What is mesh WiFi and when is it worth it?

Mesh WiFi is a wireless internet system designed to provide strong, reliable internet coverage in places where a single router might struggle to reach. It’s made up of 2 or more mash devices that work together to create a strong and stable WiFi network throughout your home. 

Unlike traditional routers that broadcast WiFi from a single point, Mesh systems have multiple access points that can be placed around your space to provide a seamless connection to the internet. This eliminates "dead zones" in your connection and provides uninterrupted internet connection in all areas of your home.  

Mesh WiFi is designed for people who live in large homes or multi-story spaces with weak or incomplete Wi-Fi coverage. If you live in a home that’s 3,000 sq. ft., has two stories or more, interior brick walls, or an unusual layout, then you would benefit from a mesh Wi-Fi system in your home.  

Mesh WiFi works by using two or more mesh WiFi devices or “nodes” to create a mesh WiFi network. One node is connected to your broadband router, while the rest can be placed throughout your home to create a powerful wireless network. Unlike traditional routers, these nodes are all part of the same network and share the same login and password.   

When one unit links to the modem, that unit becomes the main hub. The other “nodes” will capture and rebroadcast the router’s signal, creating an efficient wireless network that provides a strong signal no matter where you are. 

These nodes are important in efficiently delivering WiFi, as each node acts as chain for other nodes in the system so that even nodes that are furthest from the router can still deliver a strong signal. Nodes also communicate with one another in order to determine the fastest band for your devices, and to reroute traffic in the event that one node fails. 

Whether mesh WiFi is worth it depends on your home, your internet needs, and your budget. For many people, especially those with large homes, thick walls, or areas with weak WiFi, a mesh system can be a game-changer.  

It ensures you have a strong and reliable internet connection throughout your entire home, eliminating frustrating "dead zones." If you’re someone who struggles with buffering while streaming, dropped video calls, or slow internet in certain rooms, mesh Wi-Fi might be worth the investment. 

Another advantage is how easy it is to use and expand. If your needs grow (for example, if you add a home office in the basement or want better coverage in the backyard), you can simply add more nodes to the system. This makes it a flexible and future-proof choice compared to traditional routers or range extenders, which can be harder to manage and don’t always work seamlessly together. 

However, mesh WiFi systems are more expensive than standard routers or extenders. If you have a smaller home or live in a place where a single router provides strong coverage, you might not need a mesh system. In such cases, a high-quality router might be enough and more cost-effective. 

The main difference between mesh WiFi and WiFi extenders is how they expand your internet coverage. Mesh WiFi creates a single, seamless network using multiple devices (nodes) that work together, ensuring strong, consistent WiFi across your home. WiFi extenders, on the other hand, work by boosting the signal from your existing router to reach further areas, but they often create a separate network with a different name. 

This can result in slower speeds and interruptions as you move between networks, and mesh systems are generally more reliable and user-friendly, while extenders are cheaper and simpler fixing signal issues in one two specific areas in your home.  

Yes, a mesh WiFi system can replace your router, but it depends on how you set it up. In most cases, a mesh system is designed to take over the role of your router. It connects directly to your modem (the device that brings internet into your home) and creates a seamless WiFi network across your space.  

This is the best setup for getting a solid connection because it simplifies your network and ensures all the features of the mesh system work properly.  

If your router already works well but doesn’t provide enough coverage, adding a mesh system in bridge mode could help. In this setup, the router remains connected to the modem and the mesh system works in “bridge mode.”  

This means the mesh handles WiFi coverage while the router still controls the internet connection. This approach does work, but it might limit some of the advanced features of the mesh system, like parental controls or network management, depending on the brand and setup.  

If your current router is outdated or doesn’t provide good coverage, it’s usually a good idea to let the mesh WiFi system replace it entirely. Modern mesh systems are built to manage both internet distribution and coverage, so you’ll likely experience better performance and fewer issues.  

But if your router is new and works well, using the mesh system in bridge mode can be a good option to extend coverage without fully replacing your router. 

Our mesh WiFi system is known as ‘WiFi Pods’. A typical home struggling with coverage will only need two or three pods to build an adequate mesh that improves coverage in every room. 

The pods are designed to be placed wherever they’re needed. They fit into any normal three-pin socket in your home, so can go practically anywhere. However, they typically work best when they’re placed roughly halfway between your Virgin Media WiFi Hub and the ‘dead zone’ in your home.  

The pods form part of our intelligent WiFi network.  

The speeds you’ll get will be determined by the type of broadband package you’ve selected. So, for example, if you’re getting download speeds of up to 1,130Mbps with Gigabit broadband, you can expect to reach around this sort of speed across your home with the help of mesh technology. 

Our WiFi Pods are one of the easiest solutions to your coverage frustrations. They’re designed to work effortlessly with your Virgin Media WiFi Hub, and the Virgin Media app will walk you through all steps to install your pods in no time.