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Where to place mesh WiFi nodes
Updated
Put each extra node about halfway between the main node and the dead spot, out in the open, and no more than 50 feet from the next node when they link over the air. eero suggests 20 to 30 feet apart as the target. Keep nodes off the floor and away from metal, water and appliances.
- eero's suggested spacing20 to 30 feet
- Longest gap eero and TP-Link advise over the air0 to 50 feet
What the three makers say
| Topic | eero | TP-Link Deco | NETGEAR Orbi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spacing | 20 to 30 ft apart, no more than 50 | No more than 50 ft apart when wireless | Varies with your home. The satellite light tells you if it is too far |
| Height | About halfway between floor and ceiling | Same height as the main Deco. The placement guide calls 1 to 1.5 ft off the floor ideal | Table height |
| Link check | App guides placement | Aim for 2 bars in the app | Blue good, amber fair, magenta failed |
| With Ethernet between nodes | Spacing is more flexible | Spacing is more flexible | Not covered on the page we read |
The height advice differs by maker, so follow the one for the kit you own. On the rest they mostly agree.
Rules the makers share
- Halfway, not in the dead spot. eero puts it best: each node is a link in a chain toward the dead zone. A node in the dead zone has no good signal to pass on.
- In the open. Not inside a cabinet or media console. eero and NETGEAR both say this.
- Away from interference. Microwaves, fridges, metal furniture and shelves, fish tanks, mirrors and other glass, Bluetooth gear and cordless phones all appear on the makers' lists. TP-Link adds USB 3.0 devices.
- Fewer and thinner walls. eero says the fewer walls between nodes, the better. Doors help, since wood is easier to pass than plaster or brick.
A simple setup routine
- Start with the main node near the modem, out in the open. If you can move the modem to the middle of the house, eero says that one change speeds up the whole network.
- Place the next node halfway toward the far rooms. Check its link in the app.
- On two floors, stack the upstairs node above the downstairs one.
- Run a speed test next to each node. If a far node is much slower than the main one, move it closer or wire it.
For the number of nodes, use the node calculator. For long single story homes, see the ranch house guide. Kits are in the comparison, and the Deco X55 is where we would start for most homes. Its caveat: Gigabit ports only.