How to improve wireless coverage and performance with Google Nest Wi-Fi?
1. Wireless Mesh
Nowadays, the high-speed wireless network is indispensable for working, learning, and playing at the office and home.
As everyone starts to work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the usage of the internet with multiple family members on the Zoom meeting and accessing e-learning platforms for home base learning (HBL). We encountered slowness and disconnection using the internet frequently.
I need to improve the signal and performance of the wireless as we are going to work and study from home often for the New Normal.
The current setup of my network is a Singtel Mio router placed in the living room, serving as an internet gateway and wireless access point.
I proceed to research on the wireless mesh network. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
The above diagram shows the traditional wireless network typology in a linear formation while a Mesh Wireless Network where multiple APs are connected without a single point of failure.
There are many brands and models for wireless mesh network solution, and I found an abundance of good reviews online for Google Nest Wi-Fi.
After reading the online review, I decided to purchase a set of Nest Wi-Fi and router on google store online. I also addon the Chromecast at a bundle price for $20 only. The total damage for the new toys is S$448.00.
Yippie, I received all the items within 3 days as promised
2. The setup of the Nest Router
Initially, I thought the google router is to replace the Singtel Mio Router. After reading the manual, the Singtel router should not be removed. To set up, simply power up the Nest router, connect the Nest router to the Singtel router LAN port using the white ethernet cable supplied in the package.
The white ethernet cable is connected to the LAN port of the Singtel Router. There is no change in the setting for the Singtel router.
3. Download the Google Home app from the App store.
The setup is intuitive. Download and installed the Google Home app on your smartphone. Once the app is installed, click on add device, add a home name, the apps will start to scan the device. I faced errors and have to try multiple times to detect the new device.
Once the apps detected the router, just add the device by giving a name, location, Wi-Fi SSID, and password.
4. Let add the Nest Wi-Fi to the mesh network.
The setup is also effortless by adding a new device using the Google Home app. For the Nest Wi-Fi, we need to scan the bar code. You can find the bar code sticker at the bottom of the Wi-Fi device.
I safely keep the bar code sticker in the box just in case I need to re-setup again.
I placed the nest WIFI point approximately 50M away from the nest router.
The nest router was set up in the living room connected to the Singtel router, while the nest Wi-Fi was set up in the dining table 50M away.
5. For wireless network monitoring and advance setting
To monitor the wireless network, I download Google Wi-Fi from the app store.
The green dot show Wi-Fi points are online, and the orange dot shows the Wi-Fi point is offline.
There are setting for Wi-Fi password reset and port forwarding configuration under the advance setting of the Google Wi-Fi app.
6. The verdict
Is it worth to pay $428 for the Google nest Wi-Fi?
Before the setup of the Google mesh Wi-Fi, there were many wireless blind spots in the house, including the kitchen toilet and one of the study rooms. With the Google mesh wireless setup, both blind-spot has a robust wireless signal. We can stream YouTube videos seamlessly at the blind spot where there was no wireless signal previously.
I do not feel any significant improvement for web surfing. However, there is a notable improvement in the speed when I stream a movie from a china website. There is no more lag playing an online game as well.
The answer is yes. No regrets, and we highly recommended to invest in a google nest to extend the Wi-Fi coverage and speed of the internet.
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