Why Orbi Mesh WiFi and Nighthawk Routers Have Become Smart Home Staples

Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular for families and individuals seeking the modern perks of developing tech. What once seemed possible only in tech-forward ‘90s movies has quickly become a real possibility with everything from connected cameras to smart thermostats. As a result, strong, reliable internet has become a hard-to-come-by necessity for daily tasks throughout the home.

Yet as new connected devices continue to pile up on the system, strain on the home network becomes an issue, and occasionally even a liability. Traditional routers still haven’t caught up with the increasing demands of home networks, often resulting in coverage and security flaws.

Orbi Mesh WiFi saw that gap and set out to come up with a solution. Rather than relying on single-router systems, Orbi Mesh WiFi uses multiple nodes to reach every inch of a home with a steady, consistent WiFi without falling into the trap of dead zones. To round out the coverage, Nighthawk Routers ups the ante for the performance of draining tasks like 4k streaming and online gaming.

Of course, a VPN can also be a vital privacy and security measure, keeping personal information safe within your connected household.

In 2022, the average US household had 22 connected devices, which doubled the 2019 stat [Deloitte, 2022]. To keep up with the influx of connected tech, reliable whole-home WiFi coverage is necessary to keep the home functioning. Traditional routers often fail in that department.

Yet Mesh WiFi systems combat this issue by using several nodes around the house that offer consistent coverage no matter where you are in the house. With modern tools like smart doorbells, Wi-Fi-run appliances, and cameras, this full coverage lessens signal drop-offs that can harm security features.

Imagine a family living in a 3-story home struggling with dead zones affecting their smart cameras and thermostats. After switching to an Orbi Mesh system and activating a NETGEAR Armor VPN, the family finally enjoyed full coverage, as the upgrade added a layer of encryption.

Nighthawk Routers are all about performance. So, how do they manage it? Multi-gig ports are used for quick, wired connections, quality of service (QoS) controls for traffic prioritization, and beamforming to guide steadier signals to connected devices. The reduced lags and buffering can improve everything from video calls to gaming and streaming. Between multiple users and devices fighting for bandwidth attention, these features can turn what might become a rage sesh into a seamless and reliable internet experience.

Speed and cybersecurity go hand-in-hand to create a functional home internet. The need to protect devices and data is stronger than ever, with 40% of smart homes contending with at least one cyberattack [Statista, 2023]. Given that VPN-enabled routers encrypt all network traffic, threats like hacking and identity theft are much more challenging.

David Mason, Director of Enterprise Security at Darktrace, insisted, “As smart home adoption grows, so does the need for better network security.”

Consumers are also getting with the program, with Mesh WiFi systems seeing a 50% increase in use year-over-year [IDC, 2023]. Steady and secure WiFi stopped being a luxury a decade ago. Now, it’s up to consumers to ensure their home infrastructure is supported on every level.

What is Mesh WiFi, and how is it different from a traditional router?

Mesh WiFi uses several nodes throughout your home to deliver seamless coverage, eliminating dead zones. Traditional routers rely on a single device that may not effectively cover larger spaces.

Why do I need a VPN on my home router?

A VPN encrypts your network’s traffic, protecting your data and connected devices from cybercriminals.

Are mesh systems hard to install?

No. Mesh systems like Orbi are designed for easy setup and are often guided through mobile apps with automatic updates to keep everything running smoothly.

Can Nighthawk Routers handle gaming and streaming?

Yes. To optimize bandwidth, Nighthawk Routers are built for high-performance tasks, high-speed connections, multi-band support, and QoS features.