I'm currently using a Nighthawk mesh system with one satellite in my 2,000 sq ft home, and while it works pretty well, I'm about to move into a 3,000 sq ft house. Given that there are two of us working from home and we frequently stream TV, I'm concerned that my current setup might not be sufficient for our needs. We also have a lot of smart devices. My main issue with the Nighthawk is that the guest Wi-Fi doesn't work well for my smart devices, which need to be on the same network as my phone for HomeKit functionalities. Can anyone suggest a better router or setup?
5 Answers
For a permanent solution, consider running Ethernet drops for your workstations. I did this during Covid and it eliminated any Wi-Fi issues completely. This can give you a reliable wired connection for your most critical devices while leaving everything else on Wi-Fi.
You could easily boost your coverage by just adding more mesh satellites to your current system. Also, you can put your phone and IoT devices on the guest network since most setups have options for that. This will help you maintain better control over your main network without sacrificing performance.
If you're moving into a bigger space, you might want to consider upgrading to a stronger mesh system. Some good options include the ASUS ZenWiFi BD4 and the TP-Link Deco BE63. Both of these can handle your smart devices and streaming needs effectively. Setting them up with an Ethernet backhaul can really enhance performance, too! It’ll give you much better coverage throughout your new home.
I've got a solid setup using a standard ATT fiber modem/router with both 5GHz and 2.4GHz combined on one SSID for all my home office and streaming gear, while keeping a separate TP-Link Deco for my 200+ IoT devices on a different channel. This setup has been very stable for my 5,000 sq ft house, so it might be worth considering. Remember to check and adjust your Wi-Fi channels regularly for optimal performance!
I recommend looking into a UniFi system from Ubiquiti. It allows for VLANs and advanced firewall rules, making it a great choice for isolating your IoT devices on the guest network. This system can handle multiple networks effectively—my own has main, IoT, guest, and camera VLANs! Check out some video tutorials to get started, they can help you choose the right devices.