5 Best Mesh WiFi for Thick Walls / Concrete Walls in 2021 (Reviews and Guide)
Say goodbye to poor and unpredictable internet connectivity throughout your home with these elegant whole-home mesh WiFi system.
If you live in an apartment or if your home has brick or concrete walls, you’ve certainly had moments where you’ve cursed your WiFi system, especially if you suffer from poor connections in your bedroom or one of the bedrooms.
You might have blamed your ISP, but you now know that the problem has everything to do with the type of router you are using and pretty much nothing to do with the ISP. The truth is that the connection issues have everything to do with your walls because the walls interrupt signals.
The composition of concrete and bricks absorb EM waves from your WiFi system, and when not absorbed, the signals are reflected back, hence poor or inconsistent internet connectivity.
The good news is that thanks to mesh WiFi systems, you no longer have to struggle with dead zones or inconsistent wireless internet access.
The Mesh WiFi system/ network is designed to blanket your home with wholesome internet coverage by working as hybrids of sorts, exceeding the performance of the traditional routers. They are made of different components that enhance the network, hence their efficiency in homes with thick walls. End your search for reliable home WiFi networks today with the mesh WiFi systems below.
Table of Contents
Comparison Table for 5 Best Mesh WiFi for Thick/ Concrete Walls
Save some time in your search by going through this comparison table
5 Best Mesh WiFi for Thick/ Concrete Walls |
Best For |
Speed/ Coverage |
WiFi Protocol |
Price |
NETGEAR Orbi Whole-Home Mesh WiFi System (RBK23) |
Best Whole House System |
2.2Gbps
6,000sq/ft 1 Ethernet port |
802.11ac
Tri-band |
|
GRYPHON Smart Mesh Wireless System |
Best Smart Home Mesh Wireless System For Family Privacy, Safety, and Security |
3Gbps
3000sq/ft 3 Ethernet ports |
802.11ac
Dual-band |
|
Linksys Velop Mesh Router (Tri-Band Home Mesh WiFi System |
Best Intelligent Mesh Technology |
2.2Gbps
6000sq/ft 6 Ethernet ports |
802.11ac
Tri-band |
|
Amazon eero Pro Mesh WiFi System (3-Pack) |
Best Splurge, Most Stylish |
550Mbps
5000sq/ft 6 Ethernet ports |
802.11ac
Tri-band |
|
Tenda Nova Whole Home Mesh WiFi System |
Inexpensive Mesh System |
1200Mbps
6000sq/ft 1 Ethernet port |
802.11ac
Dual-band |
5 Best Mesh WiFi for Thick/ Concrete Walls
-
NETGEAR Orbi Whole-Home Mesh WiFi System (RBK23) – Best Whole House System
- Tri-band backhaul a dedicated band between your Orbi router and satellite frees up the other two bands...
- Works with all internet providers replace your existing wi-fi router and extender separate modem or...
Elegantly designed to match your home décor effortlessly, this Netgear Orbi mesh network system is one of the best options on the market today, and it boasts premium-quality features for the best whole-home network connectivity.
Available as a three-pack with one main router and two satellites, this tri-band mesh network system is easy to use, and it boasts an extensive coverage of up to 6000sq/ft., and top speeds of 2.2Gbps throughout your home.
With the satellites working on a node-based system that allows them to communicate with each other and with the router, you won’t have to deal with network inconsistencies.
The setup further allows for an elegant synchronization with Alexa, meaning that your smart home system will be at its best. And should you move into a bigger house or need more coverage to the backyard or basement, you can buy an additional satellite node – the whole mesh system is very expandable.
The other feature of this mesh system is its tri-band backhaul system, a dedicated band between the router and the satellite nodes designed to free up other bands for higher speeds.
You might like this feature if you are a gamer or need the highest speeds for 4K streaming. It comes with a gigabit Ethernet port that works with the AC2200 WiFi system for the delivery of high streaming/ gaming speeds of 2.2Gbps.
Advanced technologies like Beamforming and MU-MIMO, plus Smart Connect, all boost the wireless signals and the overall performance of the system.
You might also like the parental controls and the advanced security features which ensure the safest network.
Pros
- Excellent Performance
- The setup is very easy. ‘
- Elegant design
- MU-MIMO and Beamforming for enhanced performance.
- Tri-band backhaul
- Parental controls
- Nice, small compact design
- Advanced cyber threat protection
Cons
- Expensive
- Only one Ethernet port
-
GRYPHON Smart Mesh Wireless System – Best Smart Home Mesh Wireless System For Family Privacy, Safety, and Security
- POWERFUL CONNECTIVITY & SECURITY – Experience secure and dependable mesh WiFi connectivity for your...
- COMPREHENSIVE PARENTAL CONTROLS – Create a safe Internet experience for young users with your WiFi mesh...
If you are looking for the best whole-home mesh wireless system that boasts the best coverage for spaces up to 3000sq/ft., then this 3Gbps mesh network might be the best option for you.
As a top-rated mesh WiFi system, one of the things that stands out the most from this mesh system is its security features. It comes with advanced security features and parental controls, as well as the best hack protection features with AI-Intrusion detection systems. It also features an ESET malware protection function as well as an ad blocker. Now, I don’t know much about you, but security is an important thing for me, and this mesh system promises to keep things safe, secure, and tidy, 24/7—a big win in our book. The parental controls are also quite brilliant.
Now to performance – you will be happy to know that this wireless mesh system boasts the best level of performance thanks to its six high-powered internal antennas, antenna beamforming, 4X4 beamforming, and the 3Gbps maximum speed.
The system is based on two protocols – 802.11b/g/n and 802.11ac protocols for reliable performance. It has two 5GHz bands and one 2.4GHz band.
Pros
- Excellent speeds
- Good performance
- Best security/ safety features from parental controls
- Most advanced features for internet protection
- Reliable network management
- Device prioritization thanks to QoS
- Six high-powered antennas
- MU-MIMO and Beamforming
- Best coverage from intelligent handoffs
- Separate guest WiFi
- Inexpensive
- Powerful quad-core processor
- Great coverage
Cons
- You have to pay for the Gryphon Homebound security system after three months’ trial
-
Linksys Velop Mesh Router (Tri-Band Home Mesh WiFi System – Best Intelligent Mesh Technology
- Apple HomeKit-Enabled
- Ideal for large, 5plus bedroom multi-story homes (up to 6,000 square feet)
Designed to work with all smart home systems, including Apple ecosystems, this Linksys home mesh system is one of the best mesh systems on the market today.
This mesh system has been designed with the best intelligent mesh technology, which means that the mesh system will always seek out the fastest paths to ensure strong signals throughout your home. It offers top wireless speeds of 2.2Gbps, and since it’s a tri-band mesh system, it’s an ideal option for gaming and heavy streaming throughout the house.
Its setup is easy thanks to the Linksys app, and you might also like how its clean and compact design blends with the rest of your home effortlessly. The setup includes the incorporation of parental controls and setting up the guest network. And the best part is that you can extend the network coverage by buying one or two more nodes.
Pros
- Good performance
- Intelligent mesh technology
- Ease of setup and sue
- Nice, compact design
- Easy plug-in for nodes
- Parental controls
- Six internal antennas
- MU-MIMO for simultaneous streaming
- Beamforming for direct router-to-client signal transmissions
- Automatic band steering
Cons
- Expensive
- No LAN ports
- Limited parental controls
- No antimalware protection
-
Amazon eero Pro Mesh WiFi System (3-Pack) – Best Splurge, Most Stylish
For the most stylish, high-performance, large coverage mesh system to cover all the rooms in your home, try this Amazon eero mesh system. Though expensive, it boasts a reliable mesh system that gives it coverage of at least 5,000sq.ft. It’s easy to install thanks to the user-friendly mobile app, which further allows for easy system management. It works with Alexa, hence easy smart home management and configuration with other devices.
Regarding speed and overall performance, this mesh system boasts high wireless speeds up to 550Mbps, with its tri-band design enhancing its functions. Each of the units features two Ethernet ports for wired connections for stable, high-speed connections.
And you don’t have to worry about inconsistencies in performance thanks to the 700MHz quad-core processor, 4GB flash storage, and 512MB RAM. The other technologies that boost the performance of this device include 2×2 MU-MIMO and beamforming.
It comes with strong and reliable parental controls, as well as malware and antivirus protection features. Unfortunately, these features are on a subscription basis.
The other security features of this mesh system include WPA2 encryption, VPN Passthrough, port forwarding, NAT, DHCP, family profiles, IPv6, UPnP, AND Static IP.
Pros
- Works with Alexa and Apple ecosystems
- Easy setup
- High-speed tri-band performance
- Good whole-house coverage
- No dead zones and signal inconsistencies
- Good security and network features
- Powerful processor
- Beamforming and MU-MIMO
Cons
- Expensive
- No QoS
- Most security/ Network features are on a subscription basis.
-
Tenda Nova Whole HomeMesh WiFi System –Inexpensive Mesh System
- A Faster Way to WiFi: Tenda Mesh technology gives you a faster WiFi experience in all directions with the...
- Enjoy The Best Signal in Any Corner of The House: Ideal for replacing traditional Wi-Fi extenders &...
Unlike most of the mesh systems on the market today, this Nova mesh system, which comes as a three-pack, makes use of Realtek chipsets rather than the Qualcomm system common with the other systems. The other unique feature of this system is that it comes with two hybrid wall-plug units.
It works with Alexa, among other smart home systems, and the three units offer excellent coverage for spaces up to 6000sq/ft/. The other unit runs on the AC1200 wireless protocols, meaning that it allows you to enjoy internet speeds of up to 1200Mbps, an ideal speed for gaming and streaming. Then you have Nova 2.0 MU-MIMO along with the beamforming technologies that allow for simultaneous device connectivity and the best-targeted signal performance, respectively.
This system allows connection for up to 60 devices, all working optimally. The Tenda app allows for the smoothest setups and management. If you need more coverage, you can add new nodes easily. The app further allows for the setup of the easiest parental controls and guest networks.
Pros
- Advanced parental controls and guest access
- Easy setup and management
- Good coverage
- Beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies for best performance
- Multiple device setup
- Whole-house coverage
- One Ethernet port
- Inexpensive
Cons
- The speeds could be higher
- Not ideal for large homes
Ultimate Buying Guide for the Best Mesh WiFi Systems for Thick/ Concrete Walls
There are several mesh WiFi systems on the market today, and you could easily be confused by what you find.
However, you can bypass the confusion and make the right decision if you understand everything you need to know about mesh systems and the features that make some of these mesh systems better than the others.
What is a Mesh WiFi System?
Mesh WiFi systems are advanced WiFi systems designed to provide a blanket or overlapping wireless coverage throughout your home. They seem to have the power to bypass walls and work for complex home designs, a function that’s made possible by the fact that these systems are designed to integrate with a large set of devices. These devices are all designed to work together in extending the network to the hard-to-reach areas.
Specifically, these systems feature a main router connecting to your modem directly, along with a series of satellite nodes or modules placed strategically throughout your home. These form one wireless network, sharing the same SSID plus password, and the satellites run on mesh technology.
For that top-level performance, the nodes in the mesh system work as hop points for the other nodes within the mesh system, which means that all the nodes, including the farthest nodes, get to carry strong WiFi signals while communicating with each other.
Factors and Features to Consider When Buying A Mesh WiFi System
Setup and Network Management
Whether you are tech-savvy or not, the setup of the home mesh network systems is one of the easiest setups around with the installation and complete setup done in minutes.
This is made possible by the fact that these systems come with user-friendly apps, as well as illustrated instructions. The best part is that the app guides you on how to optimally place the nodes for maximum coverage. It also selects the best WiFi channels and the best radio bands for optimal throughput/ performance throughout your home.
Design
One thing that stands out the most from the design and the function of the mesh WiFi systems is their expandable design. You get to add as many nodes as you need for the best whole-house coverage.
Speaking of design, you need to make sure that the mesh system you choose incorporates features to boost its performance.
While these systems make use of powerful internal antennas, they are tastefully designed with at least one LAN port for easy connections with computers, gaming consoles, or TVs. Most of these mesh systems will, however, lack USB connectivity.
Features
-
Multi-band design
Most of the mesh WiFi systems on the market feature dual or tri-band systems operating on two or three discreet systems. The dual-band systems are rather common, and they feature a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz band, with the latter being the least congested band.
The tri-band systems, on the other hand, have a split 5GHz band, but both run at very high speeds. In some cases, the third network is a 60GHz band.
The multi-band system also brings around the backhaul function, common with the tri-band systems. The backhaul function represents the side of the network carrying data packets back to the internet/ main router. It’s often a dedicated network that boosts the performance of the mesh systems. The only catch is that you might have to drill walls for this function.
-
Beamforming
Beamforming represents one of the technologies popular with reliable WiFi systems, especially in systems that run on the 802.11ac/ ax protocols. It boosts the maximum throughput for the system by enhancing wireless bandwidth utilization through a focus on the radio signals, which means that you will have more signals radiated throughout your home.
-
MU-MIMO
Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output Technology, also called MU-MIMO, refers to the technology that allows for the simultaneous streaming of data to multiple devices/ clients.
-
Band Steering
To avoid congestion on one network, most of the WiFi systems make use of band steering to select the least crowded network automatically, hence the best performance.
-
Ethernet Ports
The best mesh WiFi systems have at least one Ethernet port for hardwired connections. The Gigabit ports connect to the modem or cable, and they allow for the highest-speed connections and performance.
The other features you need to take into consideration include guest controls for network security, parental controls, options for device prioritization, as well as advanced security features like firewalls and VPN.
FAQs
Are Wireless Mesh Systems Better Than Range Extenders?
The wireless mesh systems cost more than the range extenders and most traditional routers – no questions about that. But beyond the price tag, you will note that the higher price tag is completely worth it, and the best part is that the mesh systems maneuver thick walls easily while eliminating dead zones. The mesh systems are also easier to set up and use and are the best whole-house systems.
Why Do Thick/ Concrete Walls Affect WiFi Signals?
Essentially, the thick materials and the components in brick and concrete interrupt wireless signals as the electromagnetic waves (WiFi signals) pass through these walls. And depending on the material that the signals have to travel to, the signals are either absorbed or reflected back. Concrete and brick absorb the signals, which means that the signals are unable to travel to their destination with interference.
For the best network access throughout your home, make sure that the 2.4GHz band has a high-speed setup. The 5GHz band might be super-fast, but it has a shorter range.
Where Should You Place Your Mesh Router to Avoid Interference?
With thick walls on your way, it’s important than you place the WiFi system in the most centralized position in your home, away from the walls.
Conclusion
Whole-house coverage is essential for everyone, and you need the smoothest WiFi performance, and maximum throughput for all your internet uses from streaming and gaming to the perfect functioning of your smart home devices, as well as video conferencing. To enjoy the best experience in all these, you need the best WiFi system, and this is where the mesh WiFi systems come in. The mesh systems are among the best on the market for whole-house coverage, especially if your home has thick walls.