Very nice video. So many other UA-camrs measure performance incorrectly using Ooka Speed Test or Netflix Fast but you seemed to have done it correctly by measuring speeds from mesh node to client wifi device. You deserve more subscribers. I have to say, you enticed me to look at ASUS ZenWiFi ET12 (AXE11000). Do you also cover the feature set in the firmware of these routers? I don't know if you have a seperate video on this but that is something that interest me a lot. Particularly if multiple VLans are supported. P.S. I subscribed 👍
Thanks! No I don't cover the features in detail, maybe a glance over during the mesh review but I don't focus on it, especially with Asus, that would be a 4 hour video with the amount of options it has lol.
i used to have the google nest wifi and the best thing it ever did was die. i switched to the Asus AiMesh system where you can mix and match any routers you want that are AiMesh compatible. You retain so much more control and flexibility over your network and i'll never go back to one of these user friendly systems ever again.
How's it holding up? I'm looking for something for a gig fiber mainline and a bunch of gaming and streaming in a 3000 sq/ft house. Bouncing between this or the Rog 6. Lots of smart things, iot, gaming, and kids streaming. Thanks in advance!
@@jonathandyang it’s been incredible! I believe one time I was having a problem logging into the router homepage but I just factory reset the system and it was back to normal. I love having the ability to have wired ports in multiple rooms in the house. PC is hard wired in my office and so is the xbox in the living room
Outstanding video! I’m going with Deco e75. Just need pretty good speeds for streaming and zoom meetings . I’m not a gamer and don’t really need over 1g internet. Plus I’m switching from the Xfinity router and Xfinity pods where my pods max out at around 150 no matter where I put them lol
Thanks for this - just started researching what to replace my aging Apple Time Capsule -> Airport Extreme network with. The wireless backhaul is my most important factor since both our PC's are connected thru it. Thank you so much for your in-depth analysis which provided accurate speed tests.
I am running an Orbi Router + 3 Satellites with wired backhaul; with no issues to report. We have aprox 40-50 devices at any given time with parallel streaming and/or video conferencing. Would like more configuration options than what the browser offers but I realize there are some puts and takes with these systems. Great video, much appreciated.
Great video but I have one small critism.The reason companies dont bother putting more than a one 2.5gb port on most of these is because no one is daisy chaining these.Most prewired homes have individual ethernet cables running into a network closet into a multi gig switch which is how these tests would replicate a real world scenario.When you daisy chain them it steps down the speeds giving all the dual 2.5gb port routers an advantage that wouldnt be present in most real world scenarios because homes are just not wired that way.I do however whole heartedly agree on that if you pay close attention to the data the TP Link XE75 is very very hard to beat for the money.
Great info, thanks for sharing. I'm in your situation described, fiber mainline (1gb) into a inconvenient closet > router (nest) > Ethernet cables throughout the house. Lots of gaming, streaming, smart home stuff (hobbiest level?), cameras, etc. I was looking at the Rog 6 - what would you suggest? Thanks for your time
Great comparison review!. I am waiting for more options of a mesh system with 10Gbps port. Unfortunately Orbi is the only one for now and price is just too high. I saw that TP-Link announced its line of WiFi 7 routers and Mesh systems which should make some competition and hopefully prices start to get down. Cheers!
Changed out my Eero Pro 6 to the Orbi RBKE963. Wireless backhaul was terrible after the switch. My IoT devices were being dropped and failed to reconnect, over and over. Now after seeing your vid, I think I'll try the ASUS ET12 Pro.
That's strange. I had great numbers for the Orbi and the ASUS for wireless backhaul. You don't have a modem/router combo do you? If you do, make sure that router is disabled otherwise it can interfere with the signals.
@@landpet Thanks for that, man! Guess I had the double NAT issue. Followed your advice and disabled the router on the Nighthawk and things are all good! 👍
11 months of personal experience with the Linksys Atlas - DO NOT BUY. It's fantastic at first, but the connection randomly drops for multiple seconds throughout the day. Even after rebooting, optimizing the bands, or tweaking the limited configuration options, nothing resolves it. If you work from home or play online games, this is a nightmare with no known resolution or promised patch from Linksys. I could go on, but save yourself the money and go with any of the others in this review.
The Orbi is clearly made for business use, most home networks would never have 10g worth of uplink bandwidth so the price is fair for that purpose. In addition 10g routers and switches are similarly priced.
I went the Unifi route many years ago. Now I‘m considering going back to ASUS. The Unifi access points just aren‘t the best, quite bad actually, even compared to cheap Asus routers in my opinion :(
I've switched from Orbi 96× 6e mesh to Asus et12 - most impressed with Asus configuration options, granularity over orbi. +1 for better app UI and setup experience. Range improvement on 6ghz is significant too. Running just one node so far (about to deploy 2nd) and better service than my (3) node Orbi. Orbi 4th band doesn't add much real-world value that I've noticed. Plus, backhaul not configurable. Only the 5 ghz band. If you have 6e devices (I have 4) then you're getting bottlenecked by the backhaul.
I'm a person who knows pretty much nothing about all of this unless it works well for me or doesn't. You said something interesting that makes me wonder. I have the Google Nest Wi-Fi from 2 years ago. I have two routers in which one is considered the real router and the other one is hardwired from the router from the second floor to the first floor. Because we have so many walls, I added the extender point to the formal living room the backyard and the garage. Without them, I can't get internet in those locations because there are so many walls in our 35-year-old house. I did that because I thought each one could have the best direct line to the original one as possible and hopefully extend the network. You are saying something about the backhaul being bottlenecked. I wonder if that's a problem in my house given my situation. Any thoughts?
Nest Wi-Fi is a dual band so it won’t be as fast for wireless backhaul unlike a Triband or quad band system. Just as a heads up, there is rumor the new nest Wi-Fi pro is about to come out so I’m curious how well that will do
@@sharonhalter-day3334 this one is a little confusing. Google Nest is a smart hub, not a router, as I understand. My house was build in 1958, metal framed doors. Asus has been solid after learning curve. Small house but get coverage to backyard, etc. on (2) nodes - 6900 sq ft lot. When there's a discount will add 3rd node (single nodes on Amazon).
@@user-fq4fu2tm3n Thank you. I always say the wrong words for the items I am talking about when it comes to the tech world. lol Thanks for the clarification. I was talking about the web Google connected wifi routers that are called points. 😁
I have the TP-Link Deco XE75 (5 satellites) tri-band and using Wi-Fi 6E backhaul and it’s awesome. We have 2 acres and we get good Wi-Fi signal all over the property. No dead spots anywhere in the house, detached garage, river bank and road in front of property.
This was super helpful man. I specifically was looking for a good Wi-Fi 6e system with a dedicated 2.5Gb wired back haul and the ET12 looks like it fits the bill.
We have the Orbi Quad band, and it’s literally changed our lives. We pay for 2 gigs up and down and have 3 satellites in 4200 sf with wireless backhaul. Coming from google mesh.
So what you're saying is it's an option to have one of the more powerful ones as your router and maybe even hardwired satellite but then at the Google Nest to that? I wish I was more technology savvy and knew how to do that. I really hate my internet period we upgraded to the one gigabyte I guess that's what it is question mark we still get crappy downloads. I'm trying so hard to make this work and I'm so frustrated.
@@sharonhalter-day3334 no, you don’t want the google at all. Your download speeds will vary on location and equipment delivering WiFi. I highly suggest this WiFi router and nothing your internet provide provides you with.
Amazing detail of each mesh system. Also, curious of what you think of the new Synology rt6600ax router vs the Asus et12 mesh system? I was wandering what would have the most reliable connection when comes to connecting 46 plus devices which consists of computers, phones, iPads, game consoles, Smart TVs, and smart home devices. The mesh/routers would be connected via wired backhaul. The home is mixed with wood framed and one room has concrete walls.
Hello. I would like to ask you, which device you think would be better. I can buy both for the same price. Deco xe75 pro or asus xt8 ? Important for me is: range and stability. Many thx for info. :-)
The ET8 dropped to $299 on Prime Day, it has been really good speed wise in my initial testing today. At $299 it’s a huge bargain. Also speeds have been really good and in spite of initial fears, the satellite has been able to maintain it’s 6Ghz connection.
Question: once you plug one to the router, does that mean all your devices already connected to the actual router (not the mesh) will have to be disconnected and reconnect them to the mesh node that’s plugged in? Or can you leave those devices as they are connected via WiFi to the actual router and only connect new devices to the mesh router?
Having connection issues with my Eeros 6 Pro and giving up on this brand. Going to try the TP-Link AXE5400 Pro Deco. Hoping it has improved range and less conflicts with 2.4GHz devices.
I got the eero system. And it has worked like a charm. My home is about 4K Sqft and it has solved all my wifi issues. The thing I like about Eero is that it's a clean setup. I got the main with 2 beacons that you plug into a wall socket and they are out of the way and look very nice and you wouldn't even notice them if I didn't tell you they were there. Do these other systems have those? I haven't seen them. I've only see the plug in wall ones with Eero.
You can use any of these like that where you plug the main one as the router, then plug the secondary ones one or two rooms away. However they don’t have a beacon size equivalent where it’s something small that just goes to the outlet.
My biggest issue for eero is a lack of a web interface. I much prefer using my computer to manage my network. Plus the minimal number of Ethernet ports. Turns out a Google search a few days ago made my decision for me and I pre-ordered a TPLink BE900 WIFI 7 router to future-proof my network. Not to mention 10 Gigabit Ethernet which I can hook up to my MacStudio via a Thunderbolt adapter, and it still has another optical 10GBe port for the wired backhaul if I choose to have a second. But for now my NAS with 10 GBe will throw data at my Mac with a super fast connection. Plus four 2.5 GBe ports. All for $699. Ships March 15.
Thank You, very well presented. My Question, the Net Gear has 3 devices, the Asus had 2. Can you add extra nodes to the Asus system? I have a property that very long with multiple rooms. It's all Hardwired in Cat5e But I'll need 3 or 4 Apr (Nodes) just to get coverage
Great video. Question. I’m going wired back haul and trying to decide between x55pro with 2.5gb connection x3 satellites vs x75pro 2 satellites. I’m thinking that 3 sat will give be better coverage and therefore speed as ill always be closer to 3 sat than 2. Would you agree?
Future reviews should comment on whether the wireless backhaul is done over a dedicated channel and whether the mesh system supports separate SSIDs for channels.
Dedicated channels were used for wireless backhaul. The goal was to get the fastest speeds possible. Some support it some don’t. Appreciate the feedback! The issue is I’m trying to make the videos shorter so I skip some information like ping and jitter at the max distances, parental control demos and things like it. I’m trying to just get the main points across but even that’s lengthy since I’m going into detail the various connections and their resulting speeds.
Nice content brother I been watching your videos for awhile, So I have a Asus Rog rapture gt-Axe 11000 and 1 Asus Zenwifi pro ET12, I was think of Selling my Asus rog AXe11000 and getting another Asus zenwifi pro et12 to match, Do you think I will get better speeds or it won't matter?
Tough one to answer, I typically prefer the same model but your ROG has good specs already. I don’t know if I would switch in your case even if it offers a slight bump, probably won’t be drastic.
Thanks for great reviews. Q1 Will you be reviewing Tenda MX21 6E Mesh ? Q2 will you be discussing the benefit of using "Bridge Mode" in your Mesh setups ? Many thanks, Steve, from London.
Thanks for the great review, taught me heaps! I’m undecided on two systems and will be going wired backhaul for sure! Tp link deco xe75 pro or Netgear orbi rbk853. Tp is only attracting me because of price but I always thought the orbi was a better product.
@@landpet I have a few dead spots around the house and connection is inconsistent with just the ISP router. I bit the bullet and bought the orbi, straight away massive change and no drop outs plus it’s reaching the corner of the whole house, So thank you!
I'm looking to replace my WDS consisting of three Airport Extremes. What would be an economical set-up for connecting two wired LANs in two buildings approximately 75 feet apart with glass window line of sight? I'm sending my Spectrum signal that comes into my garage to my shop. The house and shop were wired cat6 to all rooms during construction. Currently the only devices on wifi are our phones and ipads. On the wired side there are approximately 22 nodes consisting of Macs, PCs, printers-all talking over gigabit ethernet.
Orbi performed better over wireless backhaul, so if you want the best possible, it would be the Orbi. They sell it as a 2 pack as well the RBKE962: amzn.to/3LuoU9q
Great review! What would the best mesh wifi for range with a wired back haul be? what would u recommend? the Et12 pro seems to be the best but we don’t have any wifi6e devices so wouldn’t it be a waste of the 6ghz band? would the xt12 be better because of the 5ghz band instead of 6ghz? also would the range on the xt12 be the same as the et12? what would you recommend.
Thanks! If you’re going wired backhaul and you don’t need crazy range, you can even go with the cheapest option in this list. Wired backhaul setups don’t need to be expensive since the Ethernet delivers a fast stable connection to every room. Now if your internet is faster than a gigabit, I would opt for the ET12 just to have fast wired backhaul throughout. I haven’t played with the XT12, I imagine it will be similar range to the ET12. You bring up a good point to go to the XT12 vs ET12 however unless you have a ton of WiFi devices that are going to operate on the 5GHz band, I would rather future proof and go with the ET12.
I have 1 gig Verizon which I use for gaming and surveillance cameras mainly. Which do you think I should purchase for faster speeds? I currently have the Amplifi Alien but returning due to no 6E
Depends on your budget and whether you plan on using wired or wireless backhaul. If you want the best and the price isn't important, go with the Orbi RBKE963. If you want really good performance for the price, go with Deco XE75 If you want a bit of both, check out the ASUS ET12 Pro, I also like the Deco XE200 (which I've reviewed but not in this video).
Great video as always thank you for the information. I was wondering if I could convert my cable wires that runs through the house to wifi and use it as a backhaul with the Asus? Plugging the main router in upstairs and a satellite downstairs or does the backhaul have to be a direct connection? And can it share the cable tv?
Thanks! Great question, yes you can use your coax cables as an "ethernet" backhaul for any of these mesh systems, to do this you need a MoCA 2.5 adapter. Google MoCA 2.5, they typically come in 2 packs, you need one on the transmitting side and the other on the receiving side. Essentially, one mesh node connects via ethernet in the MoCA adapter and coax goes out of the MoCA adapter through the walls then on the other side (downstairs or upstairs in your case) coax comes in to the MoCA adapter and ethernet goes out of the MoCA adapter to your other mesh node.
@@landpet O well looking at the fine print for the Screen Beam 2.5...... Non-Compatibility: Not compatible with Direct TV, Dish or other satellite TV, AT&T internet, or AT&T U-verse coax networks. Too bad I was all excited that I could do it without getting a cable to that area I guess I will have to rely on a wireless connection. Thanx for your help robert
hi landpet! thank you for excelent reviews in your channel, helps a lot! whats system mesh you use in this moment in your home? do you have a prediction to test the new deco be95 wifi 7? thanks!
No problem! I am currently testing the standard wyze mesh router, after that will be the asus xd5. Anyone of these would be fine for me since I run wired backhaul and I am currently under gigabit speeds. But I am planning on upgrading my internet speeds, so after that I would need one of the faster port options. I do plan on testing the Deco BE95 in the future.
I really enjoy your superb videos! Do you think that the TP-link Deco BE95 with Wi-Fi 7 is faster and better than the current Orbi? I would like to set up a wired backhaul in my home. My other router alternative is the Amplifi Alien, but the company has not said anything except to check their website for any newer models .....so I am thinking of getting the BE95, or should I wait for 7 Orbi? BTW, when will you make a video on the Wi-Fi 7 routers? I really would appreciate your expert opinion. Thank you!
Thanks! According to the specs the BE95 is better than all current mesh systems including the powerful Orbi. Now specs are one thing, results are another but judging my previous experience with Deco products, I expect the BE95 to shine. I’m going to try and get my hands on that BE95 among some others as they’re announced. I’ll make some videos and do some comparisons once I have a few handy.
Thanksfor the review, I am planning to get Asus e12 pro, Asus zenwifi e8 one was bad for me. try it out. i guess i got use to asus 3200 i have. is there any con beside less port. i can add switch. TP one
Dear sir, thank you for this video. I am learning so may I please ask if I have to have a modem in order to use the Deco AXE5300 (Pack of 3). I was able to just connect 1 of the 3 Deco straight into the ethernet port via the ethernet cable and have WI FI for my home. I assume the Deco is a 2 in 1 (modem/router) device which eliminates the need for a separate modem but please let me know if a separate modem is recommended. Thank you!
Good question. Deco doesn’t replace a modem. You still need a modem. This a is a setup guide video on the xe75 which is pretty much the same setup as the axe5300. If you watch this video, lots of things will make sense. TP Link Deco XE75 Setup Guide | FAQ's Answered | All Configs Shown ua-cam.com/video/QVKRQDokkhE/v-deo.html I’ve also done another network 101 which I draw what everything is, that also makes everything very clear. I highly recommend watching both of those and it will provide you with a very good understanding of home networks. Network 101 | Simplified explanation of a Computer Network ua-cam.com/video/90BFxA2yEUY/v-deo.html
@@landpet thank you. I will be watching the videos to learn more. What cable modem would you recommend me buying given my situation (work from home, being able to connect to my company VPN, UA-cam, gaming, etc.) with the Deco model that I have. Thank you again!
What about the most crucial thing: uptime/no dropped connection? I had ASUS in the past, but with a router that reports “no internet available,” pretty much every day, you get fed up. Now I use the TP-Link Deco X60-3 pack and have a disconnect maybe 1-2 a month; still very annoying but so much better. I manage five (5) other Deco networks (family, relatives & friends); they are also much happier with WiFi coverage and uptime.
Thank you for always providing such great detail for those of us who don't know a whole lot about this type of technology. I also appreciate the comparison. I'm curious about the new Google Nest web wi-fi system and your take on it as compared to the ones you highlighted in this video. I am also curious about the comparison to the 2-year-old Google nest web wi-fi system. Thank you again for the service you provide to all of us through your videos. I look forward to hearing your reply.
Thanks for the feedback! I've been waiting for the new nest wifi which seems to be called the Nest WiFi Pro according to some sites and may be released soon according to the rumors. I'll be sure to get it and review it and make some comparisons to other units. I did really like the nest wifi that came out 2 years ago but it does seem outdated now.
@@landpet Don't waste your money on Google Nest. I replaced my whole Google Nest system (which I bought at Costco and returned) for a pair of Asus XT12 and a pair of XT8 - the Asus are beasts. You have a ton of controls and it's super fast. The Google Nest just doesn't have that punch (shorter ranges and speed degradation). The Google Nest products are super basic and you will get a lot more bang for the buck from Asus. I set this up and am getting constant 600 MBPs on a 1GB Verizon Fios network. My house is really spread out (ranch on a half acre lot and I get full coverage on my property - the Asus are worth the money - they really are excellent devices!
Great video, I got the Asus xt8 wifi6 2 weeks ago but I had to return it because the node was syncing serval times a day (wireless backhaul) and now I can’t find a review that talks about the node reliability, in your experience what was the most stable system with no connection drops?
The only system I had that disconnected was the XT8, however it stopped disconnecting after a few days from what I remember. Nothing else has disconnected for me
So; what is the second best to the et12 ? I have a 3 floor home (which includes a basement) - using wifi backhaul is my only option. I need something drinks to handle all my smart security and devices
TP Link Deco XE200 is not in this video but it's very good, comparable to the ET12 maybe not quite as good in certain aspects but better in others. I did a video on it, you can check out to see the speed differences but it's very good.
On the Asus ET1#, If you use it as an AP (disable the router function) can both 2.5gb ports be used for LAN? I would love to use one 2.5gb port for backhaul and the other for a gaming PC in two different rooms. Basically using it like a switch. The 1 gb ports can be used for other devices like my Shield TV and printer. I plan to run an OPNsense router/FW that has 2.5 GB ports.
Bought the eero 6E last night, and it's not cutting it for range/speed in my 5500 square feet house. I just ordered the ET12 and hope it will be worth the extra money and solve my issues.
@ManCodeTV My main eero was in one corner of the house and 2 were spread out, and my room is on the other floor and just about the furthest distance from the main eero. Even with the mesh, I wouldn't get close to gigabit, probably more like 100mbps. The ET12 with only 2 mesh networks allows me to get 400-600mbps in my room.
Do you need to hook one of them up to modem? and set modem to gateway? i usually just connect my Ethernet Cable directy into the Mesh routers and dont use my ISP router
Hello!, I’m trying to understand if I need a new router .If my internet is 200 down 20 up, Im a single guy that has the latest Apple devices, Google smart home, lights and outlet switches, a Quest2/PS5/XSX, should I upgrade to 6E or stay with my Google Nest WiFi at 5Ghz? Thank you
I'm about to review the Nest Wifi Pro which supports 6E as well. Honestly, if you have good coverage throughout your place, I don't think you need to upgrade with your internet speeds.
I did have some initial drops with the XT8 that disappeared after some use and never had drops with the Deco, so based on that, the Deco should be more stable.
You should test with multiple clients contending for bandwidth. That is often the limit- it works great with a couple, especially on AC, but is supposed to be better with AX.
What do you think about just using only 1 ORBI without the other two for a 2500sqf home, I do not believe I need all 3 for my size home or do you think it's best to use all 3?
Every home is different. My place is smaller and I use 2 of them just cause I want amazing coverage wherever I go. I think you will at least need 2, maybe even 3 again if you want optimal coverage throughout your place. Can you get away with using 1 for your entire home, probably but your WiFi speeds may suffer a bit on the edges of your home.
Great video! Love how you go into detail of the wired and wireless backhaul. I actually picked up the Deco XE75 two pack. Initially I tried out the XE55 before picking up the XE75 and it had solid performance in the basement. But since my home is limited to wireless backhaul right now, I decided tri-band would be better. In my home the fios connection is on the top floor of a 3-level townhome. I would but the main router on the top floor and satellite on the main level. Do you think this would perform better than the XE55 with the third band and better bandwidth, specifically in my basement? I would say there is about 30 feet distance from the main router and satellite with a wall and floor in the way. The basement would be about the same distance but there is no satellite down there.
Thanks! I'm assuming you meant X55? If so, then I can say that the XE75 would perform better over wireless backhaul because of the extra band, 30 feet sounds reasonable with a wall. If the basement is terrible, you can always pick up another XE75 or any other Deco, but I have a feeling you should get ok performance in the basement.
@@landpet I initially picked up the xe55. But as it is dual band I decided to return it and pick up the xe75. The coverage was not too bad in the basement with the xe55. But I was also running a single client at the time (it’s a new house and we are in the process of moving).
I’m confused. My modem is also a router. It connects to the internet through fiber and in addition has one 2.5Gbit lan port. If I connect this lan port to a 2.5Gbit hub and also connect all 3 decos to the hub then I should get both internet and backbone at 2.5Gbit, despite the decos having just one 2.5Gbit port, right?
Thanks! I’ve reviewed those as well, pretty good for the price. They’re not WiFi 6E so I didn’t include them here. I’m not a fan of the Tenda app, looks dated but no issues using them, solid routers.
The Orbi comes in a 3pack and cost around 1500. One can get a 2pack of the Asus ET12 + a single ET12 for around the same price a the Orbi. That should be the comparison.
Sure, the issue is that the Orbi comes in a 3 pack and not in a 2 pack option (arguably, I think they would sell many more units in the 2 pack). In my case, I only use 2 of the 3 for pretty much any mesh I test, so I would prefer they have a 2 pack. While I could use all 3, I might actually be worse off doing that since my home isn't large. I think I mentioned this in one of the videos for the Orbi as a downside, granted it's an amazing system. I personally would've been happier paying 1K for a 2 pack instead of the 1.5K I paid for the 3 pack just to test this system lol.
wired and wireless backhaul refer to the ways the secondary nodes connect to the main router to expand your wifi coverage. I think I have an explanation towards the beginning of the video.
@@landpet Thank you for getting back to me so promptly. I have always appreciated all the hard work you do for your videos and I always learn something. I have a 2 story 3k house and an old apple airport router linked to an even older apple extreme downstairs that still works ok but there are dead spots and periodic issues. I also have a lot of wifi stuff so I am thinking of the Asus Zen XT8. Thanks again robert
Hello, Can you please confirm if in tp link deco system, all the nodes can be set up as access points and no note is set up as primary node? I need this because I want the deco system to use the IP addresses provided by my ISP provided router +modem
Do I have to put my ISP modem/router in bridge mode to use these, or in particular, the Linksys Mx5300 as my router? Nobody seems to mention this in reviews but I read about it elsewhere and I'm still not sure how to set this up for the best results.
that's a great question and I don't have a complete answer for that unfortunately. Since I have unlimited, I don't pay attention to that but I do believe TP Link has the reports which show you data usage. I feel like they all probably have some form of data usage reports. I wish I had a better answer for you.
This is a very informative and useful review. It really lays out the important differences between the products and gives me the information I need to make my own choice. Thank you.
I love buying the best tech hardware. I thought I was decided, until I saw your video. PC Mag said the Orbi is the fastest router they've ever reviewed and Tom's Hardware said "easily the fastest mesh-router system on the planet." but you don't seem as sold on it?
I have an Orbi rbr50 bought for a smallish apartment. Initially it worked perfectly but after a month it kept dropping the speed to almost nothing every week or so. Netgear just give me a run around with settings and finally a total reconfiguration which also started slowing down after a week or so. It is driving me nuts since the reviews on this product was very good. However there are also complaints online with the same thing. Is there any way reliability can be guaranteed with some of these products.
I personally haven’t had any issues with any of these. I don’t know what to say since things can go wrong with any mesh system. I would probably try the Deco systems and get it from someplace that offers a good return policy just in case.
@@landpet Since it is on the lower end of Orbi routers could it be possible to be overwhelmed with large volumes of data such as when teenagers are doing "stuff" and parents are watching online video? Would higher rated routers be better for throughput rather than range?
Since your in an apt, you may want to scan what channels your neighbors are using and select a less used channel. Android phones have some free Wi-Fi scanners, not so much on Apple side. But you may want to experiment on the configuration of the router to select less congested 2.5, 5 gig channels, or get devices that support the 6g channel of 6e.
I own a nursing home and have 100+ amazon echo dot/show devices for the patient rooms and staff/office rooms. What would i need to connect them…i have wifi router but it only allows up to around 30 devices and will disconnect any new connected devices…i bought a wifi access point and it also only allows up to 30 devices…does this mean i need like 4 access points to gave no problems connecting 100-120 devices?
How would you rate them if you do not want some external app/vendor managing them ? Would they work for offline usage, including offline setup ? (I think the eero do not, asus do, not sure though)
I haven't tried them for offline use, I imagine they would but not sure how I would rate them. Maybe in that case ASUS would provide the most options so probably would go with ASUS
Not a fan of the Obri app. Running the RBK850 series and the web interface is great. Love the performance of the 960 series, but costwize it's starting to be in the range of Ubiquity.
If I have an xfinity modem / router / phone box..... what is my best way to create extended wifi? I have their pods and it's almost as if they are not even there
Any thoughts on the # of wifi connections that these router systems can support and the impact of that on the speeds? I have seen that when you connect something like a few cameras + doorbell in my current Nest wifi mesh (2x with wired backhaul), the reliability of the wifi drops. Hence I'm looking to upgrade. Also when you refer to 100m (300ft) range, are you referring to the distant from the nearest mesh router? Did you see any dead spots with any of these routers? i.e. How good are the antennas (omnidirectional - I presume)? Also what kind of systems are these 2x2 (2.4G) + 2x2 (5G) + 2x2 (6G) for both the routers & the satellites?
The Google Nest system is not designed for a plethora of devices and is really not designed for such heavy use. I switched from Google Nest to Asus XT12 units combines with XT8 units and there's no looking back - it's a whole other ballgame...
I have a 2 story home plus basement that requires a wireless back haul as I’m not allowed to run an ugly wire through the house 😀 We have 3.0 GB speed coming into house and would be useful to use a mesh system that utilizes this speed. Can you recommend a budget and mid price system that can support multiple zoom calls? Keep up the great work!
Well for budget/mid tier I would say the XE75 Pro but that has a 2.5Gbps port, so you would be losing that extra 0.5Gbps your Internet provides, so really you would need something with a faster port. The Orbi RBKE963 would be the optimal solution but that does come with a high price tag. So I'm going to say the Deco XE200 which is not in this video is probably your best bet of performance/price. I have done a video on it.
@@landpet thanks. So I would just simply plug in one pod into the 2.5 port to facilitate the other pods to wirelessly connect? would 2 pods, with one connect to my modem be enough or is 3 preferable?
I have the eero pro 6e with 2 6+ nodes. Would the TP link xe75 pro be an upgrade? I do play Xbox series x, 3 tvs that stream, camera system and 3 phones. We have Xfinity 1.2gb plan with s33 cable modem.
Product Links:
TP-Link Deco XE75: amzn.to/3rfkfNA
TP-Link Deco XE5300 (Costco): bit.ly/3IqNpkk
TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro: amzn.to/3QVbxyZ
eero Pro 6E: amzn.to/3LEYvCJ
ASUS ZenWiFi ET8 (AXE6600): amzn.to/3eufXf6
ASUS ZenWiFi ET12 (AXE11000): amzn.to/36VghCv
Linksys Atlas Max 6E (2 Pack): amzn.to/3rzNcmR
Linksys Atlas Max 6E (3 Pack): amzn.to/3ImSkRT
Netgear Orbi RBKE963 (AXE11000) 3 Pack: amzn.to/3253Str
Netgear Orbi RBKE962 (AXE11000) 2 Pack: amzn.to/3LuoU9q
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Very nice video. So many other UA-camrs measure performance incorrectly using Ooka Speed Test or Netflix Fast but you seemed to have done it correctly by measuring speeds from mesh node to client wifi device. You deserve more subscribers. I have to say, you enticed me to look at ASUS ZenWiFi ET12 (AXE11000).
Do you also cover the feature set in the firmware of these routers? I don't know if you have a seperate video on this but that is something that interest me a lot. Particularly if multiple VLans are supported. P.S. I subscribed 👍
Thanks! No I don't cover the features in detail, maybe a glance over during the mesh review but I don't focus on it, especially with Asus, that would be a 4 hour video with the amount of options it has lol.
i used to have the google nest wifi and the best thing it ever did was die. i switched to the Asus AiMesh system where you can mix and match any routers you want that are AiMesh compatible. You retain so much more control and flexibility over your network and i'll never go back to one of these user friendly systems ever again.
How's it holding up? I'm looking for something for a gig fiber mainline and a bunch of gaming and streaming in a 3000 sq/ft house. Bouncing between this or the Rog 6. Lots of smart things, iot, gaming, and kids streaming. Thanks in advance!
@@jonathandyang it’s been incredible! I believe one time I was having a problem logging into the router homepage but I just factory reset the system and it was back to normal. I love having the ability to have wired ports in multiple rooms in the house. PC is hard wired in my office and so is the xbox in the living room
Outstanding video! I’m going with Deco e75. Just need pretty good speeds for streaming and zoom meetings . I’m not a gamer and don’t really need over 1g internet. Plus I’m switching from the Xfinity router and Xfinity pods where my pods max out at around 150 no matter where I put them lol
One thing that is important to me is keeping firmware updated. Maybe things have changed, but this is where Asus has shined for me.
I agree, I always update before my tests just to get the best possible numbers in case something was improved upon.
Thanks for this - just started researching what to replace my aging Apple Time Capsule -> Airport Extreme network with. The wireless backhaul is my most important factor since both our PC's are connected thru it. Thank you so much for your in-depth analysis which provided accurate speed tests.
No problem
I am running an Orbi Router + 3 Satellites with wired backhaul; with no issues to report. We have aprox 40-50 devices at any given time with parallel streaming and/or video conferencing. Would like more configuration options than what the browser offers but I realize there are some puts and takes with these systems. Great video, much appreciated.
Thanks for the feedback!
Great video but I have one small critism.The reason companies dont bother putting more than a one 2.5gb port on most of these is because no one is daisy chaining these.Most prewired homes have individual ethernet cables running into a network closet into a multi gig switch which is how these tests would replicate a real world scenario.When you daisy chain them it steps down the speeds giving all the dual 2.5gb port routers an advantage that wouldnt be present in most real world scenarios because homes are just not wired that way.I do however whole heartedly agree on that if you pay close attention to the data the TP Link XE75 is very very hard to beat for the money.
Great info, thanks for sharing. I'm in your situation described, fiber mainline (1gb) into a inconvenient closet > router (nest) > Ethernet cables throughout the house.
Lots of gaming, streaming, smart home stuff (hobbiest level?), cameras, etc. I was looking at the Rog 6 - what would you suggest?
Thanks for your time
This video appeared to me as a suggestion to watch. This is my first time on your channel.
A great video. Worth a like and subscription.
Thank you
Appreciate the feedback! Thanks for liking and subscribing!
Great video thanks. Moved from a Pro 6E to an ET12 and it was definetly a large improvement.
Thanks! Yup ET12 is much better
Great comparison review!. I am waiting for more options of a mesh system with 10Gbps port. Unfortunately Orbi is the only one for now and price is just too high. I saw that TP-Link announced its line of WiFi 7 routers and Mesh systems which should make some competition and hopefully prices start to get down.
Cheers!
I'm excited about those new wifi 7 cause as you mentioned they have more fast ports
Changed out my Eero Pro 6 to the Orbi RBKE963. Wireless backhaul was terrible after the switch. My IoT devices were being dropped and failed to reconnect, over and over. Now after seeing your vid, I think I'll try the ASUS ET12 Pro.
That's strange. I had great numbers for the Orbi and the ASUS for wireless backhaul. You don't have a modem/router combo do you? If you do, make sure that router is disabled otherwise it can interfere with the signals.
@@landpet Thanks for that, man! Guess I had the double NAT issue. Followed your advice and disabled the router on the Nighthawk and things are all good! 👍
@@B_K13 Glad it worked out!
Thanks so much for the timely video. I was literally in the process of researching this exact thing and have been for the last little while.
No problem
11 months of personal experience with the Linksys Atlas - DO NOT BUY. It's fantastic at first, but the connection randomly drops for multiple seconds throughout the day. Even after rebooting, optimizing the bands, or tweaking the limited configuration options, nothing resolves it. If you work from home or play online games, this is a nightmare with no known resolution or promised patch from Linksys. I could go on, but save yourself the money and go with any of the others in this review.
Thanks for the feedback, didn't realize that.
The Orbi is clearly made for business use, most home networks would never have 10g worth of uplink bandwidth so the price is fair for that purpose. In addition 10g routers and switches are similarly priced.
Awesome video as always. I love your thumbnail btw!
Thanks!
Thanks man. I decided to go with unifi, but you gave me the will power to wire my 2 story home with Ethernet and the internet has been amazing.
No problem. Wired backhaul is amazing
I went the Unifi route many years ago. Now I‘m considering going back to ASUS. The Unifi access points just aren‘t the best, quite bad actually, even compared to cheap Asus routers in my opinion :(
I've switched from Orbi 96× 6e mesh to Asus et12 - most impressed with Asus configuration options, granularity over orbi. +1 for better app UI and setup experience. Range improvement on 6ghz is significant too. Running just one node so far (about to deploy 2nd) and better service than my (3) node Orbi. Orbi 4th band doesn't add much real-world value that I've noticed. Plus, backhaul not configurable. Only the 5 ghz band. If you have 6e devices (I have 4) then you're getting bottlenecked by the backhaul.
I did the same and agree with you. I have had better luck with the Asus ET12
I'm a person who knows pretty much nothing about all of this unless it works well for me or doesn't. You said something interesting that makes me wonder. I have the Google Nest Wi-Fi from 2 years ago. I have two routers in which one is considered the real router and the other one is hardwired from the router from the second floor to the first floor. Because we have so many walls, I added the extender point to the formal living room the backyard and the garage. Without them, I can't get internet in those locations because there are so many walls in our 35-year-old house. I did that because I thought each one could have the best direct line to the original one as possible and hopefully extend the network. You are saying something about the backhaul being bottlenecked. I wonder if that's a problem in my house given my situation. Any thoughts?
Nest Wi-Fi is a dual band so it won’t be as fast for wireless backhaul unlike a Triband or quad band system. Just as a heads up, there is rumor the new nest Wi-Fi pro is about to come out so I’m curious how well that will do
@@sharonhalter-day3334 this one is a little confusing. Google Nest is a smart hub, not a router, as I understand. My house was build in 1958, metal framed doors. Asus has been solid after learning curve. Small house but get coverage to backyard, etc. on (2) nodes - 6900 sq ft lot. When there's a discount will add 3rd node (single nodes on Amazon).
@@user-fq4fu2tm3n Thank you. I always say the wrong words for the items I am talking about when it comes to the tech world. lol
Thanks for the clarification.
I was talking about the web Google connected wifi routers that are called points. 😁
I have the TP-Link Deco XE75 (5 satellites) tri-band and using Wi-Fi 6E backhaul and it’s awesome. We have 2 acres and we get good Wi-Fi signal all over the property. No dead spots anywhere in the house, detached garage, river bank and road in front of property.
its awesome for the price.
This was super helpful man. I specifically was looking for a good Wi-Fi 6e system with a dedicated 2.5Gb wired back haul and the ET12 looks like it fits the bill.
ET12 is an excellent choice
We have the Orbi Quad band, and it’s literally changed our lives. We pay for 2 gigs up and down and have 3 satellites in 4200 sf with wireless backhaul. Coming from google mesh.
Wow, why do you need 2 gigs?
Also why do you need a sexy wife or fast car?
So what you're saying is it's an option to have one of the more powerful ones as your router and maybe even hardwired satellite but then at the Google Nest to that? I wish I was more technology savvy and knew how to do that. I really hate my internet period we upgraded to the one gigabyte I guess that's what it is question mark we still get crappy downloads. I'm trying so hard to make this work and I'm so frustrated.
@@sharonhalter-day3334 no, you don’t want the google at all. Your download speeds will vary on location and equipment delivering WiFi. I highly suggest this WiFi router and nothing your internet provide provides you with.
@@sharonhalter-day3334 There is SO much more you need to know about for this. Things your ISP won't ever tell you about!
Amazing detail of each mesh system.
Also, curious of what you think of the new Synology rt6600ax router vs the Asus et12 mesh system? I was wandering what would have the most reliable connection when comes to connecting 46 plus devices which consists of computers, phones, iPads, game consoles, Smart TVs, and smart home devices. The mesh/routers would be connected via wired backhaul. The home is mixed with wood framed and one room has concrete walls.
Hello. I would like to ask you, which device you think would be better. I can buy both for the same price. Deco xe75 pro or asus xt8 ?
Important for me is: range and stability.
Many thx for info. :-)
The ET8 dropped to $299 on Prime Day, it has been really good speed wise in my initial testing today. At $299 it’s a huge bargain. Also speeds have been really good and in spite of initial fears, the satellite has been able to maintain it’s 6Ghz connection.
that's a great deal!
Question: once you plug one to the router, does that mean all your devices already connected to the actual router (not the mesh) will have to be disconnected and reconnect them to the mesh node that’s plugged in? Or can you leave those devices as they are connected via WiFi to the actual router and only connect new devices to the mesh router?
Having connection issues with my Eeros 6 Pro and giving up on this brand. Going to try the TP-Link AXE5400 Pro Deco. Hoping it has improved range and less conflicts with 2.4GHz devices.
I got the eero system. And it has worked like a charm. My home is about 4K Sqft and it has solved all my wifi issues. The thing I like about Eero is that it's a clean setup. I got the main with 2 beacons that you plug into a wall socket and they are out of the way and look very nice and you wouldn't even notice them if I didn't tell you they were there. Do these other systems have those? I haven't seen them. I've only see the plug in wall ones with Eero.
You can use any of these like that where you plug the main one as the router, then plug the secondary ones one or two rooms away. However they don’t have a beacon size equivalent where it’s something small that just goes to the outlet.
My biggest issue for eero is a lack of a web interface. I much prefer using my computer to manage my network. Plus the minimal number of Ethernet ports.
Turns out a Google search a few days ago made my decision for me and I pre-ordered a TPLink BE900 WIFI 7 router to future-proof my network. Not to mention 10 Gigabit Ethernet which I can hook up to my MacStudio via a Thunderbolt adapter, and it still has another optical 10GBe port for the wired backhaul if I choose to have a second. But for now my NAS with 10 GBe will throw data at my Mac with a super fast connection. Plus four 2.5 GBe ports. All for $699. Ships March 15.
Thank You, very well presented.
My Question, the Net Gear has 3 devices, the Asus had 2.
Can you add extra nodes to the Asus system?
I have a property that very long with multiple rooms.
It's all Hardwired in Cat5e
But I'll need 3 or 4 Apr (Nodes) just to get coverage
Thanks and yes you can add more to Asus.
Great video. Question. I’m going wired back haul and trying to decide between x55pro with 2.5gb connection x3 satellites vs x75pro 2 satellites. I’m thinking that 3 sat will give be better coverage and therefore speed as ill always be closer to 3 sat than 2. Would you agree?
Yes I would agree, X55 Pro is the better choice for wired backhaul and you get 2 2.5Gbps
Future reviews should comment on whether the wireless backhaul is done over a dedicated channel and whether the mesh system supports separate SSIDs for channels.
Dedicated channels were used for wireless backhaul. The goal was to get the fastest speeds possible. Some support it some don’t.
Appreciate the feedback!
The issue is I’m trying to make the videos shorter so I skip some information like ping and jitter at the max distances, parental control demos and things like it. I’m trying to just get the main points across but even that’s lengthy since I’m going into detail the various connections and their resulting speeds.
Nice content brother I been watching your videos for awhile, So I have a Asus Rog rapture gt-Axe 11000 and 1 Asus Zenwifi pro ET12, I was think of Selling my Asus rog AXe11000 and getting another Asus zenwifi pro et12 to match, Do you think I will get better speeds or it won't matter?
Tough one to answer, I typically prefer the same model but your ROG has good specs already. I don’t know if I would switch in your case even if it offers a slight bump, probably won’t be drastic.
@@landpet Thank you for the advice
Thanks for great reviews. Q1 Will you be reviewing Tenda MX21 6E Mesh ? Q2 will you be discussing the benefit of using "Bridge Mode" in your Mesh setups ? Many thanks, Steve, from London.
For the TP Link systems, were you using the 6GHz as dedicated backhaul?
Yes
Thanks for the great review, taught me heaps!
I’m undecided on two systems and will be going wired backhaul for sure! Tp link deco xe75 pro or Netgear orbi rbk853. Tp is only attracting me because of price but I always thought the orbi was a better product.
No problem.
Orbi RBK853 is definitely better than the Deco XE75 pro, it just depends what you need it for.
@@landpet I have a few dead spots around the house and connection is inconsistent with just the ISP router. I bit the bullet and bought the orbi, straight away massive change and no drop outs plus it’s reaching the corner of the whole house, So thank you!
Probably the best router comparison video I've ever seen
Thanks!
I'm looking to replace my WDS consisting of three Airport Extremes. What would be an economical set-up for connecting two wired LANs in two buildings approximately 75 feet apart with glass window line of sight? I'm sending my Spectrum signal that comes into my garage to my shop. The house and shop were wired cat6 to all rooms during construction. Currently the only devices on wifi are our phones and ipads. On the wired side there are approximately 22 nodes consisting of Macs, PCs, printers-all talking over gigabit ethernet.
i'm trying to pick between orbi and asus . i would be steaming from the 2nd tower via back haul . what would u recommend me choose
Orbi performed better over wireless backhaul, so if you want the best possible, it would be the Orbi. They sell it as a 2 pack as well the RBKE962: amzn.to/3LuoU9q
Great review! What would the best mesh wifi for range with a wired back haul be? what would u recommend? the Et12 pro seems to be the best but we don’t have any wifi6e devices so wouldn’t it be a waste of the 6ghz band? would the xt12 be better because of the 5ghz band instead of 6ghz? also would the range on the xt12 be the same as the et12? what would you recommend.
Thanks! If you’re going wired backhaul and you don’t need crazy range, you can even go with the cheapest option in this list. Wired backhaul setups don’t need to be expensive since the Ethernet delivers a fast stable connection to every room. Now if your internet is faster than a gigabit, I would opt for the ET12 just to have fast wired backhaul throughout. I haven’t played with the XT12, I imagine it will be similar range to the ET12. You bring up a good point to go to the XT12 vs ET12 however unless you have a ton of WiFi devices that are going to operate on the 5GHz band, I would rather future proof and go with the ET12.
Thank you 🙏
I have 1 gig Verizon which I use for gaming and surveillance cameras mainly. Which do you think I should purchase for faster speeds? I currently have the Amplifi Alien but returning due to no 6E
Depends on your budget and whether you plan on using wired or wireless backhaul.
If you want the best and the price isn't important, go with the Orbi RBKE963.
If you want really good performance for the price, go with Deco XE75
If you want a bit of both, check out the ASUS ET12 Pro, I also like the Deco XE200 (which I've reviewed but not in this video).
@@landpet the Et12 pro is out now. You think this is better than the Alien?
Great video as always thank you for the information. I was wondering if I could convert my cable wires that runs through the house to wifi and use it as a backhaul with the Asus? Plugging the main router in upstairs and a satellite downstairs or does the backhaul have to be a direct connection? And can it share the cable tv?
Thanks! Great question, yes you can use your coax cables as an "ethernet" backhaul for any of these mesh systems, to do this you need a MoCA 2.5 adapter. Google MoCA 2.5, they typically come in 2 packs, you need one on the transmitting side and the other on the receiving side. Essentially, one mesh node connects via ethernet in the MoCA adapter and coax goes out of the MoCA adapter through the walls then on the other side (downstairs or upstairs in your case) coax comes in to the MoCA adapter and ethernet goes out of the MoCA adapter to your other mesh node.
@@landpet Thank you do you think this back haul coax wired connection will be faster or the same as the Asus wireless connection?
@@landpet O well looking at the fine print for the Screen Beam 2.5...... Non-Compatibility: Not compatible with Direct TV, Dish or other satellite TV, AT&T internet, or AT&T U-verse coax networks. Too bad I was all excited that I could do it without getting a cable to that area I guess I will have to rely on a wireless connection. Thanx for your help robert
hi landpet! thank you for excelent reviews in your channel, helps a lot! whats system mesh you use in this moment in your home? do you have a prediction to test the new deco be95 wifi 7? thanks!
No problem! I am currently testing the standard wyze mesh router, after that will be the asus xd5. Anyone of these would be fine for me since I run wired backhaul and I am currently under gigabit speeds. But I am planning on upgrading my internet speeds, so after that I would need one of the faster port options. I do plan on testing the Deco BE95 in the future.
Awesome comparison. Thank you for putting it together.
No problem
Great video, thanks for the clarity of explanations, detailed tests and your honest view on these routers!
Thanks!
What do you recommend to setup your own speed test server?
How to Setup Local Speed Test Server | Test Wi-Fi and Ethernet Network Speeds
ua-cam.com/video/9NIHAmVkomk/v-deo.html
Does the Asus ET12 support matter/thread?
Great review....I believe this guy because there isn't any company perks...gives you a totally honest review
I really enjoy your superb videos! Do you think that the TP-link Deco BE95 with Wi-Fi 7 is faster and better than the current Orbi? I would like to set up a wired backhaul in my home. My other router alternative is the Amplifi Alien, but the company has not said anything except to check their website for any newer models .....so I am thinking of getting the BE95, or should I wait for 7 Orbi? BTW, when will you make a video on the Wi-Fi 7 routers? I really would appreciate your expert opinion. Thank you!
Thanks! According to the specs the BE95 is better than all current mesh systems including the powerful Orbi. Now specs are one thing, results are another but judging my previous experience with Deco products, I expect the BE95 to shine. I’m going to try and get my hands on that BE95 among some others as they’re announced. I’ll make some videos and do some comparisons once I have a few handy.
@@landpet Thank you so much! Looking forward to your upcoming videos! BTW, you are the Best One online! 😀
I encourage you to continue make such great videos like this.
Thank you
Thanksfor the review, I am planning to get Asus e12 pro, Asus zenwifi e8 one was bad for me. try it out. i guess i got use to asus 3200 i have. is there any con beside less port. i can add switch. TP one
Et12 is good.
Dear sir, thank you for this video. I am learning so may I please ask if I have to have a modem in order to use the Deco AXE5300 (Pack of 3). I was able to just connect 1 of the 3 Deco straight into the ethernet port via the ethernet cable and have WI FI for my home. I assume the Deco is a 2 in 1 (modem/router) device which eliminates the need for a separate modem but please let me know if a separate modem is recommended. Thank you!
Good question.
Deco doesn’t replace a modem. You still need a modem.
This a is a setup guide video on the xe75 which is pretty much the same setup as the axe5300.
If you watch this video, lots of things will make sense.
TP Link Deco XE75 Setup Guide | FAQ's Answered | All Configs Shown
ua-cam.com/video/QVKRQDokkhE/v-deo.html
I’ve also done another network 101 which I draw what everything is, that also makes everything very clear. I highly recommend watching both of those and it will provide you with a very good understanding of home networks.
Network 101 | Simplified explanation of a Computer Network
ua-cam.com/video/90BFxA2yEUY/v-deo.html
@@landpet thank you. I will be watching the videos to learn more. What cable modem would you recommend me buying given my situation (work from home, being able to connect to my company VPN, UA-cam, gaming, etc.) with the Deco model that I have. Thank you again!
What about the most crucial thing: uptime/no dropped connection?
I had ASUS in the past, but with a router that reports “no internet available,” pretty much every day, you get fed up.
Now I use the TP-Link Deco X60-3 pack and have a disconnect maybe 1-2 a month; still very annoying but so much better.
I manage five (5) other Deco networks (family, relatives & friends); they are also much happier with WiFi coverage and uptime.
No drops from any of these, up time varies from 1 week of testing to 1 month+ of testing with most averaging in the 2 to 3 week categories.
Thank you for always providing such great detail for those of us who don't know a whole lot about this type of technology. I also appreciate the comparison. I'm curious about the new Google Nest web wi-fi system and your take on it as compared to the ones you highlighted in this video. I am also curious about the comparison to the 2-year-old Google nest web wi-fi system. Thank you again for the service you provide to all of us through your videos. I look forward to hearing your reply.
Thanks for the feedback!
I've been waiting for the new nest wifi which seems to be called the Nest WiFi Pro according to some sites and may be released soon according to the rumors. I'll be sure to get it and review it and make some comparisons to other units. I did really like the nest wifi that came out 2 years ago but it does seem outdated now.
@@landpet Don't waste your money on Google Nest. I replaced my whole Google Nest system (which I bought at Costco and returned) for a pair of Asus XT12 and a pair of XT8 - the Asus are beasts. You have a ton of controls and it's super fast. The Google Nest just doesn't have that punch (shorter ranges and speed degradation). The Google Nest products are super basic and you will get a lot more bang for the buck from Asus. I set this up and am getting constant 600 MBPs on a 1GB Verizon Fios network. My house is really spread out (ranch on a half acre lot and I get full coverage on my property - the Asus are worth the money - they really are excellent devices!
what do you recommend if I have less than a 1 GB internet speed and my set up should be wireless??
Deco XE75 is my budget choice, one step above that is the ASUS XT9 which is better but costs a bit more.
Great video, I got the Asus xt8 wifi6 2 weeks ago but I had to return it because the node was syncing serval times a day (wireless backhaul) and now I can’t find a review that talks about the node reliability, in your experience what was the most stable system with no connection drops?
The only system I had that disconnected was the XT8, however it stopped disconnecting after a few days from what I remember. Nothing else has disconnected for me
@@landpet awesome, thank you for your reply
Between xe75 , xe75pro and xe200. which one do you choose. Gonna buy one of these, budget doesnt matter.
XE200 is the best from these three
So; what is the second best to the et12 ? I have a 3 floor home (which includes a basement) - using wifi backhaul is my only option. I need something drinks to handle all my smart security and devices
TP Link Deco XE200 is not in this video but it's very good, comparable to the ET12 maybe not quite as good in certain aspects but better in others. I did a video on it, you can check out to see the speed differences but it's very good.
On the Asus ET1#, If you use it as an AP (disable the router function) can both 2.5gb ports be used for LAN? I would love to use one 2.5gb port for backhaul and the other for a gaming PC in two different rooms. Basically using it like a switch. The 1 gb ports can be used for other devices like my Shield TV and printer.
I plan to run an OPNsense router/FW that has 2.5 GB ports.
Nice job on this review. Very clear and concise.
Much appreciated!
Bought the eero 6E last night, and it's not cutting it for range/speed in my 5500 square feet house. I just ordered the ET12 and hope it will be worth the extra money and solve my issues.
ET12 is definitely better than the eero Pro 6E.
Really my house is about 4K Square Feet, and Eero I bought a few years ago I swear by it. Does the job. What happened? What didn't you like?
@ManCodeTV My main eero was in one corner of the house and 2 were spread out, and my room is on the other floor and just about the furthest distance from the main eero. Even with the mesh, I wouldn't get close to gigabit, probably more like 100mbps. The ET12 with only 2 mesh networks allows me to get 400-600mbps in my room.
Do you need to hook one of them up to modem? and set modem to gateway? i usually just connect my Ethernet Cable directy into the Mesh routers and dont use my ISP router
Just connect it to your modem directly, don’t need isp router
This is the best comparison i ever seen, thank you
Thanks!
Hello!, I’m trying to understand if I need a new router .If my internet is 200 down 20 up, Im a single guy that has the latest Apple devices, Google smart home, lights and outlet switches, a Quest2/PS5/XSX, should I upgrade to 6E or stay with my Google Nest WiFi at 5Ghz? Thank you
I'm about to review the Nest Wifi Pro which supports 6E as well. Honestly, if you have good coverage throughout your place, I don't think you need to upgrade with your internet speeds.
@@landpet thank you so much for the reply. Subscribed! I’m not going to upgrade until I get fiber thank you!
@Landpet Does Asus ZenWifi XT8 have more reliability in not dropping signal vs Deco XE75/XE75Pro?
I did have some initial drops with the XT8 that disappeared after some use and never had drops with the Deco, so based on that, the Deco should be more stable.
You should test with multiple clients contending for bandwidth. That is often the limit- it works great with a couple, especially on AC, but is supposed to be better with AX.
I use it as my main mesh system so around 50 or so WiFi devices competing.
Just make sure to balance yourself some of the devices, only allow cellphones and laptops to be balance by the mesh
how fast can the switch handle? are the ports also limited by 1gb?
Depends on the switch, switches can go fairly fast, there not slowed down by router speeds assuming the devices are connected to the same switch.
What do you think about just using only 1 ORBI without the other two for a 2500sqf home, I do not believe I need all 3 for my size home or do you think it's best to use all 3?
Every home is different. My place is smaller and I use 2 of them just cause I want amazing coverage wherever I go. I think you will at least need 2, maybe even 3 again if you want optimal coverage throughout your place. Can you get away with using 1 for your entire home, probably but your WiFi speeds may suffer a bit on the edges of your home.
Great video! Love how you go into detail of the wired and wireless backhaul.
I actually picked up the Deco XE75 two pack. Initially I tried out the XE55 before picking up the XE75 and it had solid performance in the basement. But since my home is limited to wireless backhaul right now, I decided tri-band would be better.
In my home the fios connection is on the top floor of a 3-level townhome. I would but the main router on the top floor and satellite on the main level. Do you think this would perform better than the XE55 with the third band and better bandwidth, specifically in my basement? I would say there is about 30 feet distance from the main router and satellite with a wall and floor in the way. The basement would be about the same distance but there is no satellite down there.
Thanks! I'm assuming you meant X55? If so, then I can say that the XE75 would perform better over wireless backhaul because of the extra band, 30 feet sounds reasonable with a wall. If the basement is terrible, you can always pick up another XE75 or any other Deco, but I have a feeling you should get ok performance in the basement.
@@landpet I initially picked up the xe55. But as it is dual band I decided to return it and pick up the xe75. The coverage was not too bad in the basement with the xe55. But I was also running a single client at the time (it’s a new house and we are in the process of moving).
I’m confused. My modem is also a router. It connects to the internet through fiber and in addition has one 2.5Gbit lan port. If I connect this lan port to a 2.5Gbit hub and also connect all 3 decos to the hub then I should get both internet and backbone at 2.5Gbit, despite the decos having just one 2.5Gbit port, right?
Great work Landpet, you’re the best!
No problem!
Very nice in dept review! Thank you!
No problem!
Netgear is a win for me paired with nighthawk cm2000 modem blazing fast speeds
Nice
Amazing review ! What about cheap ones, like Tenda ?
Thanks! I’ve reviewed those as well, pretty good for the price. They’re not WiFi 6E so I didn’t include them here. I’m not a fan of the Tenda app, looks dated but no issues using them, solid routers.
The Orbi comes in a 3pack and cost around 1500. One can get a 2pack of the Asus ET12 + a single ET12 for around the same price a the Orbi. That should be the comparison.
Sure, the issue is that the Orbi comes in a 3 pack and not in a 2 pack option (arguably, I think they would sell many more units in the 2 pack).
In my case, I only use 2 of the 3 for pretty much any mesh I test, so I would prefer they have a 2 pack. While I could use all 3, I might actually be worse off doing that since my home isn't large. I think I mentioned this in one of the videos for the Orbi as a downside, granted it's an amazing system. I personally would've been happier paying 1K for a 2 pack instead of the 1.5K I paid for the 3 pack just to test this system lol.
Just picked up deco XE75 (Costco) and can't be happier. Btw, what is your ISP speed (what speed do you pay to your ISP)?
What modem should I get that will let me take full advantage of the Deco XE75?
Any modem that's Docsis 3.1 or higher. Make sure it's compatible with your ISP.
What is back haul versus router? I might have missed that...
wired and wireless backhaul refer to the ways the secondary nodes connect to the main router to expand your wifi coverage. I think I have an explanation towards the beginning of the video.
Another great video thank you! Is the Asus still the only one that has free security and child control? Thank you robert
TP-Link has some basic stuff included as well. Linksys also has some basic controls for free. ASUS has them as well.
@@landpet Thank you for getting back to me so promptly. I have always appreciated all the hard work you do for your videos and I always learn something. I have a 2 story 3k house and an old apple airport router linked to an even older apple extreme downstairs that still works ok but there are dead spots and periodic issues. I also have a lot of wifi stuff so I am thinking of the Asus Zen XT8. Thanks again robert
Hello,
Can you please confirm if in tp link deco system, all the nodes can be set up as access points and no note is set up as primary node? I need this because I want the deco system to use the IP addresses provided by my ISP provided router +modem
Do I have to put my ISP modem/router in bridge mode to use these, or in particular, the Linksys Mx5300 as my router? Nobody seems to mention this in reviews but I read about it elsewhere and I'm still not sure how to set this up for the best results.
I talk about it in my setup videos, short answer is yes. You want your main router to be the best router which is typically the mesh you buy.
Which ones allow you to track how much data is used per device over a time frame for those of us not on an unlimited date plan?
that's a great question and I don't have a complete answer for that unfortunately. Since I have unlimited, I don't pay attention to that but I do believe TP Link has the reports which show you data usage. I feel like they all probably have some form of data usage reports. I wish I had a better answer for you.
This is a very informative and useful review. It really lays out the important differences between the products and gives me the information I need to make my own choice. Thank you.
I love buying the best tech hardware. I thought I was decided, until I saw your video. PC Mag said the Orbi is the fastest router they've ever reviewed and Tom's Hardware said "easily the fastest mesh-router system on the planet." but you don't seem as sold on it?
what do you use to test wifi speed? thanks
Speedtest.net for internet and open Speedtest for local speed tests using my phones as WiFi devices
@@landpet thanks but for that give you the distance breakdown in reception?
Is it possible to include power consumption? Also is there an idle mode? if nothing is connected to the node does lower the consumption or not.
I haven’t tested that. I think you can adjust the gain of the antenna for some models like the ASUS which should lower consumption.
I have an Orbi rbr50 bought for a smallish apartment. Initially it worked perfectly but after a month it kept dropping the speed to almost nothing every week or so. Netgear just give me a run around with settings and finally a total reconfiguration which also started slowing down after a week or so. It is driving me nuts since the reviews on this product was very good. However there are also complaints online with the same thing.
Is there any way reliability can be guaranteed with some of these products.
I personally haven’t had any issues with any of these. I don’t know what to say since things can go wrong with any mesh system. I would probably try the Deco systems and get it from someplace that offers a good return policy just in case.
@@landpet Since it is on the lower end of Orbi routers could it be possible to be overwhelmed with large volumes of data such as when teenagers are doing "stuff" and parents are watching online video?
Would higher rated routers be better for throughput rather than range?
Since your in an apt, you may want to scan what channels your neighbors are using and select a less used channel. Android phones have some free Wi-Fi scanners, not so much on Apple side. But you may want to experiment on the configuration of the router to select less congested 2.5, 5 gig channels, or get devices that support the 6g channel of 6e.
I own a nursing home and have 100+ amazon echo dot/show devices for the patient rooms and staff/office rooms. What would i need to connect them…i have wifi router but it only allows up to around 30 devices and will disconnect any new connected devices…i bought a wifi access point and it also only allows up to 30 devices…does this mean i need like 4 access points to gave no problems connecting 100-120 devices?
Maybe go with the quad band. You can also check out ubiquitous unifi since those are designed for businesses
Any feedback on the Arris Mesh systems?
I haven’t played with them, no idea
How would you rate them if you do not want some external app/vendor managing them ? Would they work for offline usage, including offline setup ? (I think the eero do not, asus do, not sure though)
I haven't tried them for offline use, I imagine they would but not sure how I would rate them. Maybe in that case ASUS would provide the most options so probably would go with ASUS
Not a fan of the Obri app. Running the RBK850 series and the web interface is great. Love the performance of the 960 series, but costwize it's starting to be in the range of Ubiquity.
If I have an xfinity modem / router / phone box..... what is my best way to create extended wifi? I have their pods and it's almost as if they are not even there
Sorry a question sir: can I connect a LAN connection to a wireless sattelite from, say, a stationary PC on these?
Yes
Alien ubiquiti router is very good, but not available in Wi-Fi 6E for some strange reason..... Probably looks like the best one.
They do have it, I just haven't played with it. store.ui.com/products/u6-enterprise
Any thoughts on the # of wifi connections that these router systems can support and the impact of that on the speeds? I have seen that when you connect something like a few cameras + doorbell in my current Nest wifi mesh (2x with wired backhaul), the reliability of the wifi drops. Hence I'm looking to upgrade. Also when you refer to 100m (300ft) range, are you referring to the distant from the nearest mesh router? Did you see any dead spots with any of these routers? i.e. How good are the antennas (omnidirectional - I presume)? Also what kind of systems are these 2x2 (2.4G) + 2x2 (5G) + 2x2 (6G) for both the routers & the satellites?
The Google Nest system is not designed for a plethora of devices and is really not designed for such heavy use. I switched from Google Nest to Asus XT12 units combines with XT8 units and there's no looking back - it's a whole other ballgame...
I have a 2 story home plus basement that requires a wireless back haul as I’m not allowed to run an ugly wire through the house 😀 We have 3.0 GB speed coming into house and would be useful to use a mesh system that utilizes this speed. Can you recommend a budget and mid price system that can support multiple zoom calls? Keep up the great work!
Well for budget/mid tier I would say the XE75 Pro but that has a 2.5Gbps port, so you would be losing that extra 0.5Gbps your Internet provides, so really you would need something with a faster port. The Orbi RBKE963 would be the optimal solution but that does come with a high price tag. So I'm going to say the Deco XE200 which is not in this video is probably your best bet of performance/price. I have done a video on it.
@@landpet thanks. So I would just simply plug in one pod into the 2.5 port to facilitate the other pods to wirelessly connect? would 2 pods, with one connect to my modem be enough or is 3 preferable?
If my office already has my firewall (sonicwall) will the netgear one able to work just as AP? If so which one is the host to control it?
Yes, from what I remember. You can run it in access point mode, need to go to orbilogin.com and change the settings.
What will be the best one for a two floor house 3000sqf internet up to 2.5gb full house 100% wireless and over 45 devices on
TP-Link Deco BE63
I have the eero pro 6e with 2 6+ nodes. Would the TP link xe75 pro be an upgrade? I do play Xbox series x, 3 tvs that stream, camera system and 3 phones. We have Xfinity 1.2gb plan with s33 cable modem.
If you're running wireless backhaul, yes the xe75 pro would be an upgrade for the secondary nodes.
@@landpetI’m not sure if they back haul just have them placed and one nvr is connected to one of them
Nice video! Q: are you going test the Ubiquiti 6e Enterprise? Grts from 🇧🇪 Belgium.
Thanks! I don’t have any plans of testing that one yet
Synology mesh routers included in this comparison would have been great
I haven't played with Synology routers. Thanks for the feedback