However, in the last few years, another name has joined that list, having very quickly risen up the ranks of having the best wireless products. Over the past decade, several companies have risen to the top of the pack in regards to wireless networking technology, and several are very well known, especially the companies from which the previous two reviewed Wi-Fi signal boosters have come from. But even taking them into account, the NETGEAR EX6120-100UKS earns its "essentials edition" title that the people behind this device has assigned to it. As they are now, the indicators are a bit too bright, glowing in the dark like small little beacons and potentially distracting some people. What we'd like to see improved next time are the LED indicators. With its all-white housing and grey panel, this compact unit will mesh wonderfully with modern settings, both homes and offices. Even though its specs might suggest otherwise, this device is compact and discreet even by the company's high standards regarding form factors. Range-wise, this device covers at least 1,200 square feet (~110 square metres) and can juggle around 20 different gadgets/devices like laptops, tablets, smartphones, IP cameras, IoT devices, speakers, you name them. Going in the opposite direction, this device will just as well let you set up a new AC Wi-Fi access point or extend an existing Wi-Fi connection. With this connection, you can stream 4K content and game at the same time knowing that you will not be lagging. First things first, the tech is there, including the FastLane™ technology that will let you use both Wi-Fi bands simultaneously, establishing one extra-high-speed connection.
The NETGEAR EX6120-100UKS represents and embodies almost everything that NETGEAR has been about the last two decades or so. It's a bit more expensive than most but the range makes it a great long-term investment. Taking all of the above into account, the TP-LINK AC2600 (RE650) is easily the best WiFi extender on the market for people who would like to cover the largest possible area with a strong and reliable wireless signal.
The blue one symbolises a weak connection and the red one indicates a bad one, so it won't be difficult to find the perfect spot for the device. The extender utilises a couple of LED lights. After that, the engine just leaves it to the model's powerful dual-core CPU to take care of everything else.įinally, we would like to give some attention to the simplicity of the setup.
It sounds like one of the most complicated technologies but, in reality, the engine simply directs the WiFi traffic to dedicated processors. There's also the far less common Intelligent Processing Engine, a solution that works by balancing the demands of every device in order to keep every WiFi connection as fast and smooth as possible. This type of communication is particularly great at maximising the performance of every device involved, regardless whether they're running at the same time or not. For instance, there's the usual MU-MIMO, a technology that allows the extender to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously over the same WiFi band. With its intuitive user interface, you'll get to quickly assign guest privileges, schedule the network, and manage the device.Īside from the range, the model in question is defined by all of the network technologies. Using the latter, you will be able to set up and manage your wireless network. Speaking of things that are always present in TP-LINK products, this WiFi extender is also compatible with the TP-LINK Tether application. This way, it helps strengthen the wireless performance of your office or place of residency. As some of you may already be aware at this point, Beamforming works by detecting the direction of the WiFi connections and focusing the wireless signal towards them. Just like most high-end and middle-of-the-road routers and extenders from TP-LINK, AC2600 utilises the latter technology to further improve and extend its already ridiculous range. While we're still on the subject of coverage, it wouldn't hurt to mention the Beamforming technology. The antennas do not just create a signal that is equally strong and reliable but also minimises dead spots, so you will be receiving a stable and solid signal in any corner of your house or the office.
Naturally, with a range like that, this is one of the very few models on the market and the only extender in this review that will be able to cover a large office or the largest houses. Using the 4 external built-in antennas, the model extends the WiFi coverage by up to 14,000 square feet. The TP-LINK AC2600 is all about its ridiculous coverage area.