The days of getting a single router and then filling in Wi-Fi dead zones with an extender might be finally over. But you'll definitely need more than one unit to work effectively, as individual Google Wifi units have shorter ranges than those of any other mesh-router system we've tested. You'll also need a phone or tablet, and a Google account, to set them up. We can recommend Google Wifi over the and systems, which are similar to Google Wifi but more expensive. Each Google Wifi unit is small and can be hidden on a shelf or a window sill. Design With a diameter of 4. They're tiny compared with the Netgear Orbi's 8. There's an array of five antennas four Wi-Fi and one Bluetooth arranged around each device's circumference. Each Google Wifi node is rated to cover 1,500 square feet, more than enough for most apartments and small houses. Three Google Wifi devices can, in theory, cover a 4,500-square-foot home. You can connect up to four satellites, making up to five broadcast points in total, to cover extra real estate. Google Wifi doesn't require any knowledge of networking, the internet or of computer technology. You will need a Google account, however. On units acting as extenders rather than routers, both Ethernet ports can connect to local devices or directly to the router unit, if you have enough cable to hardwire the nodes. If you use such a device, you'll have to trade up to a networked one. Because each Google Google wifi 4 pack unit is physically identical, any one of them can be set up as the router in a mesh-router configuration. Google Wifi is also backward-compatible with Google's earlier router, the OnHub, so one or more Wifi units can be added as a node to extend an OnHub's range. Like the roughly similar Eero mesh-router system, the Wifi lacks the latest technology for satisfying several clients at once. It uses Wi-Fi radio and control chip. Google says the internal network created among three or more nodes is a true mesh network, in that each node is equal and you can send signals between satellite nodes without going through the router node. In our own testing, we were not able to confirm or disprove this, but whereas some mesh systems' signals jumped all over the place, the Wifi was stable and consistent. Using IxChariot software, Purch Labs' real-world testing showed that a single Google Wifi device could deliver a combined throughput of 464. Compared with other single mesh-router units, those numbers are respectable but not spectacular. Percentages indicate change from 5-foot measurement on same device. However, at 150 feet, a single Google Wifi device could deliver only 33. No other mesh system we've tested showed such a steep drop-off past 100 feet. Again, if you get Google Wifi, you'll google wifi 4 pack to get more than one. The Google Wifi's signal showed little deterioration when penetrating walls with metal shelving, thick soundboard and ceilings, although the Eero showed even less. Percentages indicate change from 15-foot line-of-sight measurement. The Wifi perked up when its units were placed in complicated configurations scattered among multiple rooms on two floors. With the router set up 30 feet and one wall away from a satellite node, and the Purch Labs test laptop located one floor up, directly above the satellite, we read 189. That's a lot more than the Eero. Percentages indicate change from line-of-sight tests at same distances without extensions. They're in a different league. Second three tests add extensions to same configurations. Percentages indicate change in data throughput between two sets. In an old suburban home with lots of thick walls, a single Google Wifi unit, acting as a router, had a range that reached as far as 105 feet. By comparison, the Eero reached only 65 feet, The Google Wifi network easily covered the 3,500-square-foot, three-story home in two different configurations, with range to spare. Purch Labs test involving Google Wifi router at corner of workspace. Red indicates strongest signal, blue weakest. Credit: Purch Labs We first set up one node acting as a router in the middle of the home's main floor, with the two other nodes acting as extensions in the basement and second floor, directly above and below the router. Then we put the router node in the basement and the extensions on the main and second floors. Purch Labs test with Google Wifi router at corner of workspace, and one satellite node in center. Red indicates strongest signal, blue weakest. Credit: Purch Labs Either way, the network delivered between 60- and 95 Mbps of download speed out of a potential 100 Mbps as measured by Speedtest. Purch Labs test with Google Wifi router at corner of workspace, one satellite node in center, and another satellite node in opposite corner. Red indicates strongest signal, blue weakest. The audio came through loud and clear, while the video was smooth without dropped frames or skips. Purch Labs test with Google Wifi router at center of workspace, and satellite nodes in opposite corners. Red indicates strongest signal, blue weakest. Credit: Purch Labs Setup, Warranty and Support In a world where every new mesh-router kit tries to simplify the setup process further, Google Wifi nearly takes the lead. It doesn't require any knowledge of networking, the internet or of computer technology. You will need a Google account, however. After plugging the Google Wifi device I planned to use as the router into an electrical outlet and my broadband modem, I loaded and opened the Google Wifi app on my iPad Pro tablet. The interface quickly creates a Bluetooth connection with your phone or tablet. After you sign in using a Google account, the app finds the device and asks you to select the device's location or type one in. Finally, you need to come up with a network google wifi 4 pack and a passcode. The network started doling out data after a quick restart. Adding the mesh extensions took 5 minutes each. At the end, the software presented me with a summary of the settings and performed a network test. All told, it took 15 minutes to fill my house with data. The Google Wifi mesh kit includes a one-year warranty and a slew of online resources that range from videos and tips to mesh tutorials. On the downside, there's no manual with detailed instructions. The main screen monitors the network, shows that your extensions are connected and lets you adjust a guest network's settings. At any time, you can run a network check. However, there's no way to interact with a voice assistant, whereas most mesh-router systems can accept basic Amazon Alexa commends. The Network Settings are rudimentary, however, compared with those of some traditional routers, having only the abilities to restart the router, do a factory reset and add another extension. It also lacks controls that are standard on high-performance traditional routers, such as the ability to adjust the transmission strength and change the channel width. If you have any Wi-Fi-enabled devices built before 2002, you might have to connect them to the router via Ethernet. Google Wifi automatically updates its firmware as needed, something google wifi 4 pack many mesh routers, and more regular routers are beginning to do. Unlike some other modern home wireless routers, Google Wifi lacks parental controls. You can't cut off excursions into the dark side of the online world by blacklisting websites or categories. Nor can you limit individual users' hours of online use. The Google Wifi also doesn't screen out known malicious websites, which the current and upcoming and security routers do. Because it lacks parental controls, a detailed settings menu or a desktop administrative interface, the Google Wifi may not for everyone — but it is for those who want to set up a mesh-router system without thinking about it too much, or without busting their budgets. Credit: Google This past Christmas replaced our AirPort Extreme as Apple google wifi 4 pack the product last year. You really do not want a product no longer being developed. Youngest daughter could never stream video in her bedroom and now she can. Purchased the Google WiFi three pack and highly recommend. The ability to turn off Internet, not only WiFi, at certain times or kids is also a nice feature. The home is a 1730 Sqft rancher, so the three pack is a bit of an overkill, but hey it works. Unfortunately here in Canada, we only have access to Google WiFi, and Linksys Velop, no Eero. I like the fact that Google can push out updates, especially if there's a zero-day venerability, as long as they don't break anything!.
