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DaveTheRave

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 22, 2003
805
419
I'm looking at Eero as an example. I noticed that some mesh routers are tri-band, and the extenders are dual-band. Can someone explain why you would want to extend your network with only dual-band instead of tri-band? I thought the tri-band helps speed up the network and you would want that everywhere. If the extender can't receive the third band then why bother? Seems like the product descriptions don't explain this part very well. Thanks.
 
From what I know, one of the tri-bands is only used for dedicated backhaul connection between mesh routers - right?

I can't speak to extenders - they tend to be crap anyways, not carrying full strength signals.
 
The 3rd band in tri-band mesh routers is for the dedicated backhaul, which is used to transfer data between the primary router and the secondary extender routers. Having a dedicated backhaul is good as it's not tying up the bandwidth that your wifi devices also use transferring data between routers.
 
The 3rd band in tri-band mesh routers is for the dedicated backhaul, which is used to transfer data between the primary router and the secondary extender routers. Having a dedicated backhaul is good as it's not tying up the bandwidth that your wifi devices also use transferring data between routers.
But if the extenders don't have the 3rd band then how is it considered mesh?
 
Last edited:
But if the extenders don't have the 3rd band then how is it considered mesh?

Mesh refers to the network’s topology. Basically the router and extenders talk to each other to get broad coverage over the whole area and users only see a single WiFi network whoever they go. Irrespective of whether its a tri-band with dedicated backhaul or not. I’ve got two routers in a mesh with a wired backhaul (but annoying its not trivial to use the third band for client WiFi - on Asus - can be done but fiddly).
 
OP asked:
"But if the extenders don't have the 3rd band then how is it considered mesh?"

This may not apply to eero, but -some- mesh systems DO have three radio bands in all units.

Among them are the Netgear Orbi and Linksys Velop (at least certain models of each).

You have to check manufacturers and models to see which is which...
 
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