![]() The Eero’s relatively low price means that it’s not the fastest mesh system - in fact, the information provided by Eero simply states “best for Internet speeds of up to 500Mbps” - which is a bit confusing, as that actually refers to the speed of your broadband connection rather than the speed of the Eero itself.īut, as mentioned, the Eero 6 actually supports a maximum speed of 1800Mbps, which is more than adequate for my 100Mbps broadband service. It’s also important to remember that Wi-Fi 6 is about capacity as well as speed, and the Eero 6 is designed to stream data efficiently to up to 75 different devices all at once, which should keep even the most gadget-crazy homes happy for years to come. It doesn’t take long to get started with the Eero 6, as the Eero app for iOS and Android can use Bluetooth on your mobile devices to connect to each Eero unit and guide you through the set-up process (the only minor oversight is that the app does assume that you already have Bluetooth turned on).Īnd, as the app automatically creates a single network that combines the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands you merely need to enter a single name and password in order to quickly set up the new network. Within 30ft, three partition walls: 12.0MB/s Within 30ft, three partition walls: 100Mbps/11Mbps ![]() Within 5ft, no obstructions: 100Mbps/11Mbps There’s no ‘QoS’ option - quality of service - that can give priority to devices, such as a games console, that need maximum performance, and while the app does dangle additional features under your nose for parental controls, ad-blocking and security, it turns out that these features require an additional subscription costing either $2.99 per month ($29.99 per year) or $9.99 per month ($99.00 per year), depending on which features you require. However, that ease of use comes at a cost, and other aspects of the app can prove frustratingly limited. The app creates just a single network that combines the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands, and while that helps to keep the initial set-up nice and simple, it may also deter more experienced users who prefer to have separate networks on those two bands. You can also create a guest network for visitors, and set up schedules to control Internet access for different family members. The Eero app is straightforward and easy to use. There’s a built-in speed test that allows you to check the performance of your new network, and even to monitor the data usage of each device on the network. Since our original review, the Eero 6 has been updated to support Apple’s HomeKit, making it a much more useful device for people with lots of Apple devices in their home. The two ‘extender’ units don’t have Ethernet at all, which is a little disappointing, but is an understandable compromise in order to keep the price down (US customers do have the option of buying a kit with three routers, giving you two Ethernet ports each, although that brings the price up to $349.00).Īmazon has clearly got its eye on the smart-home market, as the Eero supports both Alexa and the Zigbee networking system, so if you have existing smart devices that use the Amazon Home app - such as the popular Echo speakers - it’s easy to transfer them across to your new Eero network. One of the two has to be disabled to prevent this from happening.Just remember that one of the Ethernet ports will need to be connected to your existing modem or router in order to use your Internet connection, so you just have one Ethernet port available for a wired connection on a laptop or games console. Essentially, your mesh network and traditional router fight over who gets to direct your internet traffic. When you combine the two, you risk “double NAT,” short for double Network Address Translation. As long you place the nodes strategically, you’ll have a connection. As you go around your area, the nodes stay in contact with your device and each other, maintaining a signal at a higher strength. Mesh networks work by placing “nodes” around a space, with one node connected to your modem to serve as a router. This signal can be pushed further with Wi-Fi extenders, but it still has a range that fades. Traditional routers have an area of effectiveness think of them like a radio station, where the further away you get, the weaker the signal becomes. ![]() In most situations, you’re probably better off removing or disabling your current router, yet if you need to keep it, you can still use mesh networks. Can You Add A Mesh Network to an Existing Router?Īdding mesh networks to an existing router is possible, but it may not be the best option.
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