Providing connectivity throughout your home can be a challenge if you're relying on one access point and Ethernet alone. If you have a small enough space, you can make it work, but it's not ideal if you have a multi-storey abode with all the walls that come along with it. The key to great connectivity is to implement a mesh network.
Mesh networks work with one central router that communicates with any number of nodes placed throughout your home. These nodes provide Wi-Fi connectivity to your devices by communicating with each other, making your proximity to the main router a non-factor. So, you might be thinking, the more nodes the better, right? Well, the truth is, it's a bit more complicated than that.
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Too many nodes can cause issues
Less is more, in most scenarios
The short answer is, yes, you could certainly have too many nodes in your mesh network. In the quest to reduce dead zones in your Wi-Fi coverage, adding too many nodes can degrade your network performance significantly. Mesh nodes communicate with each other to relay data, so having too many in close proximity can cause signal interference, resulting in slower speeds for you.
Your devices will also have a much harder time choosing the correct node for optimal speeds. They will often switch between multiple nodes if there are too many in the same vicinity, slowing your device to a crawl. This is especially true if you're using them on a congested band. If your neighbors are using 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, it might be worthwhile to at least choose 6GHz-capable hardware so that your signal is uncontested.
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How many nodes is too many?
It depends on the layout of your home
There comes a point where adding additional nodes to your network won't actually improve coverage, and that point will be a little different for everyone's home. Most mesh network nodes will provide some guidance on how many should be placed in a certain vicinity, but placing them strategically based on your needs is a good way to go about it. You don't need more than one per room in most cases, and you'll want to avoid putting them on walls that face outside. This prevents signal from spilling outside, but in some cases it can be beneficial.
For example, if you need coverage in your living room, but also want some connectivity when you're outside on the back deck, placing it on the wall that goes to the outside can be a good way to split the difference. In some cases, depending on the material your walls are made of, you may need to run a wired backhaul connection, otherwise your nodes could struggle to make a proper connection.
How many nodes do you need for your mesh network?
Not all homes or mesh routers are the same but there are some general rules to follow.
Don't go crazy with node placement
More isn't always better when it comes to placing nodes for a mesh network. In most cases, you can definitely get away with 2 or 3. If you live in a very large home, consider your node placement carefully before adding more, as it's easy to have overlap with a large amount of nodes. If you live in a smaller space and are struggling with network performance, a new router may be able to match what a mesh network could do for you. It all depends on your use case.