If your Wi-Fi signal is too weak to use in certain parts of your home, it’s probably time to upgrade to a mesh Wi-Fi system. A mesh system uses a series of nodes throughout your house to create a single wireless network, all of which share the same network name and password.
Many mesh systems are available, but today, we’re going to put the MeshForce Whole Home Mesh WiFi System M3 Suite through its paces. Can this sub-$200 mesh network rival some of it’s more illustrious (and expensive!) competitors? Keep reading to find out.
Specifications
- Wi-Fi Coverage: 6,000 square feet.
- Number of Devices Supported: 60.
- Bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
- Speed: Up to 300Mbps (2.4GHz) or 867Mbps (5GHz).
- Wi-Fi Protocols: 802.11n/g/b (2.4GHz) or 802.11ac (5GHz).
- Security: Mixed WPA/WPA2-PSK.
- Connectivity: 1 x Gigabit WAN/ LAN port and 1 x Gigabit LAN port.
- Status Notifications: 1 x Colored LED (green, red, and yellow).
- Maximum Supported internet Speed: 1,000Mbps.
- Size: 3.55 x 3.25 x 3.00 inches per unit.
- Color: White or matte black.
The Meshforce M3 supports PPPOE, dynamic IPs, static IPs, and bridge mode. Mobile apps are available for both Android and iOS. There’s also guest Wi-Fi availability and basic parental controls.
What’s in the Box?
Given the low price point, you shouldn’t expect a flashy unboxing experience. The package itself is 14.72 x 5.55 x 5.39 inches. Inside, cardboard protectors and plastic wrapping are the name of the game.
Open it up, and you’ll find:
- 3 x MeshForce M3s Wi-Fi points.
- 3 x Power adaptors.
- 1 x Ethernet cable.
- 1 x Quick Start Guide.
- 1 x Product registration document.
Design
Although the packaging might be slightly underwhelming, the complete opposite is true of the three nodes. You won’t find any ugly aerials, endless rows of LED lights, or silly design gimmicks.
Each unit is a slightly misshapen cube that’s approximately the size of two clenched fists. Aside from the solitary LED and MeshForce logo on the front of the units, they’re almost entirely plain. The devices’ tops have a slightly embellished finish, but it hints at premium quality rather than gaudiness.
Around the back, the three ports (WAN/LAN, LAN, and power) are discrete and slightly recessed under the M3s’ outer shells.
Setting Up the MeshForce M3s
Improving the coverage of your Wi-Fi network shouldn’t be a daunting task–and thankfully, the MeshForce products don’t make it one. You don’t need any networking or programming knowledge; the process is a simple as plugging in a few cables and downloading the app. You will be up and running in less than 10 minutes.
The first step is to choose the best location for your routers. The M3s use beamforming, meaning the signal strength will self-adjust depending on the receiving device’s location. However, there are a few best practices that will help to maximize your signal strength:
- Each unit must be within 32 feet of the next nearest unit.
- Keep the units away from microwaves and refrigerators.
- Avoid placing them next to other wireless devices.
Remember, one unit will need to be connected to your current modem using an Ethernet cable.
Once the nodes are in position and you’ve hooked up the Ethernet and power cables, it’s time to download the free app. Before you launch the app, connect your phone to the default mesh Wi-Fi network. You’ll find its details printed on the bottom of each node.
The app will automatically detect your connection type and prompt you to set a new network name and password. The additional mesh nodes should now be detected automatically. If not, you can use the mobile app to scan each unit’s QR code. It’s also on the base of the router.
Each unit’s LED light will glow green, yellow, or red, depending on the quality of the internet connection.
Testing the MeshForce M3s Network
So far, so good. But do the MeshForce M3s actually work? Will they improve your current Wi-Fi signal enough to justify the cost?
The answer is a resounding yes. I conducted some tests in my own home, and here’s what I found.
Current Wi-Fi Network Test Results
My house is all on one level and is shaped like a crescent. The router is at one end in the lounge, the office is in the middle, and the master bedroom is at the other end. All told, my Wi-Fi signal either must travel almost 30 meters and go through three interior walls or two exterior walls to get to my bed.
Here’s my current Wi-Fi signal’s performance in the lounge, office, and bedroom, respectively (taken using Android’s free Wi-Fi analyzer app):
For those who aren’t sure what they’re looking at, the decibels relative to milliwatts (dBM) score is the one to keep an eye on. Anything above -40dBM is an excellent connection; anything below -80dBM and you’ll struggle to stream or place VOIP calls. As you can see, the connection in my bedroom is on the cusp of being unusable.
Also, note how far the app thinks I am from my router based on the signal strength. The estimate for the bedroom is at least 20 meters out.
Mesh Wi-Fi Network Test Results
The Wi-Fi signal strength was greatly improved with the MeshForce M3s in place. I placed one unit by the router, one in my kitchen, and one in my office, creating a triangle shape across my home’s floorplan.
Here are the results from the same three locations in my house when connected to the mesh network instead:
The signal was -44dBm at the other end of my home, an improvement of exactly 30dBm on my old network, and more than enough to download large files, stream videos, and place VOIP calls. The office also saw a massive jump up to -17dBM due to the proximity of the mesh node to my laptop.
Other Noteworthy Features
Just because the MeshForce M3 suite isn’t a premium brand, it doesn’t mean you won’t find a few extra features that are worth checking out.
Remote Network Management
You can monitor and manage your mesh Wi-Fi network even when you’re away from home. That includes seeing if any nodes are offline, seeing who is connected to your network, and blacklisting users/devices as needed.
Parental Controls
If children use your network, you can restrict their internet access to reduce their screen time. However, it doesn’t let you block sites on a case-by-case basis. For that, you’ll need to download a full-featured parental control app.
Capacity Oriented Mode
Capacity Oriented Mode can restrict the available bandwidth if more than 30 devices are connected to your mesh network at the same time.
Ethernet Backhaul
Support for Ethernet backhaul means you can use a wired connection to join the mesh nodes together for even greater performance. Obviously, practical considerations within your home mean this won’t be possible for everyone.
Quality of Service (QoS)
Quality of Service (QoS) manages data on your network, giving the highest priority to the type of data that needs it the most. In practice, that means less packet loss and latency, and is thus ideal for gaming. You can enable QoS from within the MeshForce mobile app.
The Best Budget Mesh Wi-Fi System?
We think so, yes. Unless you’re a networking junkie, you’re not going to need the extra features that you’ll find on products from Google, Netgear, and Ubiquiti.
The plug-and-play nature of the MeshForce M3s means anyone can boost their Wi-Fi signal at a reasonable price and with no prior networking knowledge, and the system requires very little maintenance once it’s up and running. Overall, the MeshForce M3s come highly recommended.
If you’d like to learn more about mesh systems before taking the plunge, check out our article on how mesh networks can many of your Wi-Fi problems.