Last Updated: April 28, 2020 (Refresh Now)
TP Link Smart Hub Whole Home WiFi Mesh System
Last Updated: April 28, 2020 (Refresh Now)
8.6
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
585
Old Reviews
0
Unverified
93
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WIFI
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Review Analysis - 492 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Network
297coverage, house, deco, mesh, router
+91%
-9%
" ... I pay for 200 Mbps internet service. ... Speed I'm getting from Modem to the Deco (225 Mbps). ... Speed I'm getting from Deco to my phone (20 Mbps). ... "
" ... Installed this in my wifi challenged home and it has worked flawlessly. ... "
" ... I bought a 3-pack and it took about 15 minutes to replace my old standard router. ... "
" ... Coverage is much better than the range extender I used . ... "
" ... The whole house is really blanketed in wifi. ... "
" ... I wanted better wifi coverage throughout my home (basement, first, and second floor). ... I also wanted coverage outside on my patio. ... The system works great with no dead spots and consistent performance throughout my home (about 4200 total square feet/3 stories). ... "
" ... I worked upstairs at her house on an opposite corner of the house from the router. ... At her house, most devices were on the Deco. ... So it would seem your provider & primary router still have somewhat of a role in how your WiFi is going to perform. ... "
" ... - signal strong enough for my lath and plaster walls, in my basement, main floor, and 2nd floor ... Set up just one of the two Decos and WiFi strength is already way stronger throughout the house. ... "
Setup
187easy, easy to install, app, set, easy to setup
+98%
-2%
" ... It fills in the gaps we had, was easy to set up & works great. ... "
" ... Set up was very straightforward. ... "
" ... It was super easy to install, and I’ve had great coverage throughout my home thus far. ... "
" ... I am so happy with purchase that I have invited neighbors in to show them my cool new high speed wifi setup! ... "
" ... Installation was easy, except that I couldn’t get an initial connection unless I had the units right next to each other. ... "
" ... The app is intuitive and gives you so many features to customize your wifi setup. ... "
" ... Setup was so simple and fast. ... "
" ... Everything installed and worked the way it was advertised. ... "
Capacity
176coverage, wifi, floor, sq ft, deco
+98%
-2%
" ... Additionally, I also get a great signal in many areas outside, in the yard and on the porch. ... "
" ... I have ~3000 sq. ... "
" ... I have tried for years to get better WiFi coverage throughout my house. ... I might even add more units for backyard coverage. ... "
" ... We have a 3 level 4500 sq ft house. ... "
" ... I set up 3 in a pretty big house and got the wired backhaul working. ... "
" ... Increased our wifi speed from 25 mbps to 125 mbps in problem area. ... "
" ... I am happy with my purchase and have considered purchasing a second device for my parent's house. ... "
" ... Now my family has strong WiFi signal in the whole house, including the garage, using the same SSID and the same password. ... "
Wifi
162network, mesh, deco, router, coverage
+90%
-10%
" ... There aren’t any dead spots like what we had with just a WiFi extender? ... "
" ... The house has no WiFi dead spots anymore. ... "
" ... I'm even able to use the app and monitor Wi-Fi when I'm not at home. ... "
" ... (I found it works better if you turn the router on first and THEN turn on the M5) ... System: Service Provider Router (non-broadcasting WiFi) using DHCP and NAT with some reserved IP addresses. ... "
" ... With the demand for wi-fi in my home growing, these three little units have made all of my devices run without issue. ... "
" ... solved weak wi fi reception in 2 areas ... "
" ... Here is a tip: if you have an existing wireless network use the same SSID and password for the Deco system and everything will repopulate without having to reconnect each device. ... "
" ... This $170 mesh wifi system fixed the PS4 and greatly improved the connection of every other device in the house. ... "
Ease of Use
144setup, set, easy to install, easy to set, app
+98%
-2%
" ... This product had such easy set-up. ... "
" ... Easy to follow step by step on the app. ... "
" ... It was easy to install and has worded without any issues since I installed it back in July. ... "
" ... IT WAS SO EASY. ... Once its set up the app is easy to navigate for setting up preferences and managing the network. ... "
" ... It was easy to set up. ... "
" ... It was very easy to setup using the app, I have FIOS so I’m using AP mode. ... "
" ... Easy to set up and use. ... "
" ... Easy tin install. ... "
Software Platform
118google, deco, devices, setup, parental
+82%
-18%
" ... Anyone who can download an app and read, can have this up and running in no time. ... The app is very well done, and makes advanced features like QOS, and Parental Controls simple for anyone to configure and use. ... I haven't attempted it, because the app is so convenient and includes everything I need (much better than the Linksys app). ... After installing the Deco's, the first thing I noticed was my Bose SoundTouch app and speakers (which have always been flaky) became very responsive and trouble free (again it's still early). ... This system includes 3 years of Antivirus, Intrusion Prevention, and Content Filtering, in addition to some pretty slick QOS and Parental Control features. ... I did set up an automation to notify me when a network security threat is detected, but haven't had any triggers yet, so I can't say how well it works. ... I probably won't use an other automation features, as I already use Samsung SmartThings and I think it has more features and supports more devices than the Deco M9. ... "
" ... Really pleased with TP-Link's app. ... "
" ... So easy to use, but i dont like phone only interface, but who doesnt have a smart phone now. ... "
" ... I like how it updates itself and lets you know when new devices connect to it. ... All in all the deco m5 is great and the app interface is even better. ... I can’t wait for more future updates and products that will be added to the deco family. ... "
" ... Haven’t had much latency or issues around bandwidth, the Deco system appears to be fully utilizing our Google fiber. ... "
" ... a. Download the app ... e. Use the APP to configure Parental Controls and Guest access etc. ... "
" ... I don't use the smart home features on it since I already have a Smarthings hub that is setup the way I like it, but it also doesn't interfere. ... If you setup the parental controls you can see all the sites visited by the devices. ... "
" ... The installation of the Deco was simple and very similar to the Google WiFi. ... Both the Google WiFi and the TP Link Deco have exceeded my expectations. ... "
Device Compatibility
91connected, smart, app, deco, smart hub
+84%
-16%
" ... So easy to use, but i dont like phone only interface, but who doesnt have a smart phone now. ... "
" ... Now I have FiOS Gigabit connection, and have as many as 13 to 20 devices (between computers, TVs, cell phones and home security devices) sharing bandwidth at once, and I consistently get these speeds 24x7. ... "
" ... I've been using it for a couple of weeks now, typically with more than 20 things connected at a time to my network, and have experienced zero issues. ... "
" ... Not sure if its is an iPhone issue, but what ever it is TP-Link should fix ... "
" ... I also really like the mobile app that lets me see/manage every device that is connected to my network. ... "
" ... I especially like how I can prioritize those devices that are most important for better connections. ... "
" ... So far these have worked great, plus I have a ton of tplink smart home stuff so integrates easily. ... "
" ... The Deco M5 three unit mesh system has been, for me, a lot like Apple devices: hook them up, turn them on, and they just work. ... "
Apps
77deco, setup, tp link, follow, download the app
+86%
-14%
" ... Additional features on App is excellent and it is easy to use. ... "
" ... Anyone who can download an app and read, can have this up and running in no time. ... I haven't attempted it, because the app is so convenient and includes everything I need (much better than the Linksys app). ... After installing the Deco's, the first thing I noticed was my Bose SoundTouch app and speakers (which have always been flaky) became very responsive and trouble free (again it's still early). ... I probably won't use an other automation features, as I already use Samsung SmartThings and I think it has more features and supports more devices than the Deco M9. ... "
" ... App works fine. ... "
" ... I like the smart phone app, but I do miss having a web app that can run on my PC. ... I see some advantages of having remote access, but it would be nice for the app to have a Bluetooth or firewalled local access mode. ... "
" ... App is good and I can limit my kids activities. ... "
" ... The Deco smart phone app is a unique way interface with the system and offers a lot of features to monitor and ways to configure the system. ... "
" ... Great system, very easy to set up using their mobile app. ... "
" ... I can see what he's been doing through the app. ... "
Product Reliability
58working, weeks, month, units, years
+71%
-29%
" ... It installed pretty easily and worked great for about three days. ... "
" ... Worked great for about 2 months. ... "
" ... So, I replaced it with the Deco M9 Plus (3 pack) which has been performing flawlessly with no issues. ... "
" ... We've owned the units for six months and they've responded perfectly to all the demands we've put in them. ... "
" ... This fixed all of those problems. ... As long as it lasts a few years, my rating is 5 stars! ... "
" ... So far working flawlessly ... "
" ... Has not failed me yet. ... "
" ... Setting up the Deco was super simple once I stopped trying to overthink it. ... "
ISP
50modem, internet, wifi, deco, isp
+88%
-12%
" ... Once I was able to get my ISP to turn off the wifi in my modem set up was very simple. ... "
" ... It's like I created my own internet company. ... "
" ... No idea if it's can go faster with a faster connection. ... "
" ... My roaming devices (e.g. ... "
" ... Never saw that with our old router! ... "
" ... I have had a TP-Link N750 router for years. ... I pay for 150 mbps of download with Xfinity and I am getting that or more now. ... I was lucky to get 70 mbps with my old router. ... "
" ... Very easy to set up and has performed extremely well with my internet provider. ... "
" ... Recently, I purchased a TP Link Cable Modem and this TP Link Mesh system. ... "
Ports
48gigabit, ethernet backhaul, modem, cable modem, smart hub
+81%
-19%
" ... Connected 2 units via ethernet switch, got very fast single wifi across the entire building, super fast!! ... "
" ... Went from traditional cable company wired house to a wireless system, cut the cord too. ... This is wired to a 5 port switch and feeds a laptop, printer, back up hard drive, and a wire to a smart TV in another room. ... "
" ... I have been trying to get a reliable signal in my shop, about 30’ from my home for years without running a CAT5 cable. ... "
" ... We tried powerline extenders and even have some devices connected via Cat 6, too, and while they added a little umph, it just didn't result in remarkable change. ... "
" ... c. Connect new TP-Link equipment ... "
" ... Prior to using this I was using 2 routers and connected the 2 routers by an AV powerline. ... I was skeptical at first since the "internet" input to one of the Deco is the powerline connection coming from my 1st router. ... "
" ... That's just how they wired it when they brought the cable to my home. ... "
" ... Once the Cad cable was installed into the house it took me less that 5 minutes to have both Mesh Disks connected to each other and the WiFi devices switched over. ... "
Overall performance
44speeds, performance, increased, fast, speed tests
+93%
-7%
" ... Easy to use and we finally get the speeds we pay for ... "
" ... We are getting excellent speed and reliability. ... "
" ... This new technology offers a big improvement in performance and ease of use. ... I'm still getting used to it but I'm very happy with the performance. ... "
" ... Stability and consistency in speed ... "
" ... My total download speed is 400mbps and as you can see I’m getting 466mbps. ... "
" ... It is rock solid and lightning fast. ... "
" ... Speed isn't a monster importance for me but did improve quite a bit! ... "
" ... I had no idea we could get such fast speed. ... "
Firmware
27update, updates, upgrade, latest, deco
+56%
-44%
" ... By comparison, I don’t know what the higher priced products may deliver more than the Deco system, yet with integrated antivirus, automatic firmware updates, and being compatible with Alexa, there’s a ton of value I’m getting from the Deco M5. ... "
" ... I did have to download a firmware update for each unit during setup. ... "
" ... Add 4 minutes more for a firmware update and all was good. ... "
" ... We received about 4 firmware updates since installing the system. ... "
" ... Highly recommend, just make sure you do firmware update after unboxing. ... "
" ... The app even prompted me to upgrade firmware which I did and it flawlessly upgraded the firmware for ALL 3 units at the same time during installation. ... "
" ... Had to individually set up the other decos, connect to the web, upgrade their firmware, and then factory reset them. ... Only then could they be discovered and connect with the master deco unit which had the upgraded firmware. ... "
" ... I’ve gone through at least one firmware update and experienced no problem. ... "
Price
23money, worth, cost, worth every penny, m9
+87%
-13%
" ... I researched and price compared. ... "
" ... For the price/ performance it beats any other competitors. ... "
" ... It's fast, reliable and worth every penny I paid for it. ... "
" ... The price was right, and I chose not to go with the M9 as I didn't want it seeing or trying to control my ZigBee devices on my Iris Hub. ... "
" ... This is a great buy at the $189 price point for three units vs. the M9 for two units at $289 The main difference between M5 and M9 is the M9 comes with tri-band wi-fi radios as opposed to the dual band with the M5. ... "
" ... Other similar systems are likely as good, but the price make this a best value IMHO. ... "
" ... This product is worth buying ... "
" ... Really happy with this purchase, it was worth every penny. ... "
Features
20feature, security features, limited, home, deco
+85%
-15%
" ... Love the option of turning off the LED lights during nighttime because one is in our master bedroom. ... "
" ... Deco has completely different level of reliability, speed and features. ... At the first glance it doesn’t look like a well developed feature. ... "
" ... I haven't had a chance to test other features. ... "
" ... Loved all features so far. ... "
" ... I love the parental controls (for my 11 yr old) and security features that come with as well. ... "
" ... I don’t use it for the advanced features. ... "
" ... Time/parental control works very nice. ... "
" ... When the blue light turns green, the app will tell you everything is good to go. ... "
Returns
13returned, amazon, time, returning, day
+23%
-77%
" ... I'll be returning these. ... "
" ... I’m returning and getting refund. ... "
" ... It's too late to return, but maybe I can spare someone else from this frustration! ... "
" ... I am now going to return the product. ... "
" ... UPDATE: I Returned it. ... "
" ... I returned these to Amazon after a week. ... "
" ... I unplugged them and returned them thenext day. ... "
" ... I had the units for less than a week, so decided to return to Amazon for a refund. ... "
Marketplace
13advertised, works, support, received, problem
+77%
-23%
" ... very happy to date ... "
" ... Thank god we did. ... "
" ... With the $20 amazon coupon I picked up a set of 3 Deco M5 for $162. ... "
" ... Works as advertised ... "
" ... I later received this email. ... "
" ... The product is performing precisely as advertised. ... "
" ... Called Amazon support and they were excellent in resolving my problem. ... Amazon handled it like real professionals and I am real happy at this point in time ... Sent back to amazon and they replaced with no problem. ... "
" ... Works BETTER than advertised. ... "
Cables
8power, cord, wired, wire, unit
+100%
" ... Went from traditional cable company wired house to a wireless system, cut the cord too. ... into the house phone wiring. ... "
" ... Plug in all of the wires and power supplies for everything. ... "
" ... By boosting our reception, we can work our way towards not having to rent equipment from the cable company. ... "
" ... That's just how they wired it when they brought the cable to my home. ... "
" ... Would like to see a 90 degree power cable plug. ... "
" ... I have been trying to get a reliable signal in my shop, about 30’ from my home for years without running a CAT5 cable. ... "
" ... Update: customer service finally replaced the cord. ... "
" ... Orbi is cable of deliver really fast speed. ... "
Bluetooth
8setup, devices, via bluetooth, node, app
+75%
-25%
" ... Once detected and connected over bluetooth, the setup process is as smooth as installing the first 2 devices. ... "
" ... Easy to set up - connect node, automatically used Bluetooth when connection failed. ... "
" ... When starting the configuration, the smart phone app connects via Bluetooth, so there's already some support for it. ... "
" ... The setup was very simple and used bluetooth instead of the annoying WiFi swap that most apps make you do for setup. ... "
" ... Use Bluetooth to add additional units after setting the first one up. ... "
" ... Plug it in, use your phones bluetooth to connect and perform the setup. ... "
For Kids
7years, wife, old, home, children
+100%
" ... The parental controls were a nice perk to the system that I’ve used more than I expected with our young boys. ... "
" ... Time seeing what are kids are doing… Priceless!! ... "
" ... I used to hear complaints from the wife and kids on a weekly basis. ... "
" ... I don't have that issue with any other phones (wife's / kids') or computers. ... "
" ... My kids are 4 1/2 years apart, so this makes it much easier to have different restrictions as my kids get older. ... "
" ... This system is a must have if you have children, no matter how old they are, without restricting adult usage. ... "
" ... I really noticed a difference for the better when the kids came home for the holidays. ... "
Pedometer
7walks, steps, step by step, step, easy
+100%
" ... Then, once the first one was hooked up, I followed the steps and connected the second Deco without any hiccups. ... "
" ... Each step matched my action exactly. ... "
" ... The system has an easy set up and walks you through step by step. ... "
" ... Easy to follow step by step on the app. ... "
" ... The app walks you through the few steps to ensure you are placing the pucks correctly and that they are connected. ... "
" ... The app walked me through each step and was up and running in about 10 minutes. ... "
" ... The app walks you through step-by step ... its actually accomplished in only like 4 steps. ... "
Video Playback
7streaming, videos, hd, music, home
+86%
-14%
" ... Finally the video streaming can begin. ... "
" ... With my old router, playing a 1080 HD video from it to my phone would sometimes pause and buffer. ... "
" ... I have a total of 4 devices streaming HD video all day because of my kids being at home all the time so a constant and reliable WiFi connection is important in my home. ... "
" ... I highly recommend watching the company's video before installing. ... "
" ... Everything seems to just work with no issues, even video streaming. ... "
" ... In my household (of 6), it's not uncommon to have 2 or 3 online gaming sessions, streaming videos, streaming music, and web surfing all happening simultaneously. ... "
Gaming
6time, online, gaming, game, videos
+100%
" ... This is a game changer for my interwebs! ... "
" ... As a matter of fact, "SIMPLE" is the name of the game here. ... "
" ... Two Xbox Ones online at the same time . ... "
" ... Our use is for streaming video, online gaming, browsing, etc. ... "
" ... No more lag time, download speeds are back up, no issues gaming or watching streaming tv. ... "
" ... In my household (of 6), it's not uncommon to have 2 or 3 online gaming sessions, streaming videos, streaming music, and web surfing all happening simultaneously. ... "
Controls
6parental, controls, work, like, control
+100%
" ... Time/parental control works very nice. ... "
" ... The parental controls are great. ... "
" ... The parental controls work great. ... "
" ... I also really like the parental controls. ... "
" ... The parental controls are GREAT. ... "
" ... Parental Controls - Seems to work okay. ... "
Build Quality
6weight, solid, points, one, feels
+100%
" ... Finally decided to try a mesh system but didn't want to spend an arm and a leg, especially with little real expectation that it would work any better than the range extender. ... "
" ... The product feels solid and has a great weight to it with a high quality feel. ... "
" ... Going with something more sturdy. ... The new one works, looks better, and better constructed. ... "
" ... When I open the sturdy box the two access points are perfectly aligned and secured. ... The access points feel sturdy and have weight to them - not heavy, just feels like they are well made. ... "
" ... Protection is out standing also. ... "
" ... Using this for 8 months now and still rock solid. ... "
For Running
5run, month
+80%
-20%
" ... The M9's do run a bit warm and I was worried about them sitting on top of some of my furniture. ... "
" ... Running for a month without issue. ... "
" ... Its a home run. ... "
" ... I've had this running in our home for well over a month now. ... "
Lagging
5restart, months, 3, 5
+80%
-20%
" ... No more buffering or any issues. ... "
" ... Has been up for several months now and I have never had to reboot or restart it. ... "
" ... Even easier to restart it ... "
" ... For the first time, I was able to complete a video call witout lag or drop. ... "
Internet
5speed, download, upload, broadband
+60%
-40%
" ... We increased our phone and internet strength. ... "
" ... This product has a lot of options that I am not using because all I wanted was internet access on the other side of the house, but I am starting to explore the app. ... "
" ... I have a 75Mbps upload/download speed broadband internet plan with Verizon. ... "
Call quality
5calls, almost
+60%
-40%
" ... no more lost calls, facetime is good now. ... "
" ... Talk bout waiting but I’m sure glad I did(even if it was 11yrs). ... Set-up time done 730am on a saturday morning, including phone call to spectrum approx took 20-25mins. ... "
" ... Especially since I can now read my magazines on my tablet in the loo, hear my music in the living room and, ok, answer calls by the pool. ... "
Comfort
5feels, feel, sturdy, solid, points
+60%
-40%
" ... I’m pretty comfortable around Information Technolgy, but I still appreciate Apple’s easy to use products. ... "
" ... The product feels solid and has a great weight to it with a high quality feel. ... "
" ... The access points feel sturdy and have weight to them - not heavy, just feels like they are well made. ... "
Product As Described
4works
+100%
" ... The product is performing precisely as advertised. ... "
" ... Works BETTER than advertised. ... "
" ... Works as advertised ... "
" ... Works as advertised. ... "
Data reception
4devices, internet, data
+50%
-50%
" ... The only issue I have is how to select only the 2.4g. ... "
" ... It is crazy-slow, and there's no way to select between 2G and 5G on your devices. ... "
Storage
4shelf, room, mesh
+75%
-25%
" ... All the mesh systems I have seen have many pros and cons as MESH is still an evolving space. ... "
" ... From room to room, from space to space, it was either blasting or whispering. ... "
Resolution
3hd, enough, 4k, house
+100%
" ... I can actually stream Ultra HD without buffering. ... "
" ... SInce setting up the Deco M5 system, I now have sufficient bandwidth in my shop, averaging about 10Mb/s, enough to stream HD video. ... "
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Specifications
Connectivity
WiFi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Recommendations
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