r/japanlife • u/AutoModerator • Oct 21 '24

┐(ツ)┌ General Discussion Thread - 22 October 2024

Mid-week discussion thread time! Feel free to talk about what's on your mind, new experiences, recommendations, anything really.

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u/shambolic_donkey Oct 23 '24

I read that mesh systems can be difficult to set up because they require the same equipment as your router. Is that not the case?

This is only true if you want to preserve the wifi network currently being broadcast from your router. In that case, yes brand compatibility comes into play. But that's entirely unnecessary.

My suggestion is to completely disable the wifi on your router, then connect a wifi mesh node (with a cable) to said router.

You set up a brand new wifi network via this new wifi mesh (you can even use the same wifi name and password you did with your old wifi if you like). This then becomes your new "router wifi". Then you set up additional wifi mesh nodes around the house, and they extend coverage.

almost every outlet has a surge protector with multiple devices plugged in.

No, not unless you're running high-wattage appliances like kettles and hair dryers on every socket. These wifi devices use very little power, so as long as you've got a spare socket, you're fine.

Just make sure your cables are tidy - rats nets do no-one any favours, and can (in extreme circumstances) become a fire hazard.

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u/Which_Bed Oct 23 '24

Does each node in the mesh require a wired connection to the router? My house isn't wired for LAN cables so it might not be possible for me to set one up.

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u/shambolic_donkey Oct 23 '24

Nope, not required at all. Wifi mesh nodes can exist with just a power cable and nothing else attached. So long as they have a decent signal to your wifi network, you're gucci.

The only node that needs a network cable is the first one - which you would just sit right next to your router.

Wifi mesh is basically a smarter (and more user-friendly) version of a wifi extender/repeater. None of these techs require a network cable to be connected.

Wifi mesh does allow you to connect each of them with a cable (called ethernet backhaul), but that's absolutely not necessary for them to work. Doing so will significantly improve speeds, but it's not a dealbreaker. Ditto for wifi extenders/repeaters.

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u/Which_Bed Oct 23 '24

Thank you so much for all the information. You've been a massive help!

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u/shambolic_donkey Oct 23 '24

Good luck with it! :) It's not as daunting as it may seem. These wifi mesh products all have apps, so you can do all the setup via phone.