Solutions for Whole-Home Internet Coverage –...

Many of us continue to suffer to this day from poor home network coverage, as well as poor internet distribution, because the router is unable to cover the home. For some, coverage does not extend beyond a few meters, which calls for using network repeaters that have likewise proven useless and may sometimes even make the internet connection signal weaker.

The Current Situation for the Vast Majority of Users

The current traditional method, which relies on a single device to cover the home, is utterly impractical. For this reason, some people install several devices in the form of access points, which work for many people as one solution, but their drawbacks are numerous. The most important is that you need to name each access point separately unless it is designed to complete a single integrated network, which is the case with most home access points. This gives every corner of the house a different name, and perhaps a different password, meaning that moving between them requires reselecting the name of the network you wish to connect to, which is annoying. The worst part of moving between these access points is when the seamless transition (handshake) between them does not occur on mobile devices such as a phone or laptop.

The Launch That Changed the Game

It began with the boom in the mesh-network market starting in 2016, when Google entered the market with one of the best devices ever and changed many concepts by supporting devices through cloud management so that you can manage these devices from anywhere in the world and enable useful options such as setting connection and usage times for the devices connected to the network. This lets you control the children's internet usage time, among other features that other companies have incorporated into their devices, such as antivirus and parental controls to block the use of certain apps like YouTube, Facebook and others.

The Secret Recipe

The method that brought users relief comes down to including two to three pieces of hardware that communicate with one another intelligently and seamlessly, distributing the network including the internet, thereby covering a wide range that can reach up to 12 distribution devices. No matter the size of the home, coverage will be excellent, or very good at the very least.

Each of these pieces represents part of a single cohesive puzzle, and the pieces must be placed within range of their counterparts. Naturally, it is preferable to use network cables to connect them. If that is not available, it means the network is workable but will be slower than if it were connected by cables, and it may require more pieces.

In Summary: Needs and Installation

Suppose the home's area is 3,500 square feet; you will most likely need to buy a single box containing 3 pieces. And let us assume we are talking about one of the best devices, for example the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus. You will need to buy a set of network cables, no fewer than 7 cables of the cat6 or cat7 grade, half a meter to a meter in length depending on need, and you will also need a cable distributor (a Gigabit network switch) from any company, let us assume from TP-Link itself. In this case, you can use any of the three pieces in the box to be the main router; it must be connected to the service provider's cable, and then through the device's phone app you add the first piece and enter the service provider's data. One type requires no data and the other requires selecting PPPoE and then entering the password that will come from the service provider.

*Note: Some service providers supply devices on their end that are managed by them, so you need to contact them and request the cancellation of the 'PNP' service in order to be able to use your own devices.

Then you must distribute the devices around the home so that each device can reach the others within the distance specified for you by the app. You may need more pieces, so it is preferable to buy a complete box all at once, as it is available at a reasonable price online, far less than in retail markets. This ensures the distribution of the network and the internet throughout the entire home.

Al Roeya Emirati newspaper