Mesh Wifi LAN with Apple Airport hardware?

For streaming with AirPlay, you just need three things:

1. An AirPlay "server." Typically this will be iTunes (OS X or Windows) or the Music app (iOS).
2. TCP/IP. This protocol runs over wired or wireless connections. AirPlay is an IP suite that runs on top of TCP/IP. What networking device that provides this shouldn't matter ... so whether or not, you go with a wireless mesh network, won't matter either. Where using AirPlay becomes an issue is if you have a network configured with multiple subnets. Parts of the AirPlay suite, by default, are not routable.
3. An AirPlay "speaker." This can be an AirPort Express, an Apple TV, or a third-party AirPlay-enabled device. Should Apple pull out of the router market, this would only affect the Express.

I have been trying to understand what the difference is with mesh networking. How is this different than using Apple Airports to wirelessly extend a wireless network? There's still only one physical ethernet cable for the main Apple Router.

Am I missing something here or have I been using mesh all along and it's not until recently it's been given a name for current networking devices.

You have not been using a mesh network if you have been using Apple products. You have been using either an "extended" network if the AirPorts connect together using wireless....or....you have been using a "roaming network" if the AirPorts connect to the network using a wired Ethernet connection.

In an "extended" and "roaming" network the wireless access points use the same wireless network name, same wireless network security and same password. Wireless devices.....in theory at least....connect to the access point with the strongest signal.

Mac laptops seem to be able to do this pretty well, since they will usually automatically "switch" from one access point to another as the laptop moves from one area to another. But iPhone, iPads, most other mobile devices and most PCs will not this very well, if they do it all.

With these devices, it's usually necessary to temporarily turn off the WiFi when the device moves from one area to another, and then turn the WiFi back on......in the hope that the device will now pick up the stronger signal from the closer access point. Works most of the time....but not all of the time.

Mesh networks are designed such that each wireless access point....which is called a "node"......is always in communication with other access points, so the network can "track" devices that are connected much more effectively....and devices can switch access points more effectively. The access points in an Apple system basically ignore each other and leave it up to each wireless device to try to connect to the "best" access point. Not very sophisticated, but it can work OK if users realize the limitations.

Mesh networks were used primarily in commercial applications until recently, but several consumer systems have appeared on the market in the last year or two.

A bit more info here......http://computer.howstuffworks.com/how-wireless-mesh-networks-work.htm

Thanks for the explanation. The irony is the link you provided is the article I read before posting here. I have setup four Apple Airport Extremes for roaming purposes as you've described and each was a wired access point. I've also used them to extend a wireless network in places where I couldn't make the access points wired.

Some things that still aren't clear:

In a Mesh are nodes different names (SSIDs) to connect to unlike the model you stated or is it still one network SSID we connect to, but the nodes figure out which is best rather than the antenna/software of the client (laptop, mobile device, etc)?

If I am reading correctly that seems to be the ultimate benefit is that the client devices no longer have "hunt" for the best signal. I still can't make sense of how Mesh is better just yet, as it would seem no matter what kind of network one is using, wired, wireless, fiber, copper, that proximity is always king. If Mesh technology means that the nodes can somehow redirect (through amplification) the quality and speed of a signal to the client devices connected to a particular node (kind of like how some cars can direct more torque to certain wheels for better traction) than I would totally get the Mesh network.

In the readings I am doing online I am just not seeing that tidbit of info that really explains why it's inherently better, though I believe it is. It's like something is being left out about how it's actually working.

Reading your explanation again would it be fair to say that there's no real performance gain? It just seems that Mesh makes it easier to bounce around and roam per the coverage, but it's still using existing wireless networking standards and the principles of proximity still apply. So even if I am using an extended wireless signal and it's my strongest signal at that location, I am not seeing how the node would be any different other than me possibly not having to toggle my laptops's (or whatever device) wifi off and on. Though I've seldom ever had to do that with any of my Apple devices on my Airport Extreme network and performance has been great in a building with thick walls, and old paint (potential lead).

The additional trick will be how will I stream my iTunes music content to my non-wifi enabled table top stereo without Apple devices now that Apple is killing the airports. Hopefully there are mesh devices that support AirPlay and that iTunes recognizes. I currently use an Airport Express for that.

The bottom line pretty much is as I stated......

"Nodes" in a mesh network are in constant communication with other "nodes". The "access points" in an Apple extended or roaming network ignore each other.

The mesh network at DFW Airport seems to be working much better these days (or maybe a new iPhone is).....as I can now "walk" my iPhone from one end of the terminal to the other.....probably a quarter of a mile or more.....and the iPhone will switch nodes to keep a good strong signal.

If I walk my iPhone from my desk.....near one Apple access point.....to the den....near another access point.....the iPhone will almost always stay connected to the access point near my desk, even if I move it close to the access point in the den. If I turn the WiFi off on the iPhone, or switch it to Airplane Mode temporarily, then turn the WiFi back on, it will usually pick up the signal from the closest access point.

If I walk the iPhone around my neighbor's house, which uses one of the new mesh designs, the iPhone will switch access points as it moves about.

Great. That's what I got from your explanations than. Seems that mesh is a more clever way of maintaining a best signal-to-proximity connection and therefore not much else. Though that does help keep performance sustained, but not neccesarily better performance than if one just connected to an access point closest to them.

I guess I am spoiled. My apple devices with my Apple network seemed to work this way without issue for the most part and this is in a large area, but I see how Mesh is a slight bump up in convenience and reliability. Same tech, different application. So per the article I don't see the reason to upgrade yet until my devices fail.

I don't know if other's who don't primarily use Apple products have the same experience that I have and I realize the spaces these networking devices are in will dictate a lot about the performance. Someone used to using perhaps a less reliable wireless setup with client devices that struggle more than Apple devices may perceive Mesh as an absolute must and immediate problem solver.

I have bought 2 Amplifi mesh point units. They can work with apple airport base station.

They are working but the printer wich is connected with an airport station has some troubles

Also i wanted to use 2 eve homekit systems. they are located at both end of the house. The MESH wifi should work in the house but In one end of the house i cannot see the eve therm on the other end of the house

So it is not what i expected from a Mesh wifi connection

greeting

David

www.medischcentrumocta.nl

Loaded question that depends on what you mean by "mesh".

It's not hard to set up a "roaming" network with Apple devices, which is a form of "mesh" network. All of the AirPorts use the same wireless network name, same wireless security and same password.

The theory with this type of setup is that wireless devices can "roam" from one area to another and always stay connected to the same network while they switch to pick up the best signal from the closest AirPort.

This usually works pretty well with Apple laptops. But not so well to not at all with most PCs, iPhones, iPads, and other mobile devices.....a fact that most articles seem to leave out.

I have not tried a "mesh" solution from another vendor in my home, but since the "mesh" depends to a large degree on the operating system of the device that will be connecting to the network, I would be surprised if an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad would do any better on another vendor's product. Same for most PCs.

Most airports.......the ones with airplanes......have mesh networks installed. I can walk from one end of a terminal to another and my Mac laptop will automatically switch access points to pick up a stronger signal as it moves.

But, my iPhone will not do this.

And a bit more here on some of the systems that are targeted at the "home" market.

Wi-Fi Mesh Systems Compared: eero, Orbi, AmpliFi - The Mac Observer

Thanks. I was just looking into the eero.