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Paul Mah

Impatient or upset when social media feeds or websites don’t load fast enough?
Mesh Wi-fi systems – a main router with separate satellite nodes installed in different parts of the flat or house – promise to make spotty wireless coverage in your home a thing of the past, from the living room couch to the kitchen (or bathroom).
Unlike legacy Wi-fi extenders that must be individually configured, mesh Wi-fi systems are typically deployed using a simple mobile app. A mesh Wi-fi system will also “steer” your wireless devices to the nearest Wi-fi point automatically for optimal performance and coverage.
We look at three top such systems for a better online connection and experience.

Netgear Orbi RBK50
The basic package comes with an Orbi router and an Orbi satellite device. You can buy additional Orbi satellite units to expand your network coverage, though a single satellite should be adequate for the average flat.
Other than the fact that you must create an account with Netgear to configure your Orbi, the entire process is relatively straightforward.
The simple and seamless set-up is no accident: Orbi units ship with the power switch already toggled to the “on” position. The default SSID and pass phrase were clearly labelled on the unit, and technical questions that might stumble a novice are conspicuously absent.

A free 30-day trial of Netgear Armor offers security features such as the filtering of dangerous web addresses, while anti-malware software from security firm BitDefender is offered for supported devices. The package comes with complimentary internet filtering and tracking of web history, but more advanced capabilities require a monthly subscription.
Connected to a 1Gbps fibre internet connection, the Orbi delivered the fastest download and upload speeds in our tests. Performance of the satellite unit was particularly impressive, thanks to the dedicated Wi-fi connection between the Orbi router and the Orbi satellite.
Price: US$330 (Orbi Router with a Orbi Satellite)

Google Nest Wi-fi
The Google Nest Wi-fi is the latest attempt by Google at mesh wireless networking hardware for homes. Google claims the new “Nest Wi-fi” delivers twice the performance and 25 per cent better coverage over the original “Google Wi-fi” that we reviewed.
Far-field microphones offer excellent voice pick-up, and a 40mm audio driver delivers 360-degree coverage.

While the dual-band device provides great wireless coverage, you probably won’t be buying the Nest Wi-fi for its performance. Performance in speed tests was lacklustre compared to tri-band competitors. But if all you want is good wireless coverage, it sports pleasing aesthetics in an unobtrusive package that should allow it to blend well into most decor.
Audio from the Nest Wi-fi point was loud and crisp, making it perfect for broadcasting messages around the house using Google Assistant.
Finally, Google says that its Nest Wi-fi router and points are compatible with earlier Google Wi-fi devices. This means that existing users can preserve their investment by reusing their Google Wi-fi units with a new Nest Wi-fi router.
Price: US$229 (Nest Wi-fi router), US$199 (Nest Wi-fi point)

Synology MR2200ac
The Synology MR2200ac is another tri-band mesh Wi-fi system to blanket your entire home with wireless connectivity. Unlike the others, there is no need to make a distinction between a “router” unit with the additional mesh nodes you need to extend the reach of your network – each MR2200ac unit is identical and they are available for purchase as individual units.
Set against competitors outfitted in sleek cylindrical chassis, the MR2200ac looks somewhat bland and unassuming. However, it sports something that isn’t a common feature these days – a USB 3.0 port that can be plugged to external storage. Put that with the company’s roots in making network-attached storage (NAS) devices, and the MR2200ac offers capabilities that some power users will find indispensable.
The MR2200ac delivers the wireless performance you would expect from a tri-band device. An LED indicator on the front shows the strength of the current Wi-fi connectivity, and is a useful visible indicator of the state each node.

Where the MR2200ac really shines through is in its plethora of software features. A built-in parental control feature lets you define access filters, internet access schedule and blacklist sites.
The device also comes with Synology Router Manager (SRM), which offers a desktop-like operating interface assessed through your web browser. From SRM, you can enable and access storage capacity through a large USB flash drive or a portable hard disk drive.
You can also download packages through an app-store like interface to enable additional capabilities.
For instance, VPN Plus Server lets you use the MR2200ac as a VPN server, while Download Station lets you perform download files in the background through a variety of protocols such as FTP or the peer-to-peer BitTorrent.
Finally, you can even use it as a Media Server or synchronise your files across multiple cloud accounts.
Price: US$140 (each)


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Better than Wi-fi extenders: three of the best high-end Wi-fi mesh systems rated for speed, ease of use and how easy they are to set up

Netgear Orbi RBK50 is one of three high-end Wi-fi mesh systems tested.

Handout image of a Google Nest Wifi.[02FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL FEATURES]

Handout image of a Netgear Orbi RBK50.[02FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL FEATURES]

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Netgear Orbi RBK50

Handout image of a Synology MR2200ac. [02FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL FEATURES]\

Synology MR2200ac

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Gadgets


Mesh Wi-fi systems use a main router and satellite units around your home to give you better overall coverage, and a range of software and security features
We test three of the best systems for set-up, connection speed and ease of use



Mesh Wi-fi systems offer improved connectivity using a main router and satellite units. We test three top systems, looking at connection speed and ease of use.


Technology

Google

Better than Wi-fi extenders: three of the best high-end Wi-fi mesh systems rated for speed, ease of use and how easy they are to set up

Mesh Wi-fi systems use a main router and satellite units around your home to give you better overall coverage, and a range of software and security features We test three of the best systems for set-up, connection speed and ease of use

Mesh Wi-fi systems use a main router and satellite units around your home to give you better overall coverage, and a range of software and security features

We test three of the best systems for set-up, connection speed and ease of use