Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi: An Affordable and Low-Cost App for Streaming, Internet Use and Searching for Newcomers
A three-pack of Vilo’s mesh Wi-Fi system is priced incredibly low at $80 and does a good job of covering your space in Wi-Fi. It’s a system designed for basic internet use and streaming, and not for a household with multiple online gamers or 4K streams. The Vilo app can be frustrating at times but once you have your system set up, you shouldn’t spend a lot of time using it. If you need a bare-bones network and don’t want to spend a ton, Vilo surely gets the job done.
Regardless of whether you have a single access point or three, the core features remain the same. You have a dual-band band. Multiple radios inside your access points carry your data to and fro at higher speed, known as wi-fi 6. On the back of each Eero 6+ unit, you’ll find two Ethernet ports, which allow you to connect a secondary unit to Ethernet (if your house is wired for it) as a hardwired system, which can help boost performance.
You can connect a device that is near the access point using the ports on the other side of the network. If you have an older PC that doesn’t support the new 6mbps wireless standard, you can connect the PC to the Ethernet port on the back of the Eero 6+. and it’s now getting faster internet without having to upgrade any components on the PC.
The app will let you know your wireless network name, add any additional Eero access points, and begin a 30 day free trial of Eero Plus, which adds additional features to the Eero offering.
You can restrict certain websites, apps or services for specific user profiles with an active subscription. You can set time limits for your kids and have a profile for your devices so you can keep an eye on them.
Also part of Eero Plus is the option to block ads as you browse the internet. The ad blocking feature works well but is not as good as running a homemade PiHole server, but it does a good job at blocking ads, speeding up websites and preventing tracking.
Speedtest.net: Designing a Wireless Router for a Multi-User, Ranch-Structured Home
Over the course of a few weeks, we tested a three-pack of the Eero 6+, one unit in the basement of a ranch-style home. A second unit was placed upstairs on the opposite end of the house, with the third unit in a detached garage.
During testing, we consistently saw speeds around 700 Mbps on our smartphones using the Speedtest.net app. The speed results would drop the further away we got from an access point, but that’s to be expected.
Often times there would be two to three gaming PCs connected and actively playing games — think Fortnite, Roblox, and Call of Duty — while Netflix or Hulu were streaming 4K content on a TV.
There were no instances of lag or buffering when using a gaming PC or smart home connected devices, even when everyone was connected and active.
The Eero 6+ is very much a set-it-and-forget-it system. Once turned on and devices started connecting to them, there wasn’t a whole lot of management or worry on our part. We could either set up profiles and block things as we wanted in the Eero app or we could just let the network run.
The testing pool was created based on current standards and the expertise that we have with products on the market. We designed testing that would make a fair comparison.
We began our analysis by taking a closer look at everything from the packaging and labeling of the hardware to the instructions. We wanted to make sure we used the right interface for setup, such as whether it was a web page to visit, desktop app or a purely mobile experience. The process of placing the routers should be helped by the suggestion that where they should be placed and the strength of the connection.
After we set up the network, we took a look at the included features. Do we need to sign up for the monthly plan, or do parental controls come out of the box? What security protocols and protections were in place before the begining of the project?
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/best-mesh-wifi-router?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Designing the best mesh wifi router for smart home: A comparison with Zen WiFi AX (XT8), Asus and other high-performance devices
We used several speed tests and benchmark to see if connectivity is in a quantitative format. After those benchmarks, we measured the performance in a qualitative manner with our everyday workflows on a plethora of devices. We also stress-tested with more than 100 devices on the network at any given time. In the realm of smart home, we looked at what extra connectivity was included inside the router.
In our first round, the ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is the most advanced mesh networking system. And Asus has taken the kitchen sink approach here — it’s a tri-band system with a single lane for 2.4 GHz and two lanes for 5 GHz. If you want to split up the networks, you can either use a single network or combine them. There is a built in virtual private network that will allow you to access your home network when you are at the coffee shop. It is also possible to create automations with the website If This Then That.
The XT8 will block malicious sites, allows for parental controls and will even let you designate which device or content types should be prioritized across your home network. Each access point supports an external hard drive for network access, which, if combined with VPN features, will put your files at your fingertips no matter where you are.
The overall interface for managing the network is the sole complaint about the XT8 that we have. There are so many options; this system is clearly designed for someone who is comfortable with managing a network, and even then it’s still somewhat intimidating.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/best-mesh-wifi-router?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Nest Wireless Mesh Networking & Smart Things: the Linksys Velop MX4200, the Linkys Atlas Max 6E, and Plume SuperPods
You can also use those same groups to block access to inappropriate websites. It is easy to start using Nest Wireless and it is also for people who do not know a lot about technology. It is a set-it-and-forget-it mesh networking system.
It can be used to connect to and control any SmartThings product or service, along with many other accessories and devices. Smart Things has support for two Z-Wave protocols; it allows compatible devices to connect directly to the hub, adding to its feature set.
The Linksys Velop MX4200 is an original and useful version of the Linksys’s original wired and wireless mesh networking system, with helpful features like support for network hard drives, and three gigabit ports on each access point.
You can tell the system to prioritize a device if you need to ensure you don’t break up during a video call, for example, or if you want to be certain your gaming session is getting all the bandwidth it needs. You can also set up basic parental controls, like pausing internet access on a specific device, setting a schedule or blocking specific websites.
The Linksys Atlas Max 6E hits all of the marks for a Wi-Fi 6E system — a wide 9,000 square foot coverage area, support for over 195 devices at the same time, and speeds up to 8.4 Mpbs. Our testing showed the system can indeed put out impressive speeds (though we don’t have the capabilities to test its full potential), and coverage was slightly above average. We did have to adjust our placement but it was not something we often have to do. For instance, if your kids are like us, and they have multiple devices, and you have to manually adjust individual devices all the time, it gets tiring.
The Plume Super Pods are very easy to set up and will give you better wi-fi coverage in your home. You could opt to use a single SuperPod as a traditional router or pair it with additional pods for a full mesh system. Either way, Plume’s $99 per year HomePass subscription service takes care of optimizing the network, blocking malware and ads, and gives you access to parental controls. In addition to managing your network for you, HomePass also doubles as a home security system; the Pods have built-in motion sensors that can alert you if something or someone is moving in your home — and it’ll even include the name of the room where the movement has been detected. It’s really cool and all of this aims to let you forget about your network setup.
In our test setup, we used five SuperPods to cover a two-story home and a detached office. Each Pod also features two Ethernet ports, which is handy if you prefer a hardwired connection, say for a smart TV or computer or gaming console.
The Netgear Orbi AX600 supports the current Wi-Fi 6 standards and features some smart home connectivity. But you’re paying a lot of money for the AX600: $999 for a two-pack.
For that price, it’s a tri-band experience and 6 Gbps-capable router (which translates to 6,000 Mbps in total). You will need a really fast connection from your service provider. You should go for the Eero 6E system because of its high price point.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/best-mesh-wifi-router?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Orbi vs Netgear: A Super-High Performance, Ultra-High Power, Dual Role Wi-Fi for the Smart Home
Like the Eero and SmartThings Wi-Fi, there’s a companion Orbi app that hides a majority of security and parental control features behind a monthly plan. Netgear has partnered with Circle for parental controls here. It was recommended that we went with the system that has the best balance of price and performance.
That said, this system is fast and powerful and definitely something we’d urge you to consider if it wasn’t so expensive, or if you have the budget and need for its ultra-high performance.
Samsung’s SmartThings Wi-Fi launched in late 2018 and hasn’t received a hardware update since. Aside from its mesh networking capabilities and the fact that it can support up to 32 different hubs, the most notable aspect of the system is its dual role as a smart home hub.
Welcome to the weekend, dear readers! Microsoft’s forthcoming, ChatGPT-powered browser and Nintendo’s latest Direct event may have dominated the news cycle as of late, but there were a number of headline-grabbing discounts peppered throughout the week. We wanted to highlight some of the highlights you might have missed, so we’d go ahead and include them in the weekend recap.
AirPods Pro: The Lowest Lowest Wireless earbuds at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Amazon (A review)
First up is Apple’s second-gen AirPods Pro, which have returned to an all-time low of $199.99 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. They are a great set of wireless earbuds if you already have an Apple account. They support the company’s spatial audio feature, swipe-based controls, and sync across iCloud devices, while offering noise cancellation that’s on par with Sony’s more recent earbuds. They can’t quite compete with Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II on the ANC front, but their appeal lies in how well they pair Apple-friendly features with terrific sound quality. You can read our review.