TP-Link Deco WiFi 6 Mesh System(Deco X20) - Covers up to 5800 Sq.Ft, Replaces Wireless Routers and Extenders(3-Pack, 6 Ethernet Ports in total, supports Wired Ethernet Backhaul)

Product Information

We test mesh Wi-Fi systems by setting them up just as you would in a regular home. The primary unit is connected directly to an incoming fibre broadband line, while the second is located according to the manufacturer’s recommendations – normally one or two rooms away. If there’s a third node, this will be placed in another room, creating either a star or daisy-chain topology.

On another damp note, the Nokia X20’s screen is a bit inconsistent when it comes to colour accuracy. With an average Delta E of 3.69 in my tests, the phone’s IPS panel was all over the place, with oversaturated dark blue and green tones, and dull-looking reds. If that’s you, it might be waiting for the Nokia X20 to hit the sales, though, so it hits that value-for-money proposition a little more. Also consider Charging is far less impressive though, at a measly 18W, which guarantees a several-hour charge time. That’s slow even for a phone at this price, where at least 30W is the norm and some phones go up to 50W or even 65W.There are some welcome software features too, including a simple firewall, a QoS setting that lets you prioritise specific devices, and time limits for kids’ devices. It’s a compact, simple and effective wireless solution and, if you shop around, you may well find it for a bargain price. Most mesh Wi-Fi kits come with a smartphone app – for both Android and iOS – that walks you through the setup process. You can then continue to use the smartphone app to monitor and manage your mesh system. A web portal is sometimes available too, but it may not expose all of the available settings. Most mesh systems can present a wireless guest network alongside your normal domestic network. Devices connecting to this will be able to connect to the internet, but can’t talk to other devices on your home network. This means visitors can’t snoop through your shared folders or unwittingly bring malware onto your home network. For performance testing, we connect a NAS appliance to the main mesh unit via Ethernet, and then wirelessly connect to the mesh network from a laptop equipped with an Intel Wi-Fi 6E network card, with support for 2×2 MIMO. We take this laptop to various rooms in the home, copy a series of files to and from the NAS system, and measure read and write speeds to discover the peak performance the mesh system is able to deliver, at different ranges and via different access points. Physical connectivity is a tad limited. Each node has only a pair of network ports, there’s no USB sharing, or even a WPS button. For the price, though, the TP-Link Deco X20 is a great system with plenty of features and fast enough speeds for daily life.

Depending on your needs, you may not need to invest in the fastest, most expensive kit you can find. Even a low-cost Wi-Fi 5 mesh system should be fast enough to deliver a connection of 40Mbits/sec or more around your home, which is plenty for working, browsing the web and even streaming 4K video. Acutual 4G downlink speeds vary between households. Factors affecting 4G speeds include the internet service level, real-time network capacity, equipment and client limitations, environmental factors. When it comes to video, the Nokia X20 tops out at 1080p, with a choice of either 30fps or 60fps recording. The footage looked crisp and stable with the EIS setting engaged, but cheaper phones such as the Redmi Note 9T and Moto G 5G Plus can record at up to 4K resolution. Nokia X20 review: Verdict Proper fraction button is used to change a number of the form of 9/5 to the form of 1 4/5. A proper fraction is a fraction where the numerator (top number) is less than the denominator (bottom number). As the name suggests, mesh systems are also designed to support multiple nodes, which can be deployed in a “daisy-chain” configuration, rather than each one needing a direct connection to the router. This makes it easy to extend a wireless connection over a huge area by simply placing nodes at regular intervals around your home or workplace. Will a mesh system work with my router?Four streams in total is an entry-level system, although between three satellites (as I had), that’s a total of 12 Wi-Fi 6 streams spread out throughout your home. It’s worth pointing out that this router also has to share its client-facing network to communicate between satellites; buy a more expensive system, such as the Orbi RBK852 and you get a third Wi-Fi 6 network dedicated for communication between satellites. Key specs – Nodes (as reviewed): 2; Claimed coverage: 372m²; Maximum nodes supported: Not stated; 2.4GHz speed: 600Mbits/sec; 5GHz speed: 1,200Mbits/sec; MIMO channels: 2×2; Ethernet ports: 3 x GbE (router), 2 x GbE (satellite); Guest network: Yes; Parental controls: No; Works with Alexa: Yes; IPv6: Not stated; Custom IP range: Not stated; Client IP reservation: Not stated; Port forwarding: Not stated; 2.4GHz/5GHz band splitting: No; Warranty: 1yr Proper fraction button and Improper fraction button work as pair. When you choose the one the other is switched off. The Nokia X20 went on sale in May 2021, at least in the UK, though we know the phone will be available in the US at some point too.