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DebbieLW
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- Review count3
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- First reviewNovember 17, 2015
- Last reviewAugust 26, 2016
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- Average rating4
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DebbieLW's Reviews
Eliminate spotty coverage and dead zones. The AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender forms a wireless connection to your router and brings a Wi-Fi signal into areas that your router cannot reach. It also reduces signal interference to ensure reliable coverage throughout your home or office.
Customer Rating
4
Compact Range Extender With Ethernet Port
on August 26, 2016
Posted by: DebbieLW
*This is a review of a free sample obtained through the TP-LINK Reviewer Program*
I have a large house, and I'm always looking for ways to extend my home network signal so that I can stream seamlessly wherever I am, even outside. While this TP-Link RE350K is not my favorite TP-Link extender, it has some advantages over other extenders that might make it more desirable for other people and their network needs. Plus, the Kasa app alone, used on a smart phone to configure the range extender, creates a useful and easy interface that is excellent for the non-technologically inclined, provided that they are tech-aware enough to have a smart phone.
The basics of this device is pretty much what everyone would need: it extends two bands, one 2.4 Ghz and one 5 Ghz, and creates a good range beyond what your router can do. Once established, the connection is pretty stable, although I've experienced a couple of brief drops that may be more of a function of my internet provider since this is something I've seen on other devices. It has LED lights on the side to indicate its connections. It also has one gigabit ethernet port to connect a device that needs to be hardwired to the network, essentially tricking the device into believing that it is connected directly to the router. You configure via the Kasa app, and then you can move it anywhere within range of the router by plugging it into a wall outlet. It takes 2-3 minutes to boot up.
One of the RE350K's advantages is a low profile for an extender. I have mine plugged into the lower portion of the outlet, and it doesn't block access to the upper one. Some extenders hog the whole outlet because of their size -- it only takes an extra 1/2" to make an outlet unusable. This extender has another advantage: it doesn't have visible antennae, so it's a compact box that measures roughly 4.5" h x 2.75" wide x 1.75" deep.
I was already familiar with the Kasa app because I have some TP-Link smart plugs, so I might have taken to it more quickly than others might. Even so, it's really simple. You just add the router by pressing the + sign and following the directions. It takes about 5 minutes to set up the extender on your home network. You can later see a list of devices that are using the extender, determine if it is appropriately placed, and change its name.
The one thing that I don't like about this extender is the inability to extend my network with the same name -- that is, to be a repeater -- so that my devices at the outer reaches of my home will automatically connect. I have to manually select the extended network. That would be okay for a stationary device such as a TV or game console, but it causes problems when, say, I want to play music from my computer to a set of remote WiFi speakers or when I want my outside WiFi cameras to have a boosted signal even though the base station is connected to the router. I've tried to delete the device and rename the bands during the configuration process; however, that doesn't seem to be an option.
Most people will be buying an extender to bring a strong signal to, say, a smart TV or to have WiFi access in a guest room, and the RE350K is excellent for that. Those who are wired like me and who want to have devices at opposite sides of the house on the same network should look elsewhere.
My Best Buy number: 6035350228
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Eliminate dead spots in rooms with weak Wi-Fi coverage with the RE450. It installs easily and delivers blazing-fast dual-band AC1750 Wi-Fi across your home for HD streaming and gaming in any room.
Customer Rating
4
Easy-To-Set-Up But Large Plug-In Extender
on March 10, 2016
Posted by: DebbieLW
(This is a review of a free product received by TP-LINK as part of the review program.)
This dual--band TP-Link network extender is incredibly easy to set up and requires no special knowledge on the part of the user. All I had to do was plug in the extender, press the sync button on my router, press the large round sync button on the front of the extender, and wait for them to connect on the 2.4 GHz band. To connect to the 5Ghz one, I only had to repeat the procedure. After I had both bands connected to the extender, I could move it anywhere in my house within range of the WiFi network in order to amplify the signal in previously weak signal areas of my house. (The WPS set-up requires close proximity to the router, and if you can't get close enough, TP-Link provides a web browser method of connection that's almost as easy.) I plugged mine into an outlet against an interior outer wall so that I could move an outside security camera that requires an extra strong signal farther from the house. It works perfectly.
The extender has three antennae, including one in the middle that can be slid up and down to fit into a tighter location. It also has a gigabit ethernet port to directly connect a device that requires hard--wiring to a router. All you have to do it use the included ethernet cable to connect to the extender's port, and your device becomes wireless and instanty on your home network.
Any extender is going to slow the network connection a tiny bit by virtue of the hand-off; however, even when I'm streaming, I cannot detect any lags. Once my device is connected to the network through the extender, it behaves just as it would anywhere else in the house. The connection to my home network has been so far stable and reliable.
My only complaint is the size of the RE450. Whether I place it on the top or the bottom receptacle of an outlet, it blocks both. In a house full of electronics and lamps, I resent that I've now lost one of the few places I could plug in my vacuum cleaner. Other TP-Link extenders have plug outlets, and other extenders are smaller. I wish TP-Link had gone one way or the other with this one.
For those of us with larger homes, network extenders are essential, especially for streaming or surfing the web in areas far from the router, and this TP-Link version works exactly as it should. You can use it with any brand router (I tested mine with both a TP-Link and a Netgear router). As long as you place it within your router's range -- the lights on the front glow blue when the signal is strong enough -- you will get increased coverage without noticeable lags.
My Best Buy number: 292881192
I would recommend this to a friend!
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12of 12voted this as helpful.
Keep up with the advancing world of Wi-Fi. This TP-LINK Google OnHub router connects to over 100 devices at the same time, learns what bandwidth each device or task requires, and automatically upgrades to the latest features and security settings, for a far-reaching, high-performing home network.
Customer Rating
4
Perfect for a Non-Tech Person/Simple Network
on November 17, 2015
Posted by: DebbieLW
(This is a review of a free product received from TP-LINK as part of the review program.)
This TP-LINK hardware and Google app software router is a breeze to set up as long as you have an Android or iOS smart phone and a Google account. All you need to do is download the app, plug the OnHub router into your modem using the included ethernet cable, and plug the router into a wall outlet. The app finds the router for you and guides you through the few steps to set it up and get it online. After that, it's as simple as connecting your devices to the OnHub by selecting the new wireless network on each. I had my new network working in less than fifteen minutes, including waiting for a firmware update to download and install.
The network speed is good, and the range is best for a small to medium-size residence, although you can always increase the range using a Wi-Fi extender. The router has one ethernet/LAN port for hard-wiring a computer or device and one USB port for content. If you are replacing another router, you might want to rename the OnHub to match your old network name and use the same password, provided both are safe, to maximize the number of devices that will connect automatically. I could not find a WPS button for easy connections to devices, and that could cause problem for devices that use that protocol exclusively.
You must have a Google account/email address for this to work, and fortunately, that's free. As most people know, however, Google accounts come with a price -- data mining -- so if you are super-sensitive about privacy, stay away. If you have an Android phone or tablet, you are already on Google, so there's nothing to lose. Besides,supposedly Google collects the data anonymously. It's not like Google will hack into your home network.
This router also has a speaker, which took me by surprise when I was setting it up, although I don't know if you can play anything through it. Maybe someday. After all, it looks a lot like Amazon's Echo.
I love that the OnHub has a small footprint and that it will update its firmware automatically so you don't have to do anything. The interface and settings are relatively bare-bones, and that means that the non-technologically-inclined won't be confused by what certain settings mean and what to do with them. The flipside, of course, is that the technologically-demanding will find it lacking. The OnHub isn't made for that group, though, and it isn't made for households with multiple teens doing online gaming. It's a good router for those who don't want to think about what a router does and who want their new wireless network up-and-running as soon as possible.
My Best Buy number: 2949509217
I would recommend this to a friend!
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