Google Wifi

Google adds its name to the roster of manufacturers making mesh Wi-Fi routers. Jonathan Bray compares Wifi to its rivals.

- Jonathan Bray

If you’ve been following our reviews in recent issues of Web User, you’ll have noticed the arrival of ‘mesh’ Wi-Fi routers, which use two or more devices to create a better spread of coverage around your home – and it looks like they’re here to stay. We reviewed Netgear’s Orbi in Issue 415 (bit.ly/issue415), Devolo’s GigaGate in Issue 417 (bit.ly/webuser417) and BT Whole Home Wi-Fi in Issue 419 (bit.ly/issue419). All these devices use multiple base stations to create better Wi-Fi where you need it.

Google Wifi, however, is different for a number of key reasons. First, it uses the 802.11s mesh Wi-Fi standard,which Google says isn’t being used by any of the other residential mesh routers. This is something Google has been working on with the IEEE standards body since it began the Google Wifi project some four years ago, and it brings with it a number of benefits over the proprietary systems employed by other vendors.

The most important advantage is interoperability. As yet, no other manufactureris using the 802.11s standard, so only Google’s Wifi boxes work with the system, which means they include a degree of future-proofing: if you buy Google Wifi now, you may be able to upgrade your network by adding less expensive devices later on.