Mesh Wifi Google Wifi Vs Linksys Velop

[yasirfaheem]

Hello Helpful People of Neowin,

I am looking at two mesh wifi systems and wanted other people's opinions about them.  Google Wifi vs Linksys Velop Ac4600. I know the Google wifi is only a 3 node dual-band wireless ac system.  The Google Wifi is only SU-Mimo and wave 2 ac wifi standard.  The Linksys Velop Ac4600 from what i understand comes with one tri-band wireless ac node and two dual-band wireless ac nodes. The Linksys Velop Ac4600 is MU-Mimo and wave 2 ac wifi standard.  Other then that i cannot tell what else is different.  So does anyone have any opinions on which one is better and which one i should be leaning towards?

1 - https://store.google.com/product/google_wifi_first_gen

2 - https://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-VLP0203/

 

Thanks for all the help

Edited June 8, 2020 by yasirfaheem

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

Why not go with Ubiquiti? I don't know anything about mesh wireless, but it was reccomended here several times...

[MrUp]

I've had a 3 tower Velop since Feb 2017 and I love it. My house is 3 floors with a large outdoor area. I'm so happy I no longer have extenders and repeaters to get strong signal. Mesh is the best when you need coverage over a large area. Although the software to manage Velop is on the phone, you can use the browser interface via computer. The system will send a text message if there's a problem with one of the towers or if your ISP isn't delivering signal. I recommend it and would buy it again. 

Edited June 8, 2020 by MrUp

[+BudMan MVC]

You should be comparing apples to apples.. Can you even get 1st google any more? Can you? And seems you can only get that velop at costco?

 

The current google 2nd gen is mu-mimo and does actually 4x4, while the velop splits it to between the 2 5ghz radios..

 

Before you make your choice make sure your actually comparing current models, vs current vs old model..

 

I wouldn't get either for my home - but son just put in 2 nodes of the current google and is very happy with it, I have not to been to his new house to check out - he is in CA and Im in IL - and with all the travel restrictions and the lockdown our trip has been postponed.. He is not very techy, so if he said it was easy to setup - it is hehehe

 

I will have some hands on with it when I get out there.. I suggested he get unifi and point it to my controller so I could keep an eye on it for him.. But he went the google route..

 

 

[yasirfaheem]

I have both the google wifi mesh system and linksys velop mesh system.  Both bought at walmart.  I am still in the return period.  Right now my current setup is an apple airport time capsule 2tb 5th gen connected to my cable modem and in my living room i have the apple airport extreme 6th gen which it is wired connected to my time capsule using one moca adapter giving me a wired extend of my network.  One at the moca adapter at time capsule side and one moca adapter at the extreme side.  My internet from comcast is 120 download and 6 upload.  The time capsule is  Wave 1 802.11ac based on the IEEE 802.11ac Draft 3.0 with 3×3:3 (in each band). The extreme is Wave 1 802.11ac based on the IEEE 802.11ac Draft 3.0 with

3×3:3 (in each band).  I know mu-mimo only came out in wave2 ac.  So i do not have that right now. 

The google wifi is dual band wave 2 ac with su-mimo AC1200 2x2 Wave 2 Wi-Fi Capable Speeds: 2.4 GHz - 300Mbps 5 GHz - 867Mbps

 

the linksys velop is one triband and two dual band wave 2 ac with mu-mimo Wi-Fi Technology: Tri-Band AC2200 (867 + 867 + 400 Mbps)‡ with MU-MIMO and 256 QAM Dual-Band AC1200 (867 + 300 Mbps)‡ with MU-MIMO and 256 QAM Antennas: Tri-Band: 6x internal antennas and high powered amplifiers Dual-Band: 3x internal antennas and high powered amplifiers

How important is mu-mimo vs su-mimo?  Now you know why i am having a very hard time picking between the two that i bought or staying with the apple system i have now.  I know Ubiquiti is very nice but very costly and i am not looking to spend Ubiquiti money right now.  I right now live a condo.  Hope this helps give a better picture from where i am coming from.  Any help again is very appreciated.

[+BudMan MVC]

12 hours ago, yasirfaheem said:

My internet from comcast is 120 download and 6 upload

Then stick with what you have.. These new systems are not needed to support such a slow internet.. Unless your moving large files over wifi (why?????)

 

Your overthinking it!!! 

12 hours ago, yasirfaheem said:

the linksys velop is one triband and two dual band wave 2

No it isn't... Your trying to decide on devices that have tech that you don't even know what it does - do you???  They are just buzz words to you..  How many clients do you have?  Do you want to split different devices up to different radios so they can all get the most bandwidth... When you have 120mbps??  That some N300 router could handle...  You have zero use for triband then..

 

Do you clients currently get 120 mbps when going to the internet?  Then your system is fine.. No need to go spend $$ on a mesh system that has stuff you have no need for..  Be it su or mu-mimo or even quad band.. Non of that is needed to get 120mbps from your internet connection.

 

do you have like 50 clients in this "condo"  And they all need as much bandwidth as possible?

 

As to unifi - no sure wtf your looking at but you can pick up a AP for 80$  Sure you get a SHD AP and they are bit pricy - but you sure and the hell do not need security radio's for wifi ids in your condo