What is wired and should your mesh network use?

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• What is wired and should your mesh network use?

Over the years, mesh Wi-Fi has become a very popular option. The ability to blanket your entire home in Wi-Fi coverage with just a few access points within range of each other is amazing, and is especially useful if you have a larger residence. However, mesh networks suffer from one notable flaw: signal degradation. Fortunately, this problem can be solved by using the cable link. Here's a look at what wired backhaul is, along with why you'll want to have it.

What is wired backhaul?

Wired link refers to a physical wired Ethernet connection between the primary access point in a mesh network (the one that is connected to your modem and acts as a router) and its secondary access points. This adds another communication channel between the primary and secondary access points.

Why use wired backhaul?

The reason most people should consider using a wired link is because of signal degradation, which occurs naturally without the presence of Ethernet cables. When you connect a device to a secondary access point in a mesh network, anything you do on it is transmitted wirelessly from your primary access point to the secondary point, and then transmitted to your device from the secondary access point. While this is happening, the original signal from the main access point is degraded for two reasons. The first is due to the distance between your primary and secondary access points. The further the distance your primary access point must transmit to a secondary access point, the worse the signal will be. The second cause of signal degradation is retransmission from the secondary access point to your device. Because the access point rebroadcasts a signal it received from the main router, the signal it rebroadcasts will normally not be as strong as the signal it originally received. Both of these problems can be eliminated by using a wired link. This is because the Ethernet connection between the access points eliminates the need for the primary access point to broadcast a signal to the secondary points, making relay signal quality and distance issues non-existent. With wired backhaul, you make each access point as strong and stable as the main router because they are all connected by wires.

The mesh network we recommend

(Image credit: eero) If you're looking for a seamless mesh network that supports wired backhaul, look no further than eero's latest offerings. Both the eero 6 and eero Pro 6 are mesh compatible, which means you can use more than one to set up your own mesh network. Additionally, both support Wi-Fi 6, which is quickly becoming the new Wi-Fi standard due to its increased speed and stability. Wi-Fi 6 is the future, so investing in a Wi-Fi 6 wireless network now is a good idea. The eero 6 is dual-gang and has a range of up to 1,500 square feet and costs $129. Meanwhile, the eero Pro 6 does things better with a three-gang, 2,000-square-foot lineup, but it also costs more at $229. Overall, the eero 6 is ideal for setting up mesh networks in medium-sized homes or if you want to save money, while the eero Pro 6 is perfect for people who want to bring mesh networks to large residences. Or enjoy the enhanced stability that the tri-group brings to the table.

The eero 6 offers excellent coverage and a dual-band setup for great stability, although it's not as high-end as the pro version. However, for this reason it is more affordable.

<p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:100.00%;"> The eero Pro 6 offers excellent coverage and a three-band configuration for incredible stability, although it is a bit more expensive.