TP-LINK Deco P7

VERDICT

A smart mesh system with loads of features, but it’s pricey given the performance

- David Ludlow

WE’RE NOW AT the point where if you want absolutely stable Wi-Fi, you need to have a mesh system. With so many models on the market, it’s hard for companies to distinguish their products, but TP-Link has managed to achieve this with the Deco P7, which has built-in Powerline networking.

As good as mesh systems are, the speed of the network is only as good as the quality of the link between satellite devices. For this reason, many mesh systems support an Ethernet backhaul – that is, satellite devices are connected together using a physical Ethernet cable, improving performance. If you don’t have or can’t run Ethernet, things can get tricky, which is where the Deco P7’s Powerline networking helps, using your home’s electrical wiring to transmit data.

Cleverly, the system uses a combination of 600Mbit/s HomePlug AV Powerline and dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi (867Mbit/s 5GHz and 400Mbit/s 2.4GHz) to give you the best performance throughout your home.

The Deco P7 is available in a two-pack option, which we tested, or as a three-pack. The former should do for most UK homes, but if you’ve got particularly thick walls, three floors or a very large house, the three-pack is the best option.

ROUTE ONE

The Deco P7 satellites are all identical, with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports on them. The smartphone app (for iOS and Android) takes you through configuration and setup for the system. You start by plugging in one satellite. TP-Link recommends removing your original router and plugging the satellite directly into your modem via the Ethernet port.