the X55, so it will be interesting to see how it works and if it will be sufficient enough for them.

Click to expand...

I have the Deco X60 and quite like it. But I have wired backhaul between the 2 nodes (I'm only using 2 and get full coverage so I have the 3rd for a spare if I need it). I also have the X60 installed at my in-law's house in the traditional mesh fashion. It works well for them too. The house isn't very large but they use the other 2 units to extend wireless to a shed out in the backyard for streaming TV and audio.

Set up of the Deco is quite simple and the app works well. Only issue I have had with the app is that sometimes it seems like the client list doesn't update. I noticed this a few weeks ago when I added a couple of new streaming devices to my home. I wanted to see real time speed of these devices while streaming and they weren't showing up. A reboot of the system seemed to do the trick. Otherwise I've been happy with it, I think I've had it for about 2+ years now.

 

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Tech Junky

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• #7

@250mbps it shouldn't ne noticeable if there's slower backhaul speeds. Looks like the units have 2.5ge ports which leaves room for expansion. Goggling shows some issues with Ethernet backhaul being slower than over wifi. It all comes down to how things get setup though and the environment.

 

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Garion

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Apr 23, 2001

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• #8

I have used both TPlink and Google mesh routers. Both require an app. If you friend is concerned about the useability and understanding an app, they are both very user-friendly. I, personally, like the ability to use the app to see what is going on with the network even when I'm not home.

I do, however, completely appreciate the goal to not use some kind of cloud service to manage your home network. If that is the case, it LOOKS like Netgear Nighthawk routers can be managed only with the browser. I don't know if it will do everything the app does, but it would appear you can login to the router, do the base config and setup the satellites in the mesh without the app. I don't know if this is the case for their Orbi routers or not, so I would do some investigating. Here's an info page: Netgear Nighthawk Router Login

In reality, apps are the way of the future. Of the two I've had, I liked Google the best, by far. I had to buy Deco since Google didn't have their Wifi6 routers out yet when my old ones failed (after 5 years). I generally trust Google with privacy, since the Wifi configs seemed to be tied into your Google account and Google has done a good job of securing accounts.