STACK #224 June 2023

TECH FEATURE

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GET MESHY! Three top options for getting your mesh network happening. NETGEAR Orbi RBK762S AX5400 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (2 pack) Live in a flat, or a smaller home? This Orbi has you covered. Data speed: 5400Mbps Coverage: Up to 350 sq. metres Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Wi-Fi points: 2 Frequency band: Tri-Band (2.4/5.0/5.0GHz) Ethernet/LAN ports: 3 eero 6 TrueMesh Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band System (3 pack) For a medium sized home, check out this eero system. Data speed: 900Mbps

Looking for a full-home Wi-Fi solution that’s simple to set up and provides consistent coverage?You need a mesh network. Words Bec Summer

What is it? Mesh networking provides Wi-Fi coverage for your entire home. Previously, expanding Wi-Fi in a large home would have required a Wi-Fi extender, which could be difficult to set up and would degrade Wi-Fi signal strength, meaning slower speeds. With a mesh network, a main router is connected directly to your NBN broadband, and a series of satellite routers are dotted around your home. These all work in harmony, creating a whole-home wireless network for fast and reliable internet – inside and out. Why do I need it? Think about all the Wi-Fi-enabled devices you have, and how you use them. They're all reliant on the internet to work efficiently. With mesh networking, you can reliably control smart lights from anywhere in the home, easily stream content without any buffering, and eliminate stuttering video calls. The entire home becomes part of the same fast, interconnected Wi-Fi network.

Mesh routers and their satellite units automatically manage network traffic to ensure everybody gets fast, responsive internet. They're a great solution for families with a lot of data demands, often simultaneously. Is it easy to set up? Short answer, yes! You don’t need to be a networking guru to get one up and running, because the devices do the heavy lifting. Setup just requires you to place the satellite units in the best spots so they can talk to the other devices on the network. Working this out is simplified by companion apps for whichever mesh system that you opt for. Sorted! Wireless internet could be frustrating for those in a home of average size or above, and the available solutions weren’t ideal. Mesh networking has changed all that – it’s easy to set up, is expandable by adding another satellite, and it's blisteringly fast.

Coverage: Up to 465 sq. metres Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Wi-Fi points: 3 Frequency band: Dual-Band (2.4/5.0GHz) Ethernet/LAN ports: 2 NETGEAR Orbi AX6000 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (3 pack) For larger homes, this Orbi with two satellites is a winner.

Data speed: 2400Mbps Coverage: Up to 695 sq. metres Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Wi-Fi points: 3 Frequency band: Tri-Band (2.4/5.0/5.0GHz) Ethernet/LAN ports: 11

What is Wi-Fi 6E?

Home network security basics Increased connectivity has revolutionised our world, but there’s also a downside. However, it doesn’t take much to lock down your home network to thwart anyone attempting to exploit it. At the router level, always

The latest leap in internet connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E uses the previously emergency services-only 6GHz band. An upgrade of the Wi-Fi 6 protocol, it provides faster speeds (depending upon your internet connection) and band exclusive, congestion-free signal. If the 2.4GHz band were a laneway, and 5Ghz as an average two-way street, then 6GHz is much like a multi lane freeway, allowing smoother streaming, and lower latency – less delays – when using high-bandwidth

act as a deterrent, as it indicates that you’re more tech savvy than the average user – but remember, never divulge personal info. Your router has a default password. Change it to something very strong and hard to guess – at least 12

characters. This, like the SSID, can easily be edited in the router’s internet browser management interface. Enable encryption to further secure your home network. If you have the options, either WPA2 or WPA3 are the most secure ones.

change your network name – or SSID. Why? Different manufacturers have standard naming conventions, so an unchanged SSID is possibly giving hackers a hint as to any potential vulnerability. Changing the SSID can also

applications. Plus, it can handle up to 60 Wi-Fi devices, and is backwards compatible with older devices.

56 JUNE 2023

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