Zyxel Multy WiFi System allows you to quickly set up and monitor your WiFi network using the Zyxel Multy app. You can install two or more Multy Devices in a Multy WiFi System, also called a Multy Site, to extend the range of your existing wired network without additional wiring.

The table below explains the terms used in this User’s Guide:

Multy Devices can act either as a primary Multy or an extender Multy. As shown in the next figure, a primary Multy (PM) is connected to a modem or router. An extender Multy (EM) connects wirelessly to the primary Multy to expand its range. See The Assigned Roles in a Mesh Network to know which Multy devices can be used as a primary Multy or extender Multy.

You can manage your Multy Sites and Multy Devices (MD) using the Zyxel Multy app, as shown below.

In the following example, the first Multy Device connects to the router to act as the primary Multy (PM), while the other Multy Devices are extender Multys (E1 or E2) to expand WiFi coverage. The extender Multys help relay communications from WiFi clients to the primary Multy and router.

Multy devices include the following:

Maximum Data Rate” refers to the sum of the bandwidths of all WiFi signals (2.4G, 5G, and 6G) emitted by the Multy Device. The Quick Charge function is a fast charging technology that allows you to charge your device through a USB port within a short period of time.

A Mesh network is composed of three key components.

(A) The primary Multy works as a controller to manage and optimize the Mesh network.

(B) One or more extender Multy in the Mesh network function as WiFi extender to extend the WiFi communication range.

(C) Multiple client devices connect to the Mesh network for Internet connections.

The next table shows which Multy Devices you can use as extender Multys for a given primary Multy.

The following table shows the role of router and extender of the Multy Device in the Zyxel Multy app.

The primary Multy functions as a network controller to coordinate and optimize WiFi activity In the Mesh network. The controller collects Channel Availability Check responses and scan reports from the Extender Multy. Then, the controller selects the best channel and the final optimized topology based on the current situation.

The Mesh network uses AP steering and Band steering mechanisms to improve WiFi performance.

AP steering allows WiFi clients to roam seamlessly in a Mesh network. Band steering allows 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz dual-band WiFi clients to move from one band to another less busy band. For AP steering to work, the controller and the devices in the Mesh network must use the same SSID and password. For band steering to work, the SSIDs and passwords of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz must be identical.

See AP Steering and Band Steering for more information. The controller synchronizes the SSIDs and passwords during auto-configuration.

The Primary Multy connects to an Extender Multy using WiFi. You can place the Extender Multy between the Primary Multy and the WiFi clients who require WiFi but are not in the coverage of the Primary Multy.

IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax compliant clients, such as notebooks, tablets, and smartphones, can wirelessly connect to the Multy Device to access network resources. WiFi clients can use the 2.4 GHz band for regular Internet surfing and downloading while using the 5 GHz or 6 GHz band for time sensitive traffic like high-definition video, music, and gaming.

A Dual-Band WiFi System emits one 2.4 GHz signal and one 5 GHz signal. A WiFi 6E Tri-Band WiFi System emits one 2.4 GHz, one 5 GHz and one 6 GHz WiFi signals. A WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 Tri-Band WiFi System emits one 2.4 GHz WiFi signal and two 5 GHz WiFi signals. When your Multy Device (MD) is not paired with another Multy Device, you can set up the additional 5 GHz WiFi network for WiFi connection. When your Multy Device is paired with one or more Multy Devices, the additional 5 GHz network is solely dedicated for data transmission (WiFi backhaul) between Multy Devices, primary Multy (PM) and extender Multy (EM), to improve transmission speed. See Differences Between Multy Devices for the frequency bands your Multy Device model supports.

See Overview for Multy Device models that support WiFi 6/WiFi 6E.

WiFi 6 is a WiFi standard that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands and brings the following improvements over WiFi 5:

WiFi 6 allows faster data transmission using:

WiFi 6 increases transmission performance in crowded places, such as a campus or a company office, that have multiple client devices using:

Beamforming – forms the radiating signals into one direction. This enhances the signal strength and extends the signal transmission range.

TWT (Target Wake Time) – The Multy Device negotiates with client devices so client devices only wake up and communicate with the Multy Device in specific periods. This conserves the battery life of WiFi client devices.

WiFi 6E is an extended standard of WiFi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax). WiFi 6E inherits all the WiFi 6 features and brings with an additional 6 GHz band. The 6 GHz band allows you to avoid possible congested traffic in the lower 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. WiFi clients must support WiFi 6E to connect to the Multy Device using the 6 GHz band.

AP steering allows WiFi clients to roam seamlessly in the Mesh network. AP steering helps monitor WiFi clients and drops their connections to optimize the Multy Device bandwidth when the clients are idle or have a low signal. When a WiFi client is dropped, it has the opportunity to reconnect to an AP or WiFi Extender with a stronger signal.

In the following example, the controller (PM) (Primary Multy) drops the connection between the client device (C) and the Extender Multy 1 (E1) so that the client device (C) can connect to the Extender Multy 2 (E2), which has a stronger signal.

Band steering allows 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz dual-band WiFi clients to move from one band to another. The controller (MD) detects if the client device are dual-band compatible. If a client device supports dual-band WiFi and the 2.4 GHz band is congested, its 2.4 GHz connection is dropped so that it can connect to the less congested 5 GHz band.

In the following example, the Apple TV is a dual-band client device that uses the 5 GHz band.