STACK #190 Aug 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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If you want a homeWi-Fi solution that’s a cinch to set up and offers consistent, far-reaching coverage, you want a mesh network. Words Adam Colby W i-Fi 6 is one of the big reasons why now is the right time to invest in a mesh network. This latest Wi-Fi This Netgear mesh network BANGERS AND MESH

standard takes wireless connectivity to the next level for those who have compatible networking equipment (like a mesh network) and Wi-Fi 6-capable devices. Wi-Fi 6 has some great perks that make it the best wireless standard to date. It’s future- proofed, effortlessly handles 4K and even 8K video streaming, and it supports even more simultaneous connections. Mercifully, Wi-Fi 6 networking gear is also backwards compatible with older devices,

is a Wi-Fi 6 system that includes three mesh nodes for placement in your home. The nodes

are designed to look more ornamental than instrumental, meaning you’ll be tempted to

display them rather than hide them

which means they can still be used with your current equipment, but you’ll be able to tap into the superior networking

Mesh vs extender

away like other

networking equipment.

Depending on the size of your home, you can keep adding additional nodes to extend the coverage, but most the 420-odd square metres covered by the MK63. With a combined speed of more than 1.8Gbps and dual-band technology homes should be sitting pretty with

While there are new Wi-Fi extender releases, they’re effectively using older technology when stacked next to the newer mesh network. Wi-Fi

perks when you upgrade them. Combine that power with the latest Wi-Fi 6-capable mesh networks, and it translates to the potential for

designed to handle more wireless connections (25+ devices), the Nighthawk MK63 is built to take the guesswork out of wire-free connectivity. One of the mesh nodes is used as a router, while the other two work as high-powered satellites to create an interconnected home network solution with maximum coverage. If that all sounds a wee bit complicated, fret not. Just download the Nighthawk app for iOS or Android for guided straightforward setup,

extenders rebroadcast the existing wireless signal from your home’s router. But mesh networks are effectively the equivalent of placing a router in different parts of your home, albeit in an interconnected system. The result is a seamless home-wide wireless network that doesn’t create multiple wireless networks that have to be switched between. You can shift between rooms and rely on the mesh network to reliably take care of the boring back-end connectivity.

uninterrupted high- speed local network

access around your home, even in those hard-to-stream places. EASY-MODE NETWORKING Having reliable connectivity has, arguably, never been more important than these current times where we’re spending more time indoors. There’s no point figuring out the best places in your home to get a signal strong enough to use your internet connection seamlessly when you can activate ‘easy mode’ with a mesh network. Take the Netgear Nighthawk MK63, for instance.

then keep the app installed for remote monitoring and management, internet speed tests, or to create a guest Wi-Fi network. Once you’ve connected your mesh nodes in the right spots, it should only take a few minutes to have your new home network up and running. Naturally, the Nighthawk MK63 has backwards compatibility for those devices that don’t have Wi-Fi 6. But Wi-Fi 6 devices will make the most of the MK63, eliminating network dead zones and offering seamless room-to- room streaming.

64 AUGUST 2020

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