Having reliable home WiFi is essential in today’s world. With numerous devices connected to the internet, a good WiFi system is a must-have. I recently came across the TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) and decided to give it a try. In this review, I’ll share my personal experience with the product.
I purchased the TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) for my 3-bedroom house, and which has been a challenge to get a strong WiFi signal throughout. The setup process was straightforward, and I was able to connect all three units within 15 minutes.
The Deco S4 units work seamlessly to create a WiFi mesh network that covers my entire home, eliminating any dead zones. I was impressed with the Deco S4’s ability to provide connectivity for up to 100 devices, which is more than enough for my household.
However, there were some drawbacks that I experienced. I was disappointed that I couldn’t access the settings via a web page like all my other extenders, but the app works well. I also don’t like that I can’t separate the 2.4 and 5GHz signals, which caused some issues with my smart plugs.
Better Coverage than Traditional WiFi Routers
The TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) is a great solution for homes with dead zones or poor WiFi coverage. With three units, the Deco S4 works seamlessly to create a WiFi mesh network that can cover homes up to 5,500 square feet, making it perfect for larger homes or homes with multiple floors.
Unlike traditional WiFi routers, the Deco S4 provides better coverage and eliminates dead zones, ensuring that you have a strong WiFi signal throughout your entire home. The Deco S4 uses Deco Mesh technology, which gives you a better WiFi experience in all directions with faster WiFi speeds.
This technology allows the units to work together to form a unified network with a single network name, making it easy to move around your home without losing your connection.
With advanced Deco Mesh Technology, devices automatically switch between Decos as you move through your home for the fastest possible speeds.
Overall, the TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System provides better coverage and stronger signals than traditional WiFi routers, ensuring that you have a seamless and stable WiFi mesh network.
Incredibly Fast AC1200 Speeds
The TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) is capable of providing incredibly fast AC1200 speeds, making it perfect for households with multiple devices. With AC1200 speeds, the Deco S4 is capable of providing connectivity for up to 100 devices, which is more than enough for most households.
This means that you can stream, game, and work without any lag or interruptions. The Deco S4 also supports Wired Ethernet Backhaul for better speeds, which means that you can connect the units with an Ethernet cable for even faster speeds. Each Deco S4 has 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports (6 in total for a 3-pack), which means that you can connect multiple devices to each unit.
The TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System is designed to provide fast and reliable speeds, ensuring that you have a seamless and stable WiFi mesh network.
Robust Parental Controls
The TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) offers robust parental controls, which is perfect for parents who want to limit their children’s online time or block inappropriate websites.
With unique profiles created for each family member, you can limit online time and block inappropriate websites according to your preferences. This means that you can keep your children safe while they’re online and monitor their internet activity.
The Deco S4 also allows you to turn on or off guest WiFi with Alexa voice commands, which is perfect for when you have visitors. This feature makes it easy to control who has access to your WiFi network and ensures that your guests have a seamless and stable connection.
Setup is a breeze with the Deco app available on your Android or iOS device, which means that you can set up parental controls in just a few minutes.
Works with All Internet Service Providers
The TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) works with all internet service providers, such as AT&T, Verizon, Xfinity, Spectrum, RCN, Cox, CenturyLink, Frontier, etc.
However, a modem is required for most internet service providers. This means that you can use the Deco S4 with any internet service provider, which is perfect for households that switch providers frequently.
The Deco S4 is also compatible with all devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart home devices. This means that you can connect all your devices to the Deco S4 and enjoy fast and reliable WiFi speeds.
Overall, the TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System is designed to be compatible with all devices and internet service providers, making it a versatile and reliable choice for households.
A New Way to WiFi
The TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) provides a new way to WiFi with Deco Mesh technology, which gives you a better WiFi experience in all directions with faster WiFi speeds. Rather than WiFi range
Pros:
- Deco Mesh technology provides better WiFi coverage and speeds in all directions, eliminating dead zones in a home up to 5,500 sq.ft.
- Seamless roaming throughout the house with a single network name and password, eliminating the need for multiple network names and passwords.
- Robust parental controls, allow parents to limit online time and block inappropriate websites according to unique profiles created for each family member.
Cons:
- Limited ability to access settings via a web page, as the app is the only way to access settings.
- Inefficient connection of Deco units, with the farthest unit sometimes connecting to the farther away unit on a different floor.
- Stability issues, with the main Deco losing its connection and requiring frequent manual reboots.
Conclusion
Overall, the TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) is a reliable solution for anyone looking for a better WiFi experience in their home. It’s easy to set up, provides excellent coverage, and is capable of connecting to numerous devices.
While there are some drawbacks, such as not being able to access settings via a web page and issues with smart plugs, these are minor compared to the overall benefits of the product. I would highly recommend the TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) to anyone in need of a reliable and seamless WiFi experience.
FAQs
How easy is the setup process?
The setup process is very easy, with the app walking users through the entire process of setting up three units in about 15 minutes.
Is the WiFi performance good?
The WiFi performance is pretty good, with speeds of up to 600Mb/s upstairs and around 50Mb/s downstairs.
Does the Powerline feature work well?
No, the Powerline feature doesn’t appear to be working well, with the forums indicating that a firmware update might resolve the issues.