The Best Smart WiFi Systems for a Smart Home

Does your current WiFi system feel old? In 2023, connectivity is a huge part of our work, study and home lives. So, if you’re stuck with constant buffering, slow network speeds and downtime, you should think about upgrading to a Smart WiFi system.

Smart WiFi offers excellent connection throughout your home (and even outdoors), giving you the best online experience. Wherever, whenever.

Jump To

1. What Is a Smart WiFi System?
2. Traditional vs Smart WiFi
3. The Best Smart WiFi Systems for a Smart Home
4. Are WiFi Extenders Worth it?
5. Considerations
6. Final Thoughts

As more smart devices are added to UK homes, and network speeds soar, switching from the traditional WiFi-Router-Extender model can feel scary. It doesn’t need to be.

We're The Chris Lewis Group, a smart home installation company from the South of England that has been creating automation systems to make our customers' lives simpler, more convenient and more enjoyable since 2008.

Our latest blog will explore what smart WiFi is and our top picks of systems to take it to the next level. We’ll delve into the benefits of Smart WiFi, the factors worth considering and how it can improve your network experience.

What Is a Smart WiFi System?

Smart WiFi doesn’t need to be confusing or complex. These systems can deliver a range of benefits, such as:

• Stronger internet connection
• Faster network speeds
• Connect more devices on a single network
• More people connected at the same time
• Fewer interruptions, less lag, and less buffering
• Options for a 2nd internet line so you remain connected if one fails
• A single WiFi name and password, with options for guest accounts and guest networks
• Parental controls
• Energy monitoring

But how does smart WiFi actually work? How is it different to your current broadband setup?

Smart WiFi means mesh networking tech that gives high-spec, ultrafast internet coverage and performance.

Traditional WiFi routers and hubs offer a limited range around their position. Instead of this, mesh networking "smart" routers boost signal strength by decentralising the network access point - with multiple nodes placed around the home.

Think of it like this: if you used just one radiator to heat your whole house, it just wouldn’t work. You need a series of them to ensure every room gets the right amount of heat. Mesh WiFi measures work in the same way. By adding access points around your home, as well as your centralised router, you spread that first-rate connectivity everywhere.

And the perks don't just stop there. Mesh WiFi is primed to tackle the common flaws of traditional routers. You may have been told that thick walls and floors, large rooms and other obstructions mean you’ll never have a strong WiFi connection. With mesh WiFi this doesn't have to be the case. A meshed system solves these problems, giving you a powerful signal to penetrate those tricky WiFi blind spots.

Not only can smart WiFi systems boost signal range, they also greatly improve the connection reliability of the basic routers your ISP provides. If you depend on your network for work purposes, it’s never worth sacrificing quality with a cheaper router.

Traditional vs Smart WiFi

Traditional routers are singular, centralised access points. Mesh networking devices, on the other hand, such as smart WiFi routers, dual-band or tri-band mesh wi-fi and whole home mesh wifi, are decentralised.

This means that instead of a device connecting to a single gateway to the Internet, mesh networks use multiple nodes that all provide web connectivity. You could have a central 'hub' in the kitchen and then satellite nodes in the home office, kitchen, or bedroom. With traditional WiFi, your devices all connect to one unit - potentially leading to connection overload, as well as a weak signal at the far ends of a large home. On the other hand, a well designed Wi-Fi 6 mesh system spreads the load over multiple units around your home.

Think of it this way: if the kids are watching TV in one room, and you’re working on that big last-minute project in the other, your signal will stay consistent, stable and at peak performance, no matter what. 

With remote working and video calls becoming the 'new normal', now is a good time to upgrade your wi-fi with the latest mesh router systems for improved coverage, reliability and range.

Are WiFi Extenders Worth it?

Extenders are only a half measure. Compared to a professionally-installed meshed network, they offer poor coverage and reliability. 

This can be a problem for your app-based smart home systems, like Sonos speakers, Smart Lighting and Smart CCTV. Each extender creates a new WiFi identity with multiple bands, making it difficult to optimise your network for complete coverage around your home.

Many of these DIY kits also include a tangle of unsightly wires that don't exactly blend in with your home. Not only that, it can be hard to work out where to place these extenders to maximise your wireless connectivity.

Meanwhile, mesh WiFi systems like TP-Link Deco can provide reliable connectivity and coverage. This lets all devices in your home connect to the same unified system, without the headaches of setting up and reconfiguring extenders. 

Using heat-mapping technology and speed tests, our installers will work with you to design and install the best home WiFi system, pinpointing where to install nodes to give you the best results. A meshed network system will give you the peace of mind that your WiFi has been installed to achieve the best possible results. 

Extending your home, or adding even more devices to your Wi-Fi network? Our experts offer a range of upgrade and maintenance packages.

The Best Smart WiFi Systems for a Smart Home

There are a number of high-spec smart WiFi systems on the market that offer a range of detailed mesh connectivity options to suit your needs. While it's great that there's so much variety, it makes it harder to find the best system for you. 

Picking your next WiFi system may seem tricky, but we have you covered. We’ll explore three of the most popular brands for access points and explain why they may be ideal for your home. 

At Chris Lewis group, we often work with the latest wireless internet technology from industry-leading manufacturer Ruckus.

Ruckus

Ruckus Wireless has positioned itself as an industry leader in smart WiFi technology, offering limitless wireless network performance with consistency, speed and adaptability at an accessible price.

Ruckus’ integrated mesh WiFi technology provides secure, trustworthy internet connectivity in even the most disconnected environments. 

Ruckus Smart WiFi is designed to bypass WiFi-restricting building materials, distance, multiple users and interfering signals with clarity and ease.

Ruckus’ powerful access points set them a cut above the rest, packed with innovative, patented technology to provide a superior user experience, unmatched WiFi connectivity and rapid network speeds.

And for those looking to modernise their smart garden experience, their outdoor offering is just as impressive. Designed to be versatile enough to work as a standalone access point, the Ruckus outdoor smart node mitigates signal interference to stabilise connection, unlike other outdoor WiFi devices.

Eero

Eero is a WiFi networking brand born from the tradition of offering mesh connectivity at an affordable price point. A great entry point for those looking to make the switch to mesh WiFi, with a stylish, user-friendly design and ample, strengthened network range.

Their latest offerings, the Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6e, have a reach of over 4500sq. ft by using three separated nodes, with 1.4GHz quad-core, 1024MB and 4GB of flash memory under the hood.

While not the fastest mesh network system, with a max speed of 500 Mbps, what the Eero lacks in speed it makes up for in smart home functionality. The in-built Amazon integration offers users endless possibilities to connect with Alexa-compatible devices, making it even easier to control the inner workings of your smart home.

Netgear Orbi

Netgear are pioneers of smart WiFi technologies and one of the most reliable names in the business when it comes to connectivity, delivering powerful Wi-Fi 6 mesh or Wi-Fi 6e mesh up to 5000 square feet.

With a focus on transparency and soaring network connectivity, the Netgear smart WiFi technology offers super-fast speeds on a 5GHz band, using a dedicated backhaul channel to ensure consistent, stabilised connectivity between the main Wi-Fi 6 router and the satellite nodes.

The two-node system features an advanced signal mitigation system to nullify dead zones and neutralise buffering, creating a smooth, clean online experience throughout your whole home.

While the system falls at the pricier end of smart WiFi options, Netgear’s galloping internet speeds, optimisation for up to 100 devices and undeniable performance justifies its higher price tag.

Considerations

When preparing for the switch to smart WiFi, there are a number of other factors you should think about - namely: price, installation and positional set-up of your mesh wi-fi system.

While budget-friendly mesh network systems do exist, traditional routers are generally more affordable than their mesh counterparts. 

The main contributor to mesh WiFi’s price value is the increased number of access points, automatic software updates and often additional software, like Eero’s Amazon compatibility. But this increased price point comes with noticeably stronger, more secure and much faster web connectivity in larger homes. 

A wide array of these meshed systems are available to buy off the shelf and easy to set up yourself. But to ensure your new WiFi system performs to its full potential, we recommend a professional installation to ensure your nodes are effectively positioned and connected. 

The signal must be strong enough to penetrate your home's walls and ceilings. This means the size, position, layout and materials of your property need to be considered. Remember that the position of the nodes, the age of your devices and the number of users accessing the WiFi at once will impact your system's functionality, and inform which will work best for your home.

We offer a specialised insight and setup process in mesh WiFi systems with upgrade and care packages available for continued maintenance. Using heat-mapping technology, our installers will work with you to design and install a mesh WiFi system that caters to both your needs and your home.

Final Thoughts

By 2023, the internet infrastructure was predicted to support over 3.5 billion active IoT connections. As such, we can clearly see why telecommunication companies are pushing for 5G technology, which is much more capable of supporting these connections, when compared to standard WiFi and 4G protocols.

As IoT technology becomes more accessible, we’re seeing more home appliances and other devices integrate with the internet to become “smart” technology. WiFi is no exception - there’s a growing demand for more stable online connectivity. 

If you’re currently using a traditional wireless broadband connection, you will inevitably run into connectivity and performance issues in the long-run. This is especially true if you plan to add more smart technology to your home. 

Switching to smart WiFi doesn’t have to be complex. An upgrade will enhance your network, including stronger internet connectivity, rapid speeds and more transparent reach, with noticeably fewer interruptions, reduced lag and less buffering.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your traditional router system or maintain responsive mesh technology, we can help you to perfect and personalise the smart WiFi functionality of your premises. 

Our smart home experts at Chris Lewis understand the value a functional smart WiFi set-up can provide and will advise you on the best system to suit your personal preferences and create a seamless connective experience.

Discuss your Smart WiFi requirements with one of our experts.

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