SMART HOME TECH
inksys was
hot off the
blocks in 2017,
launching
one of the first true home
Wi-Fi mesh networks.
In truth, we found the
original Velop system
to be pretty buggy and
the nodes suffered from
numerous dropouts. But
superfast broadband
wasn’t built in a day...
and now Linksys has
something new.
The AXE8400 system
retains the brand’s usual
straight-up tower-like
design, only now it packs
in Wi-Fi 6E technology
for blazingly fast speeds
and superspreading of
the good sort: bandwidth.
In fact, Linksys says it
can manage the demands
of more than 65 devices.
The catch is that it’s very
expensive indeed – about
a grand for a three-nodepack – but then, each
node is supposed to
be good for 3000ft 2 of
coverage, and the system
has another special trick
up its sleeve...RING MY BEL
Back in 2013, Belkin
bought the Linksys brand
from Cisco Systems. How
exciting! But it’s relevant
now because lurking inside
the AXE8400 are motion
sensors that work in
tandem with Wemo smart
plugs and Belkin smart
speakers, creating an
expanded home security
system to alert you to
intruders when you’re
not there.
It’s worth noting that
the AXE8400 is also
backwards-compatible
with previous versions
of the Velop series – so
even though they won’t
be Wi-Fi 6E certified,or feature the motion
detection tech, that won’t
stop the spare nodes from
coming in handy to kill
dead spots.
Linksys says the
system will work with
all UK broadband providers
and tag on nicely to hubs
supplied by the likes of BT,
Virgin Media and Sky; but
you definitely need to ask
yourself if you really need
yet more nondescript
boxes cluttering up the
place – even if makers
are increasingly doing
their best to make mesh
nodes a bit more pleasing
on the eye.
Just to be clear, we’re
talking about cutting-edge
connectivity that really is
completely unnecessary
for a lot of people right
now; but as a taste of
things to come it’s pretty
exciting... if you really,
really like Wi-Fi, that is.TP-Link Deco
X20 AX1800
Not to be confused with
a network of cookie
jars, the cylindrical Deco
system is Wi-Fi 6-ready,
WPA3-protected and
compatible with Alexa.
Each node is good for
200m 2 of coverage and
TP-Link, the mad buggers,
reckon it’s been tested
to connect over 150
devices without affecting
performance.
from £107 / tp-link.com
Google Nest Wifi
Not to be outdone for
sheer lunacy, Google
reckons one Nest Wifi
point can handle 200
connected devices and
is fast enough to stream
multiple 4K videos at once.
In a nice touch, each node
doubles as a smart speaker
and is good for 120m 2. As
it’s Google, setup is simple;
you don’t get Wi-Fi 6 but
you do get WPA3.
from £129 /
store.google.com
Asus ZenWifi
Each ZenWifi node will
cover a massive 2750ft 2
and, unlike a lot of the
offerings here, is available
in white or black. Wi-Fi 6
and WPA3 are both on
board, and a lifetime
subscription to Trend
Micro’s cybersecurity
tools is included. That’s
plenty of poke for the
price – and the overall
design doesn’t scream
‘IT manager’ either.
from £220 / asus.comNetgear WiFi 6 Orbi
Scoring four stars in last
month’s issue, the Orbi
system is multi-gig-ready
and can also handle
hundreds of devices.
It comes with top-level
cybersecurity, though
that’s only free for the
first year. Castle-owners
will be pleased to know
it’ll cover 4000ft 2 , and
it works with Alexa and
Google Assistant.
from £700 /
netgear.co.ukLinksys AXE8400
from $450 / linksys.com
Getting blanked by your broadband in the far reaches of the
living room? Might be time for some mesh network nodes...
BOOSTERS
ALTERNATIVELY...
L
Mesh networks are
designed to eliminate
Wi-Fi black spots by
placing a network of
range-extending nodes
around the home, giving
your signal a more even
spread and greater
stability. If your router
is already reaching parts
other broadband routers
can’t, you’re fine as you
are, no real need to read
on, see ya.
Some providers like BT
and Virgin offer their own
mesh network add-ons
with select packages thatwork specifically with their
home hubs; other router
makers incorporate mesh
smarts into their modems
to tempt you into staying
with the same brand if you
expand your network.
In truth, it doesn’t really
matter which network you
opt for as most will work
with your provider. They’re
not exactly cheap, but
could come in cheaper
than a kneejerk reaction
to upgrade your broadband
package: faster speeds
won’t mean goodbye to
Wi-Fi dead zones.HOW TO MESH THINGS UP