Metro Wi-Fi Mesh Network

A Wi-Fi mesh network is a network design where multiple Wi-Fi routers (nodes) work together to distribute Wi-Fi coverage over a larger area than a single router could cover. It creates a "mesh" of overlapping coverage zones, ensuring your devices stay connected as you move around, without having to disconnect and reconnect to different networks.

In 2006, Telabria supplied over two hundred mSystem APM-300 mesh devices to provide Wi-Fi connectivity in a hotzone across the city of Norwich and up to 28 hotspots in the district of South Norfolk. The entire network was designed and built by Synetrix. The project was the largest community wireless broadband network in the UK. More than two hundred Telabria APM-300 dual radio mesh devices were attached to street structures to create the network. Nine clusters of APM-300s were backhauled over WiMAX-class point-to-multipoint infrastructure to a 40Mbps Internet feed. The network could accessed by any Wi-Fi-equipped device including laptops, PDAs, and web-enabled mobile phones. The Telabria mSystem APM-300 was a rugged, outdoor dual radio mesh device; one radio provides network access for any Wi-Fi-enabled device within range, while the second radio communicates with other neighboring APM-300s to create a self-forming, self-healing mesh network of nodes over which traffic passes to the nearest WiMAX backhaul point.

How a mesh network works

1. One router is connected to your internet modem or gateway. This primary router communicates directly with the internet service and functions as the gateway for the rest of the mesh network.
2. Additional routers, or nodes, are placed around the space. These secondary nodes communicate wirelessly with the primary router and with each other. The placement of these nodes is typically strategically done to ensure coverage in all areas of your home or business.
3. Data is passed between nodes to reach its destination. If a device is connected to a secondary node, the data might be passed from the primary router to the secondary node and then to the device. If the primary router is out of range of a device but a secondary node is in range of both, the secondary node can relay data between the primary router and the device.

Benefits of a Wi-Fi mesh network

• Greater coverage: Mesh networks are ideal for large homes or businesses, or spaces with unusual layouts, as they can deliver Wi-Fi to areas that might otherwise be out of range.
• Seamless connectivity: As you move around, your devices will automatically switch to the node that provides the best signal, without any interruption in connectivity.
• Reliability: If one node fails or loses its connection, the other nodes can still communicate with each other, keeping your network up and running.
• Easy expansion: If you find an area of your home or business doesn't have good Wi-Fi coverage, you can simply add another node to the network.

In recent years, mesh Wi-Fi has become increasingly popular due to its benefits over traditional router and extender setups, and there are now many home Wi-Fi systems available that use mesh networking technology.