WiFi Help!

[bcla]

Mesh set up question.

Our cable guy suggested I invest in a mesh system. It's not that our house is huge, but it's a two storey L-shape around a built in garage, so a lot of cement on the main floor to feed our signal around.

Our house is like this: About 2300 sq ft total (so half that on each floor) Bdrms 3 and 4 have the worst wifi such that my kids are using data for school sometimes (thank goodness for loyalty pricing on data!)
View attachment 551364

If I went with a Mesh system, say the Google brand (but not Nest, the other one - like this: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/google...i-system-3-pack-white/6427176.p?skuId=6427176 ), would I use one puck on my router, as a "sender" or primary, then another in the corner of the main floor and the third on the second floor?

Also, do the pucks have to be in "sight" of each other for the best signal or could I get away with a system with only 2 pucks - one primary behind the router and another on the second floor?

Also do each of the pucks have to be plugged in to an electrical outlet? Stupid question, I know, but it will determine placement of the pucks, obviously.

Thanks for any help.

Oh yeah, is that Google system any good? There's also a TP-Link system Deco M9, which I saw advertised for a good price, but it's only 2 pucks.

It really depends on the signal strength and the antenna setup. If the pucks only have an internal antenna, that might not be ideal. But the idea is to use enough of them that there's a consistent signal between each one.

It looks like the current version uses a coax (barrel) power input coming from a power supply hooked up to AC power. Older versions used a USB-C power input. I don't believe there's a battery backup in them.

https://support.google.com/wifi/answer/7183148?hl=en

 

[FigmentSpark]

It really depends on the signal strength and the antenna setup. If the pucks only have an internal antenna, that might not be ideal. But the idea is to use enough of them that there's a consistent signal between each one.

It looks like the current version uses a coax (barrel) power input coming from a power supply hooked up to AC power. Older versions used a USB-C power input. I don't believe there's a battery backup in them.

https://support.google.com/wifi/answer/7183148?hl=en

Looks like all the ones I've seen only have internal antennas. None of the photos in that article show any antennas, at least.

 

[bcla]

Looks like all the ones I've seen only have internal antennas. None of the photos in that article show any antennas, at least.

My current one (with two antennas) can be used as an extender, but I haven't tried setting it up that way. It's not specifically designed for a mesh setup though.

I believe one thing about a mesh setup is that it provides the same SSID and is supposed to seamlessly allow transition from one access point to the other. The first I'd heard of this was at a university that was literally just putting first generation Apple AirPort units in weather resistant boxes placed on utility poles or other outdoor locations. They were able to create a mesh unit that way. I've heard of one city that uses all of its electric utility's smart meters as a mesh network on public WiFi.