Review on 🔌 TP-Link Omada Hardware Controller: SDN Integrated, PoE Powered - Easy Network Management for Up to 100 Devices with Cloud Access & Omada App (OC200) by Robert Viher

This controller is required if you want to use more than one TP Link Omada access point. While access points work offline without this controller, the controller turns them all into one networked system that you can set up however you like, or you can just let the software control everything if you don't want to set it up or maybe you lack the technical know-how -how. The controller takes individual control of each access point, allowing them to be managed from one place. You can create multiple network SSIDs and configure them with VLANs and decide whether each SSID uses the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band or both. You can also create just one SSID and allow the controller to manage the band so that it assigns the 2.4 and 5 GHz radios in the access points to your devices based on how close or far they are from the access point are. The controller also seamlessly transfers your devices from one access point to another as the device is moved to maximize network speed and range. That was the biggest plus for me. I had multiple hotspots set up at home to connect my family, but they each had a different SSID to connect to because I couldn't get the roaming feature to work with just one SSID. My family's devices don't move between hotspots. They just clung to one instead of breaking up and moving on to another. This controller solves this problem. It transfers devices between hotspots without interruption, so even WiFi calls are not interrupted during the exchange. In the controller interface, you also have the option to block certain devices from connecting to the network and then unblock them whenever you want. This can be useful for restricting children's access to the Internet or if you find that a particular device is using too much bandwidth. You can also set up MAC address filtering. Maybe your neighbors are really good at guessing your network's security key. You can whitelist MAC addresses so only devices in your home that you are familiar with can connect to the network. In summary, this controller offers many options to customize your network in a small package. It will also do the hard work for you if you're not a techie and don't want to tweak the settings. This is a good choice if you have multiple Omada hotspots in your home or office.