Wi-Fi 6 Explained: What's New and Why You Might Be Interested

[Squid Surprise]

I'm striclty talking less range with wifi 6, not backwards compatibility, which is my other point. Why not just upgrade when more devices are compatible with it? If we are talking economics and saving money, which we are that makes more sense. And how is having one device, I.e., the router only wifi 6 capable and none of the AP mesh units useful, unless it's literally in your main coverage room/area? Back to my main point homes that are OK range wise with one router or even one additional ap unit may require 2 or 3 more ap's for the same coverage when desiring wifi 6 speeds and don't want to fall back to older AC or N. The average home owner is not going to understand that and or be overwhelmed when dealing with a mesh system.

A mesh system includes the router.... everything involved in the mesh network would be wifi 6...
But if you have even one device with wifi 6 (like a cell phone or laptop for example), it would be beneficial - even if the rest of your devices are wifi 5 or less.

Again, a wifi 6 mesh system is pretty cheap and easy to install...

 

[fps4ever]

A mesh system includes the router.... everything involved in the mesh network would be wifi 6...
But if you have even one device with wifi 6 (like a cell phone or laptop for example), it would be beneficial - even if the rest of your devices are wifi 5 or less.

Again, a wifi 6 mesh system is pretty cheap and easy to install...

Pretty cheap is relative to each person. And not as cheap/easy as most households today that only use one router for coverage. I can't make it any clearer than that.

 

[ZackL04]

802.11n 2.4GHz very popular and 5 GHz showing up in more devices today. 802.11ax 6 GHz much improvement but again new devices will support protocol. Times are changing and more powerful routers and WiFi will help us all make our lives more helpful. Yet I just spend a lot on revamping my old Z-wave to Smart WiFi LED Lights just to learn they only support 2.4GHz and not 5GHz. But they do work with Miss Google Home Mini. Got 9 smart bulbs setup. Outdoor patio 4 spot smart wifi LED bulbs plus 6 more smart wifi LED bulbs. Prices have drop and I m hopping on them as quick as I can. Even got the Google Home Mini for free as well. There was a deal on Wyze Smart WiFi 2.4 GHz Cam too picked up one as well.

The reason for not always supporting 5G in smart devices is Range. Smart devices can be located anywhere in your house, dont require much speed, but usually need the extended range of a 2.4 network.

It helps reduce service calls like “this smart device doesnt work on my fast network”

 

[DelJo63]

See the 600Mhz announcement

T-Mobile 600Mhz 5g announcement

"With today’s launch, 600 MHz 5G can go beyond the mid-band signal, covering hundreds of square miles from a single tower and going deeper into buildings than before." Notice the 600 Mhz -- comparitively, that's LOW and thus much greater range and wall penatration. This is how rural America...

www.techspot.com

 

[Squid Surprise]

Pretty cheap is relative to each person. And not as cheap/easy as most households today that only use one router for coverage. I can't make it any clearer than that.

Again, you’re arguing a different point.... the original point was simply that to upgrade to a wifi 6 mesh system was easy and fairly cheap. And that it would bring extended range and speed.

Yes, ALL mesh systems exchange range... and while they might be costlier than 1 router, if you have a larger house (hence the need for more range in the first place) they are the best option.

 

[fps4ever]

Again, you’re arguing a different point.... the original point was simply that to upgrade to a wifi 6 mesh system was easy and fairly cheap. And that it would bring extended range and speed.

Yes, ALL mesh systems exchange range... and while they might be costlier than 1 router, if you have a larger house (hence the need for more range in the first place) they are the best option.

LOL yet that is exactly what you are doing arguing against my point of cost/ease of installation compared to what most normal people have now. Cheap is relative to the individual who has to spend the extra money. In other words you are wrong. You are not making a different point, just being obtuse about it.

 

[Squid Surprise]

LOL yet that is exactly what you are doing arguing against my point of cost/ease of installation compared to what most normal people have now. Cheap is relative to the individual who has to spend the extra money. In other words you are wrong. You are not making a different point, just being obtuse about it.

Omg... it’s like arguing against a wall... mesh networks ARE cheap compared to the alternative.... of purchasing multiple routers/APs in a large home.

And they are easier to setup than multiple APs/routers as well!

You can’t compare them to single router homes - obviously the point of a mesh system is when a single router isn’t good enough!

 

[fps4ever]

Omg... it’s like arguing against a wall... mesh networks ARE cheap compared to the alternative.... of purchasing multiple routers/APs in a large home.

And they are easier to setup than multiple APs/routers as well!

You can’t compare them to single router homes - obviously the point of a mesh system is when a single router isn’t good enough!

I agree with the bolded part...you are in some sort of denial. I work for a cable/ISP and every time we upgrade our in home equipment with faster wfi protocols it takes more equipment for the same coverage. We even had to do it at our main office and satellite locations. That is exactly what is also going to happen at more single router customer's homes that now wifi 6 won't cover. That's if they want the latest and greatest. I see it all the time. Mesh or regular AP's makes no different, costs more money and you ridiculously use the words "cheap/cheaper" like candy. Why is that so hard to comprehend? It's simple math...I guess my work experience means nothing.

 

[Squid Surprise]

I agree with the bolded part...you are in some sort of denial. I work for a cable/ISP and every time we upgrade our in home equipment with faster wfi protocols it takes more equipment for the same coverage. We even had to do it at our main office and satellite locations. That is exactly what is also going to happen at more single router customer's homes that now wifi 6 won't cover. That's if they want the latest and greatest. I see it all the time. Mesh or regular AP's makes no different, costs more money and you ridiculously use the words "cheap/cheaper" like candy. Why is that so hard to comprehend? It's simple math...I guess my work experience means nothing.

Ok, now you’re just rambling... WiFi 6 doesn’t have less range than any other protocol!! It simply doesn’t INCREASE range (yet)... a mesh network isn’t to replace WORKING single router homes... it’s for homes that aren’t covered by a single router... how difficult is that to comprehend?!?

 

[fps4ever]

Ok, now you’re just rambling... WiFi 6 doesn’t have less range than any other protocol!! It simply doesn’t INCREASE range (yet)... a mesh network isn’t to replace WORKING single router homes... it’s for homes that aren’t covered by a single router... how difficult is that to comprehend?!?

*sigh* facepalm...

 

[Monjorul]

Wi-fi 6 is the next generation of wi-fi . It’ll still do the same basic thing- connect you to the internet just with a bunch of additional technologies to make that happen more efficiently, speeding up connections in the process.