HomeMacityHardware and Peripherals Among the endless offers of Tp-link for routers, a very interesting new generation product is the Deco X20-4G , Mesh Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 unit which is basically a 4G + router with SIM Card Slot. This device integrates a 4G + Cat6 router capable of offering download speeds of up to 300Mbps, ideal for creating a high-performance and stable Mesh network in any home or small office.
Compared to other similar products, it boasts support for WI-Fi 6 with Dual Band connection speeds of up to 1201Mbps in 5GHz and 574 Mbps in 2.4GHz. There are 3 Gigabit Ethernet WAN / LAN ports for wired connectivity (all ports operate in WAN or LAN mode and only one port at a time can be used as a WAN), it boasts a protection system to protect the network and connected devices and a mechanism that allows you to act as a backup for the fixed line (by connecting the unit to a source router and thus exploiting the 4G connection in the event of a fixed line down). Specifications, technical features and details below.
Package contents and first configuration
The product arrives in a cardboard box of 12 x 21 x 24 cm inside which we find: the real router (an elegant not too large cylinder), the power supply, an ethernet cable and two LTE antennas. The first thing to do is to connect TP-Link Deco for iOS or Android and activate the configuration procedure. There is an LED on the router that changes color based on status: blinking yellow (resetting), solid yellow (booting), blinking blue (ready for setup), solid blue (booting), blinking green ( firmware update in progress), flashing red (disconnected from the network), steady red (signaling a problem).
The first time you start the Deco app for Phone and iPad, you need to set the authorization for access to the local network; you must then register by indicating your email address and a password (the email will become our TP-Link ID). At this point, just follow the step-by-step instructions in the app to complete the configuration (possibly connecting the LAN port of the current modem to the Ethernet port of the Deco). At the end of the setup procedure (very simple and within anyone's reach) it is possible to add other Deco in the network or to finish the configuration.
From the app (but also with a browser from Mac or PC) it is possible to recall various functions, manage the functions for parental control, add family members, modify advanced settings (eg QoS), recall reports, activate protection functions ( by subscription), reserve addresses, check firmware updates, create blacklists (block network access to certain devices), connect clients to the network by activating WPS, etc. You can turn both 2.4GHz and 5GHz network on and off, change SSID name, create a specific guest network. The app includes functions for sharing the WiFi password and others that allow the administrator to control and monitor the network in various ways. for the more experienced functions for Port Forwarding, UPnP, etc.
Other peculiarities
It is possible to combine Deco X20-4G with Amazon Alexa to give simple voice commands to the network and the router is obviously compatible with all the other models of the Deco range, allowing you to create a network tailored to your needs. connection needs of the user also combining different technologies.
Conclusions
The product is intuitive, easy to use and configuration within anyone's reach. It is interesting if the home or our business is not reached by high-speed fiber connections, or if you want to cut costs by choosing one of the many and convenient mobile tariff plans.
Mesh technology allows you to create a unified network without signal interruptions. The devices automatically connect to the unit, never losing signal, even when moving from room to room. We tested the router in a three story house with thick walls (installing the unit on the second floor) and found no problems of any kind in any room. Obviously environmental factors, including construction materials, physical objects and obstacles, could affect network conditions, and throughput depends on many factors including local interference, traffic volume and density, device location, network complexity, and network overhead.
During our tests with a Vodafone SIM, the router always behaved very well, always offering the maximum possible bandwidth in the area we live in, also thanks to the integrated 1.5GHz quad-core processor. Carrier aggregation and 3G / 4G, Router, Access Point operating modes are supported (by associating more Deco it is possible to extend the WiFi coverage by creating a Mesh network that allows you to move freely from one device to another without signal interruption).
At the time of writing, the Tp-Link Deco X20-4G router on Amazon is offered at 156.88 euros, a decidedly affordable price by virtue of what is offered and lower than products from competing houses. It is simple to configure, stable, fast, perfect for homes without a fixed line or reached only by the old and slow ADSL, to take advantage of the mobile signal and create a stable and performing network.
