For a virtual workshop in a three-storey house, start by assessing a multi-node mesh system rather than choosing a single router for its headline speed. Place nodes where they can serve the floors you use, and consider Ethernet backhaul between nodes if cabling is practical: TP-Link says it provides a faster, more reliable connection than wireless backhaul for its Deco systems. Check the workshop connection in the room where you will attend, because broadband performance and other household activity matter too.
If the workshop room is away from the broadband entry point, consider where mesh nodes can be placed and how they will connect to one another. A strong signal beside the main router alone does not establish the connection in an upstairs or downstairs room.
Ethernet runs between floors may allow a wired connection between mesh nodes. TP-Link says Ethernet backhaul is faster and more reliable than a wireless link between its Deco units; check the wiring requirements of the system you choose.
If a workshop runs alongside ordinary household internet use, consider the number of active devices and the broadband service before deciding whether tri-band hardware or multi-gig ports are relevant. Three-node dual-band systems include the TP-Link Deco BE22 and NETGEAR Orbi 370 RBE373.
For a virtual workshop in a three-storey house, identify the main obstacle—reaching the workshop room, linking nodes between floors, matching capacity to use, or connecting to the existing broadband equipment—before comparing mesh specifications.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Connection across floors | Check the included node count and plan positions that can serve the workshop room. Treat stated coverage areas as starting points, not room-by-room guarantees. | If my workshop is upstairs while broadband enters downstairs, I need a usable connection where I sit. Around 36% of consumers put cross-floor reliability first. |
| Node-to-node connection | Check Ethernet-backhaul support and whether usable cabling connects the floors. Confirm the model's required wiring layout. | With Ethernet already running between floors, I would rather use it than rely on a wireless hop between nodes. Roughly 29% of consumers prioritise a steadier node-to-node connection. |
| Proportionate capacity | Compare the exact pack size, dual-band or tri-band design, and port speeds with your broadband service and connected devices. | If the workshop shares the network with everyday household use, I want coverage without choosing port or wireless capacity I have no plan to use. Around 21% of consumers make proportionate whole-home capacity their primary concern. |
| Broadband compatibility | Identify the existing connection type and check the mesh system's operating modes and setup requirements. | Before changing my home network, I need to know how the new units connect to my ISP equipment. About 14% of consumers put straightforward compatibility and setup first. |
A maximum Wi-Fi speed does not tell you what the connection will be like in a workshop room beyond floors and walls. A single router may still suit some layouts, but its speed figure cannot settle the coverage question.
Mark the broadband entry point and likely workshop rooms. If coverage is weak on another floor, consider where additional mesh nodes could maintain a usable connection, then test from the workshop device.
The connection between mesh nodes matters as well as the signal between a node and your device. TP-Link says Ethernet backhaul is faster and more reliable than wireless backhaul for Deco units.
If cabling is available, check that the chosen system supports Ethernet backhaul and follow its wiring instructions. Otherwise, place wireless nodes where they can still receive a good connection from the network.
Running cable between floors or adding a compatible switch may require extra equipment and installation work.
ASUS notes that building materials, construction and network traffic affect actual Wi-Fi coverage and throughput. A pack's stated area cannot establish how it will perform in a particular workshop room.
Check which pack size the figure describes, plan node positions and test the connection on the hardest-to-reach floor.
A mesh system cannot supply internet bandwidth beyond the broadband connection. Zoom's application guidance also varies by call type and video setting.
Check upload and download performance from the workshop location during normal household use. If the internet service is the bottleneck, assess it separately from the Wi-Fi equipment.
The Deco range includes dual-band and tri-band whole-home mesh systems relevant to connecting rooms on different floors.
The Orbi 370 RBE373 is a three-unit, dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh option for distributing Wi-Fi across the home.
The ZenWiFi BT10 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh option for consumers considering multi-gig wired connections and network controls.
These three-unit mesh systems are options to consider when a workshop connection needs to reach different floors. Node placement and the connection between nodes remain important whichever model you assess.
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Consider this three-unit system if you want to place mesh nodes on different floors and may be able to connect them by Ethernet.
Dual-band Wi-Fi 7; 2.5 Gbps Ethernet. NETGEAR lists optional wired backhaul for the RBE373.
Plan the node positions and check reception in the workshop room; the stated coverage is not a guarantee for your layout.
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Consider the BE65 if several devices share the network and multi-gig wired connections are relevant alongside workshop coverage across floors.
TP-Link lists four 2.5 Gbps ports per unit and combined wired and wireless backhaul for this tri-band model.
Check the workshop-room connection after placing the nodes. For a typical fibre or cable service, confirm that the required ISP modem or ONT is available.
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Consider the BE22 if three-node coverage is the priority and you do not need the BE65's tri-band design or multi-gig ports.
TP-Link describes the BE22 as a dual-band system with Gigabit ports and states coverage of up to 6,500 sq ft for the three-pack.
That coverage figure does not guarantee a connection on every floor. Check the planned node positions and whether Gigabit ports meet your wired-device needs.
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Consider this three-unit mesh kit if you plan to place nodes on different floors and prefer the Deco app setup route.
Before choosing it for a wired inter-floor link, confirm Ethernet-backhaul support for the exact BE25 pack and check how its nodes should be connected.
Plan to check reception where the workshop will take place; a three-pack alone cannot establish coverage in a particular house.
It depends on the workshop platform and how you participate. For a 720p group video call, Zoom lists guidance of 2.6 Mbps upload and 1.8 Mbps download for its Web App. Check the platform you will use and allow for other household activity; a Wi-Fi upgrade cannot increase the bandwidth supplied by your broadband service.
Not necessarily: TP-Link says a Deco system typically connects after the ISP-provided modem or optical network terminal for fibre or cable service. Identify your connection type and check the chosen mesh system's supported operating mode before changing the existing setup.
If suitable cabling is available and the mesh system supports Ethernet backhaul, it gives the nodes a wired connection rather than a wireless one. TP-Link says Ethernet backhaul is faster and more reliable than wireless backhaul for Deco units; follow the chosen model's wiring rules.
TP-Link's Deco instructions start by connecting one unit to the modem with Ethernet and completing setup in the Deco app, then adding the other units. Check the instructions for the exact model and operating mode, and place the additional units where they can maintain a useful connection to the network.