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Review on ๐Ÿ“ถ TP-Link Deco S4 - Powerful Mesh WiFi System for Enhanced Home Coverage - 3-Pack by Mark Gilbert

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Finally Wi-Fi that doesn't feel compromised

I have the Verizon FIOS bundle service, so I have TV, phone and internet in one device. While I love FIOS, one of the downsides is that I had to use their bonded modem/router gateway for my TV and phone services. My house has a wired Ethernet network running through it, which is great for all my desktop PC and home theater setups, but the FIOS gateway router's Wi-Fi performance doesn't cover my three-story house well enough (the FIOS modem is in my garage, next to my wired home network box). To solve this problem, I tried using the very well-reviewed Netgear EX6200 range extender, but I was never able to get reliable performance from it. Random falls, low speed. In search of a better solution, my research led me to consider mesh networks, especially since those systems (presumably) wouldn't need to bypass my FIOS modem. It works with it by simply taking over the WiFi functions. I was scared, so I wanted an economical product. Tp-Link's Deco series got rave reviews and their latest S4 series was actually cheaper than the previous M4 series, so I took the plunge. Deco S4 is much easier to set up and operate than traditional WiFi extenders and extenders. TP-Link Mobile App, launch it, select your TP-Link product and you will be guided through the whole process. There were a few hiccups during installation, mainly because the app couldn't find the S4 devices on the first pass, but clicking the "Try Again" button fixed the issue. The S4 router (all three are identical) simply plugs into any open port on the back of the FIOS modem. After setting up a mesh network on this S4 router, you can easily add other devices throughout your house using the app. The application has many functions. You can set up usage profiles, blacklist devices using your network, monitor network status and usage, etc. (hubs or to connect non-WiFi-enabled devices, etc.) and have them connected to all TP-Link WiFi devices are compatible, making it easy to expand and upgrade. Excellent coverage. The great advantage of the mesh network is that all S4 devices actually work as one. So as you move around your house (or even outside!), your devices will simply pick up the strongest signal from the best available S4 router. You don't have to manually switch from one network to another like you would with a traditional WiFi extender. The speeds are surprisingly high. I only have FIOS 100/100 service, but I'm getting WiFi speeds in excess of 100Mbps on the first and third floors (both S4s connected) and nearly a full 80Mbps on the second floor with a non-wired S4 -Device. Outside on my aft deck, the speed drops to "only" 60 Mbit/s. Unbelievable! I spent about 4 hours stress testing the network and found it very reliable. Very stable and reliable WiFi performance. (everything needs to be done in the mobile app) and that there is a way to identify/isolate usage between the 2.4 and 5.0 ranges. This is a long review but overall the Deco S4 is a great product. It's easy to set up, works with your existing modem (a HUGE plus for Verizon FIOS users), isn't a bottleneck, and offers tremendous coverage. And there is a very good price. I finally feel like I have all the WiFi I need!

Pros
  • Many fit
Cons
  • Some complexities