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Is mesh WiFi good for gaming?

two women and a dog gaming with Mesh WiFi

In 2023 alone, the worldwide count of video game players was roughly 3.38 billion. If you’re one of those gamers and you play video games online, you’re probably always looking for the competitive edge.

The right (or wrong) internet setup can make all the difference between success and failure when gaming online via mobile hotspot or WiFi and recent developments have made it even easier for gamers to get high-quality internet coverage in the comfort of their home.

We’ll explore the ins and outs of mesh home networks, how to game on a mesh system and highlight why mesh is a popular choice for gamers. By the end of this article, you should be able to understand the pros and cons of mesh WiFi and make an informed decision about whether or not to bring mesh networks into your gaming setup.

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Understanding WiFi mesh technology

Let’s start by defining what mesh WiFi is, exploring how wireless mesh networks work and looking at some of the most popular mesh WiFi systems on the market.

What is mesh WiFi?

Originally developed as military communications technology, mesh WiFi became popular in consumer markets by the 2000s as a reliable and extensive home WiFi coverage solution.

In the 2010s, brands like eero championed the simplification of setup and improvement of mesh WiFi connectivity across sizeable areas, such as offices and large homes.

Since then, the incorporation of technologies like WiFi 6e has enhanced mesh WiFi’s ability to support homes with many connected devices and advanced smart tech.

How mesh WiFi systems work

Mesh WiFi aims to eliminate dead zones and ensure consistent internet quality across a range of  internet speeds – no matter your space.

Traditional routers rely on a single broadcast zone – the router itself. Mesh networks use multiple access points in the form of physical nodes. Each node in the mesh network communicates with the main router and with all other nodes.

United together, mesh WiFi nodes create a grid-like infrastructure in which data is routed through the fast

Overview of eero mesh WiFi

A leader in WiFi mesh technology, eero provides easy-to-use mesh networking infrastructure to homes, apartments and even office spaces. Compared to other systems, eero provides a rich mesh experience, consisting of:

    • Multiple nodes: eero’s mesh WiFi system can include as many nodes as you need for your home. When you set up your system, you’ll set one node as the primary router and connect it directly to your modem. Additional nodes work with the primary router, extending WiFi coverage strategically throughout the home.
    • A self-configuring mesh system: After setting up your eero network, your nodes will work together to optimize their data routing paths. Your mesh technology will flex in real-time with the number of devices connected and your household’s internet habits.
    • A stable signal: Your devices will automatically connect to the strongest eero signals. As you move around, your devices switch seamlessly between nodes without dropping the connection or reconnecting to different networks.
    • An easy-to-manage tool: Most mesh WiFi systems are managed via smartphone, which allows users to control the performance of their wireless network and connected devices, prioritize device traffic, adjust security settings and receive firmware updates.

girl uses device connected through eero as mom makes dinner

Mesh WiFi with eero Secure

Enhanced Whole Home WiFi enables multiple WiFi routers (or eeros®) to work as a team, resulting in improved range, speed and stability of your WiFi network. Plus, with eero Secure now included at no additional cost, it keeps your family safe with parental controls, ad blocking and internet backup so you’re always connected.
 

Pros of using mesh WiFi for gaming

    • Consistent home internet speeds: If you’re looking for the best speed for gaming, mesh WiFi provides consistent internet speeds throughout your home, preventing lag and interruptions. This ensures a smooth gaming experience, even in rooms far from the main router.
    • Enhanced multiplayer gaming: Mesh WiFi can handle many devices at once, making it perfect for homes with multiple gamers. With the right setup, your whole household can play games together with minimal lag or connection issues and access the best mesh WiFi for gaming.
    • Optimized network priorities: For frequent gameplay streamers or people who download large game files, eero’s WiFi mesh provides advanced network management capabilities, such as prioritization of gaming traffic, ensuring that simultaneous streaming and downloading do not negatively impact gameplay.
    • Reduced packet loss: Packet loss can lead to a bad gaming experience, including stuttering and lag. Mesh WiFi gaming systems help reduce packet loss by providing multiple pathways for data to travel, ensuring that if one path is congested or experiencing issues, another can take over.
    • Improved VR gaming: VR gaming needs a fast, stable internet connection for an immersive experience. Mesh WiFi provides strong, consistent signals, making it one of the best mesh systems for VR gaming and preventing disruption, lag or connection issues.
    • Integrated smart devices and gaming: If you’re a gamer who uses smart lighting or voice-controlled assistants, you might benefit from a mesh WiFi network. Mesh WiFi systems integrate with smart home devices, allowing gamers to control their environment without major connectivity issues.

Cons of using mesh WiFi for gaming

    • Possible latency: If you haven’t optimized your WiFi or node placement your mesh network nodes will need to hop between each other, introducing a small amount of latency.
    • Shared bandwidth: As mesh networks share bandwidth across all connected devices, you’ll need to prioritize gaming traffic through Quality of Service (QoS) settings. Additionally, you could use Ethernet backhaul to improve the connection.
    • Interference and signal strength: Mesh routers may operate on the same frequency bands as other household devices, leading to potential interference. Use a less congested frequency band (like 5 GHz) to help reduce interference and maintain strong signals.
How to set up your WiFi router

When to consider a gaming router

    • Lower latency: There are many differences between gaming routers and standard routers. Gaming routers are designed to minimize latency. They offer advanced QoS settings that prioritize gaming traffic.
    • High bandwidth consumption: For gamers who need high bandwidth for activities such as streaming, downloading large updates or playing online multiplayer games, gaming routers provide robust performance. They are built to handle high-speed internet connections and multiple simultaneous data streams.
    • Specific gaming features: Some gaming routers come with features tailored for gamers, such as advanced QoS, more security options and specialized hardware for processing gaming traffic on your home WiFi network.

It’s important to note that, for gaming, if you’re looking to eliminate latency, lag and jitter, an Ethernet connection with a Gigabit+ internet plan is the best possible option.

If you want to future-proof your home network, spread WiFi throughout the home for other users and devices and game on Ethernet, we recommend investing in mesh WiFi solutions like eero.

There are many differences between Ethernet and WiFi for gaming. But, by supporting Ethernet backhaul, eero mesh WiFi ensures that you get all the benefits of a steady, wired connection perfect for gaming – and whole home WiFi for all your devices.

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Conclusion

So, are mesh routers better? Mesh network routers and systems like eero provide consistent speeds, broad coverage and easy management, making them excellent for gaming. They handle multiple devices well, reduce packet loss and improve VR gaming.

However, for a hardcore, competitive gamer with the need for the lowest possible latency and highest bandwidth, Ethernet backhaul and a Gigabit+ internet plan may be a better option. Consider your specific gaming requirements and talk with your ISP about setting up an optimal gaming experience.

Frequently asked questions

If you want to speed up your mesh WiFI, make sure you have placed your nodes in optimal locations, reduced the distance between nodes and rebooted your system. If you still have issues, reduce your connected devices and switch your gaming device to the 5 GHz band.

Mesh WiFi can impact gaming. Proper placement of nodes and using a wired connection can minimize latency and improve performance. If you want to reduce lag, connect to the nearest node.

A mesh system improves coverage and reliability in your home but does not increase the base internet speed you’ve purchased from your internet service provider. Mesh systems primarily distribute the load more efficiently across your home network.

Yes, mesh WiFi replaces a traditional router. In place of your traditional router, you’ll use your primary node from your mesh WiFi system. Additional nodes within the network extend signal and spread connection throughout your home.

In most cases, the 5 GHz band is best for gaming. If you’re looking for the best WiFi access, consider investing in a router or mesh system that supports WiFi 6, 5 GHz and tri-band systems.

No, gaming routers only optimize network traffic for gaming. In doing so, they reduce latency and prioritize data, enhancing your gaming experience and making it more stable overall. However, they do not increase the speed provided by your ISP.

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eero Plus is available for an additional $9.99/month and requires subscription to whole home WiFi powered by eero.