Wi-Fi Router vs. Mesh System: Which Is Best for You?

Wi-Fi 路由器 vs. Mesh 分布式系统：哪种更适合你？

We all want a good, strong Wi-Fi signal throughout our homes, but figuring out how to achieve it without overspending can be tricky. Even once you’ve decided to replace the router from your internet service provider, do you get a new Wi-Fi router or invest in a mesh system? I covered this briefly in my router buying guide, but I’m going to dive a bit deeper here. 我们都希望家中能有稳定且强劲的 Wi-Fi 信号，但要在不超支的情况下实现这一目标并不容易。即使你已经决定更换互联网服务提供商提供的路由器，你是该买一台新的 Wi-Fi 路由器，还是投资一套 Mesh 分布式系统呢？我在之前的路由器购买指南中简要介绍过，但在这里我将进行更深入的探讨。

I’ve been testing all sorts of home networking gear for years now, so I’ll break down your options, weigh up the pros and cons, and help you decide. 多年来，我一直在测试各种家庭网络设备，因此我将为你详细拆解各种选择，权衡利弊，并帮助你做出决定。

What Is a Single Wi-Fi Router?

什么是单体 Wi-Fi 路由器？

A router is a central hub and gateway where the internet comes into your home. It connects to devices on your home network and directs the traffic. You usually plug a modem into your router using an Ethernet cable (some routers double as modems). While you can connect other devices to a router using Ethernet cables (if it has spare ports), most gadgets link wirelessly using Wi-Fi. 路由器是互联网进入你家的中心枢纽和网关。它连接家庭网络中的设备并引导数据流量。通常，你需要使用以太网线将调制解调器（Modem）连接到路由器（有些路由器兼具调制解调器功能）。虽然你可以通过以太网线将其他设备连接到路由器（如果有空余端口的话），但大多数小工具都是通过 Wi-Fi 无线连接的。

Read our Best Wi-Fi Routers guide to see our top recommendations. These are usually enough for most homes. You might fancy a shiny new mesh, but if you have a home of modern construction, with a timber frame and drywall, and a modest square footage (2,500 square feet or less), a single router should be enough to keep you online. 阅读我们的《最佳 Wi-Fi 路由器》指南以查看我们的首选推荐。对于大多数家庭来说，这些通常已经足够了。你可能想要一套光鲜亮丽的 Mesh 系统，但如果你的房子是现代建筑，采用木框架和干墙结构，且面积适中（2500 平方英尺或约 230 平方米以下），那么一台单体路由器就足以满足你的上网需求。

Pros

Less expensive
Easier to set up
Only one device to configure
Fast and stable

优点

价格更便宜
设置更简单
仅需配置一台设备
速度快且稳定

Cons

Limited range
Difficult to place in the right spot
Dead spots are likely
Can’t connect distant devices via Ethernet (without running long cables)

缺点

覆盖范围有限
难以放置在理想位置
容易出现信号盲区
无法通过以太网连接远距离设备（除非铺设长线缆）

How to Get the Best From Your Router

如何让你的路由器发挥最佳性能

The Wi-Fi signal will always be strongest near the router and will gradually drop off and slow down the farther away you get. You should try to place your router centrally in your home and leave it out in the open to get the best performance. This could be tricky because you need to plug in your modem, and you need a power outlet, but an Ethernet cable is cheap, and you can always get an extension. Central placement is worth the hassle if you want solid coverage throughout your home. Wi-Fi 信号在靠近路由器时总是最强的，随着距离增加，信号会逐渐减弱，速度也会变慢。你应该尽量将路由器放置在家的中心位置，并将其置于开阔处以获得最佳性能。这可能有点麻烦，因为你需要连接调制解调器并靠近电源插座，但以太网线很便宜，你总能买到延长线。如果你想让全屋都有稳定的覆盖，这种中心位置的摆放是非常值得折腾的。

It’s also better to have the router up high, on top of a bookcase or mounted to the wall near the ceiling on your ground floor. The exact orientation of your router and its antennas (if they are adjustable) can be surprisingly impactful, so try different positions to find what works best with your most important devices around the home. 最好将路由器放置在高处，例如书架顶部，或者安装在底层的天花板附近。路由器及其天线（如果可调节）的具体朝向可能会产生意想不到的影响，因此请尝试不同的位置，找到最适合家中重要设备摆放的方式。

What Is a Mesh Wi-Fi System?

什么是 Mesh Wi-Fi 分布式系统？

A mesh system consists of a main router that acts as a gateway or hub, just like a single router, with your modem plugged in via Ethernet. But mesh systems also have satellites or nodes that you can place around your home to extend Wi-Fi coverage. Mesh systems present as one single network and decide when to hand off connections to devices as you move around the home. Mesh 系统由一个主路由器组成，它像单体路由器一样充当网关或枢纽，通过以太网连接调制解调器。但 Mesh 系统还包含可以放置在家中各处的卫星节点，以扩展 Wi-Fi 覆盖范围。Mesh 系统表现为一个单一的网络，当你在家中走动时，它会自动决定何时将设备连接切换到信号更好的节点。

Read our Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems guide for our top recommendations. These models can ensure strong Wi-Fi throughout large, busy homes. If you have a home with thick walls or building materials that interfere with Wi-Fi, and a relatively large footprint (3,000 square feet or above), a mesh system is likely your best bet. Mesh systems can also be great for adding coverage to dead spots or extending Wi-Fi into your garden. 阅读我们的《最佳 Mesh Wi-Fi 系统》指南以查看我们的首选推荐。这些型号可以确保大型、多设备家庭拥有强劲的 Wi-Fi。如果你的房子墙壁较厚或建筑材料会干扰 Wi-Fi，且面积较大（3000 平方英尺或约 280 平方米以上），那么 Mesh 系统很可能是你的最佳选择。Mesh 系统也非常适合消除信号盲区或将 Wi-Fi 扩展到花园。

Pros

Wider coverage
You can eliminate dead spots
You can connect distant devices via Ethernet
Easily scalable

优点

覆盖范围更广
可以消除信号盲区
可以通过以太网连接远距离设备
易于扩展

Cons

More expensive
Not suitable for smaller homes
Require multiple power outlets
Can cause issues with some devices

缺点

价格更贵
不适合小型住宅
需要多个电源插座
可能会导致某些设备出现兼容性问题

How to Get the Most From Your Mesh

如何让你的 Mesh 系统发挥最大效能

For best performance, mesh nodes should be connected to the main mesh router with Ethernet cables (wired backhaul), but that’s not always possible, so they can also connect via Wi-Fi (wireless backhaul). The main mesh router and nodes should be placed out in the open; don’t put them inside cabinets or behind TVs. 为了获得最佳性能，Mesh 节点应通过以太网线连接到主 Mesh 路由器（有线回程），但这并不总是可行的，因此它们也可以通过 Wi-Fi 连接（无线回程）。主 Mesh 路由器和节点应放置在开阔处；不要将它们放在柜子里或电视机后面。

When placing your mesh nodes, think of your system as a Wi-Fi spine for your home. Rather than placing nodes in a dead spot, place them halfway between your main router and the area you want to cover. If they are too close together, you can end up with interference problems, but if they are too far apart, the connection between router and node will be slow or patchy. The manufacturer’s app will likely guide you about good placement. 在放置 Mesh 节点时，将你的系统视为家中的“Wi-Fi 脊柱”。不要直接把节点放在信号盲区，而是将它们放在主路由器和你想覆盖区域之间的中间位置。如果它们靠得太近，可能会导致干扰问题；但如果距离太远，路由器和节点之间的连接就会变慢或不稳定。厂商的应用程序通常会指导你进行合理的摆放。

Should You Choose a Router or a Mesh System?

你应该选择路由器还是 Mesh 系统？

There’s a lot to weigh before deciding whether to buy a mesh system or a single router, but it’s important to note that mesh systems are not necessarily always better. If you can cover your home with a single router, that is the best option. Better coverage is the only reason to opt for a mesh. With a mesh, the system must make decisions about when to hand off connections and how to direct traffic, and this adds a layer of complexity. 在决定购买 Mesh 系统还是单体路由器之前，有很多因素需要权衡，但必须指出的是，Mesh 系统并不一定总是更好的选择。如果一台路由器就能覆盖你的家，那这就是最好的方案。更好的覆盖范围是选择 Mesh 的唯一理由。使用 Mesh 时，系统必须不断做出关于何时切换连接以及如何引导流量的决策，这增加了一层复杂性。

Some mesh manufacturers are better than others when it comes to routing traffic and providing a stable connection. Netgear and Eero are especially good on this score. If you have smart home devices, such as a Sonos system, for example, some mesh systems don’t handle them well and may drop speakers from the network or prevent you from seeing or controlling them via a phone connected to a different node. There are potential snags that you won’t get with a single router. 在流量路由和提供稳定连接方面，一些 Mesh 厂商的表现优于其他厂商。Netgear 和 Eero 在这方面表现尤为出色。如果你有智能家居设备（例如 Sonos 系统），一些 Mesh 系统可能处理得不好，可能会导致音箱掉线，或者让你无法通过连接到不同节点的手机看到或控制它们。这些是单体路由器不会遇到的潜在麻烦。

Consider also that you always get much slower speeds from your nodes than from the main mesh router, unless they are connected via cables. Mesh routers connected wirelessly to nodes must use some of the available bandwidth for traffic between them. 还要考虑到，除非通过线缆连接，否则你从节点获得的网速总是比从主 Mesh 路由器获得的要慢得多。无线连接到节点的 Mesh 路由器必须占用部分可用带宽来处理它们之间的通信流量。