in plain English - MESH vs the same SSID . . .

[khushy]

hi - we have a network - draytek router + 2 x draytek access points

Draytek tell us that simply configuring each access point with the same ssid is better than creating a MESH - can someone explain why please?

Khushy

[Rojibo]

You have a limited amount of airtime/bandwidth, as a result forming/maintaining the mesh uses a chunk of that and reduces available bandwidth for other devices.

If you are able to run Ethernet to the other access points then using the same SSID and roaming will result in better performance. Probably won’t be a whole lot of difference in a home network/lightly used network to be fair.

[deckster]

Main advantage I've seen since switching from three separate access points to a Google mesh is handover between APs is much smoother - my devices used to hang onto the distant signal for far too long whereas now they switch much quicker as I move around the house.

[alock]

As above, with two routers and the same SSID, some devices get stuck on the wrong AP and need manual intervention to reconnect to the better AP.

A Roku stick in the back of a TV was always my problem. About once a week it would connect to the far AP and Netflix would drop to 240p resolution. Going into settings and a quick disconnect/reconnect would always solve it, but having to do it got annoying.

[troc]

The problem of devices sticking to the ‘wrong’ access point is usually down to operating your access points at far too high a power. They should be at the minimum power to just overlap at around -75db (most devices will hang on until around -70db). This usually means operating the 2.4 radio at the lowest setting and the 5ghz radio at medium to high. Also make sure the 2.4 ghz radios (at least) are on different channels (use only 1,6 or 11).

A mesh will take some of the hassle out of things but, as previously stated, will significantly reduce WiFi bandwidth.

[8bit]

I'm in a similar boat - have a Draytek 2830n router (so not exactly the latest WiFi tech in the first place) which works reliably but the WiFi signal tails off badly in the kitchen extension (has to pass thru what used to be the rear wall of the house) and upstairs. I have the house wired with Ethernet so I had considered putting an AP in the kitchen and another upstairs but wondered if Mesh was a better idea.

Interested to hear any suggestions as to the best way forward in my case?

[Buzz84]

deckster said:

Main advantage I've seen since switching from three separate access points to a Google mesh is handover between APs is much smoother - my devices used to hang onto the distant signal for far too long whereas now they switch much quicker as I move around the house.

I have this currently, I have a router and a powerline extender in opposite corners of the house. going from the other corners there seems to be a line where devices signals cross over and just dont work, presumably because the signals interfere or the devices are connected to the weaker of the signals. i'm planning to change over to a mesh system to eliminate these issues at some point.

[phil4]

Mesh exists because most people have one single ISP supplied router providing wifi to their entire home. They don't want to mess around with running CAT5 through the house, but do want wifi everywhere. Mesh is the solution.

If you've got CAT5 running throughout, and the knowledge to setup multiple wifi points, then as stated you get none of the bandwidth downsides, but instead some device oddity downsides.

I run 4 wifi points with the same SSID in the furthest corners of the house, and rarely have any problems with anything.

[biggiles]

deckster said:

Main advantage I've seen since switching from three separate access points to a Google mesh is handover between APs is much smoother - my devices used to hang onto the distant signal for far too long whereas now they switch much quicker as I move around the house.

This is the answer. A true "mesh" system will push/pull devices on to the best AP through various hints (802.11k/v/r etc). Without this, a device will hang on to a poor signal for far too long. Especially iphones!

I used to have individual APs with the same SSID. Now I have six mesh APs which work seamlessly together.

The other point raised in the comments is bandwidth. A poor mesh will use wifi bandwidth to send data between APs. This is handy, but you never want to use it. The best setups have Ethernet "backhaul" between the mesh APs, which you have. So you should get full-speed wifi.

[Mr E]

Mesh APs relaying data over a 802.11 link on a separate channel also possible, but expensive. Look for Tri-Band.

Mesh APs running over Gig-E backhaul is preferred.

[khushy]

Cheers :-)

Both our access points have cat5 running from the router

[Chozza]

In that case ... use Mesh with an ethernet backhaul

you wont lose wireless bandwidth to the meshing . yet will still have the device mobility without having them lock on to a ssid

[8bit]

Mr E said:

Mesh APs running over Gig-E backhaul is preferred.

My wired network is all 1GbE so that sounds exactly what I'm after. Any suggestions as to what hardware works well here?

[deckster]

I'm sure the loss of wifi bandwidth to mesh backhaul is a real, measurable thing.

But it's not a huge deal and frankly is unnoticeable with my Google Wifi / Virgin 100Mb/s setup. Can quite happily watch multiple HD Netflix streams to various devices without any obvious loss of quality. I'd suggest 99% of home users won't notice it so I really wouldn't get too hung up.