Routers have been among the most interesting tech products of 2016 and the Google Wifi mesh router system is well placed on the high-end range.
Mesh Wi-Fi Router Systems
The advances in technology have transformed the router from a utilitarian computer hardware with antennas sticking out to sleekly designed pods placed throughout your home. The new method of using more than one wireless access point is called a mesh system. It is designed to fix dead zone issues encountered often by the traditional routers.
The most well-known mesh router system is Eero. Neatgear and other startups have also launched their devices. Google has entered into the mesh router market with the Google Wifi. Google's gadget is a multi-point router system sharing many similarities with Eero.
Google Wifi Router
Google has previously launched a router called the OnHub. According to the tech giant, its Wi-Fi system is the product of three-and-a-half years of work. Google Wifi is different in many ways. The product leverages both could-based intelligence and clever hardware design to ensure users get a strong Wi-Fi signal throughout their home, no matter its layout, construction or size.
In addition, Google Wifi has been designed so that it can be easily set up via a smartphone. The product can be managed and controlled remotely. Parental controls and easy guest network setup are also part of the featured offered.
Google Wifi arrived on the market on Tuesday, Dec. 6. The device is sold for $299 as a three-pack or individually for $129. That's cheaper than its rivals. Netgear's Orbi costs $399 and the three-unit Eero setup comes with a price tag of $499.
According to Google, the three-pack will span a 4,500-square-foot home, while a single Wifi unit can cover a 1,500-square-foot residence. For coverage of surface areas beyond that, additional units can be added.
According to Ars Technica, in addition to a strong wireless signal, Google Wifi offers lot of accessible functionality. Users can pause Internet delivery to various devices, can tweak the brightness of its LEDs and can even manage home automation gear. Anyone using modern Android phones would find it easy to use the Google Wifi gadget, since all of its functionality is exposed via a "cards" system.
According to The Verge, Google Wifi mesh router balances convenience with performance. The device acquires a good balance between ease of use, coverage, speed and cost. For this reason, it is a compelling option for those who are looking at a mesh router system.
With traditional routers, design has always been an afterthought, taking a backseat to functionality. Traditional routers have been big, ugly designs coming with spidery antennas. But mesh systems come with better design.
Each Google Wifi unit is a compact, unobtrusive cylinder that looks like two hockey pucks that have been stacked on top of each other. It certainly doesn't look like a piece of computer equipment. You can place it on a shelf or counter.
A lone light between the two pucks indicates Wi-Fi status, but it can be disabled via the Google Wifi app. A blue light indicates setup status, while a white light indicates connected status.
The Wifi unit has two gigabit Ethernet jacks and a power port on the bottom. One gigabit jack is designed for an internet connection from the broadband modem, while on the second could be attached hardwired devices.
The Google Wifi supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac networking and it has AC1200 2x2 Wave 2 capabilities. The standard WPA2-PSK protocol is used to secure the device.
