![]() It also lets you check your network speeds, from both your ISP to the modem and from Google Wifi to your device, and the strength of signal between each node. The app walks you through setting up a new network, naming it, securing it with a password, and placing the Wifi units throughout your home. Setting up the Wifi system is done through Google’s new Wifi app for iOS and Android (formerly the OnHub app). (This is essentially the same hardware found in each Eero point.) The Wi-Fi hardware in each unit isn’t especially remarkable, but when you have multiple points in your home, the need for each one to be high-powered diminishes. ![]() It is secured with the standard WPA2-PSK protocol. Under the hood, the Google Wifi has AC1200 2x2 Wave 2 capabilities and supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac networking. It also doesn’t have a USB port to attach a storage drive for media or backups, which many routers provide. That’s about it for the Wifi’s exterior hardware - unlike traditional routers that might have multiple Ethernet ports, the Wifi needs a network switch to expand its port selection (just like the Eero). On the bottom of the Wifi unit is a power port and two gigabit Ethernet jacks: one for an internet connection from your broadband modem and a second to attach hardwired devices, such as hubs for smart home products. There’s a lone light between the two pucks that indicates status - blue for setup, white for connected - which can be disabled via the Google Wifi app. It’s about twice as tall as the Eero’s squircle, and can be best described as two hockey pucks that have been painted white and stacked on top of each other. Fortunately, Google Wifi does: each unit is a compact, unobtrusive cylinder that can be tucked away on a shelf or counter and doesn’t look like a piece of computer equipment in the middle of your living room. But since mesh systems work best when they are out in the open and spread throughout your home, they should look somewhat nice. The Google Wifi units are designed to live politely in your home Photo by Dan Seifert / The Vergeĭesign has always been an afterthought with traditional routers, taking a backseat to functionality - and that has meant big, ugly designs with spidery antennas. Google Wifi, while not the fastest system I tested, hits a good balance between speed, coverage, ease of use, and cost, which makes it a compelling option if you’re looking at a mesh router system. It’s an ideal candidate for a mesh network system, and all three systems provided much better coverage than a single router has in the past. Though my home isn’t especially large, it presents challenges to traditional routers, thanks to older construction and lots of walls. To put Google’s claims to the test, I compared it to Eero and Orbi in the same environment. I’ve spent the past week testing a three-pack of Google Wifi in my modest, two-story home. Additional units can be added for coverage beyond that. Google says a single unit can cover a 1,500-square-foot home, while a three-pack will span a 4,500-square-foot residence. That’s a lot less than the $499 Eero asks for a three-unit setup and still cheaper than Netgear’s well-reviewed $399 Orbi, yet it makes many of the same promises. Google Wifi, which is hitting stores today, is sold individually ($129) or as a three-pack ($299). Easy guest network setup and parental controls are also part of the Wifi pitch. In addition, Google designed the product so that it can be easily set up via a smartphone and managed and controlled remotely. Google Wifi also leverages both clever hardware design and cloud-based intelligence to make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi signal throughout your home, no matter its size, construction, or layout. First of all, Google is making it directly. But Google Wifi is different from what Google did before. Google says that the Wifi system is the product of three-and-a-half years of work - and it has previously released a router, called the OnHub.
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