Linksys - Velop AC2200 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 5 System (3-pack) - White

I recently moved into a bigger house and, on the recommendation of my Best-Buy in-home consultant, decided to purchase the Velop 3-pack whole home system for better wi-fi coverage. I also have 2 adult children and 1 teenager in the house who are ravenous consumers of anything that has to do with using the internet. For them, the coverage in the house has to be beyond average. I set the Velop system up myself, right out of the box. All the nodes were relatively easy to set up. Once I downloaded the Linksy’s app on my cellphone and hooked up the “mother node” to my Arris 9160 modem in the upstairs bonus room, I was able to see each node recognized quickly on my network, right from my phone. I even conducted a speed test for performance, right from the app. I placed each of the remaining nodes downstairs- one in the kitchen area and the other near the guest room to the front of the house. The coverage throughout the house was amazing and has remained ever-so. The kids have noticed a huge difference in coverage and everyone is pleased. We like to entertain, and no matter the number of people in the house logged in to my network, I did not notice any drop in coverage strength or capacity. I’m also able to see the number of people logged in at the same time, right from my app. In summary, I would like to say there’s been no regrets on this investment; it’s definitely been money well spent!

For the past few years I've solely used Apple's AirPort Extreme Base Stations in all my homes and have numerous current generation models bridged and running well. As Apple has officially announced leaving the networking market, I began researching mesh networks. I decided on the Linksys Velop system as it's the only alternative Apple currently sells and endorses, thus it should be a perfect fit for my homes as my computers are Mac's (with a few Windows systems) and my mobile devices are iOS based (iPad Pro 10.5's and iPhone X's). I also have numerous HomeKit smart home devices from smart locks, lighting systems, garage and gate openers, thermostats, etc. and servers in my Berlin and New York homes. If Apple supports it, then it should be a perfect fit, especially as I use some of my servers for Time Machine. I haven't dealt with non-Apple routers in my home in years, so I was a bit trepidatious as my previous experiences with Linksys were far from great. The nodes are small and contrary to what some others have stated they aren't eyesores. In fact, I found the black nodes to be the perfect size, shape, and they blend in with their surroundings. I tested this unit in my 5,000 sq ft home which has two current generation Airport Extreme Base Stations (one in bridge mode). Either node can be the main node connected to your modem. The mobile app walks your through the setup process which was very easy and quick. After the first node is setup, simply follow the instructions to place the second node (and third if you have more). After the nodes were placed, the system ran tests to ensure each node was in the best location, then scanned your network for devices and analyzed your setup proper optimization. The two nodes cover 5,000 sq ft well, which saved me from having to purchase the three node system (and you can always add more nodes). My only issue with the nodes are the limited ethernet ports (two for each). As this is a mesh system, wireless connectivity is its main priority although you can connect the nodes with ethernet cables should you have them already placed. Simply setup the nodes wirelessly first, then connect each node to your wired setup. Unlike traditional routers which broadcast 2.4GHz and 5GHz as separate networks, these systems broadcast both under one wireless network name and use the 5GHz band by default, automatically switching to the lower ranger 2.4GHz depending on device and/or range. Each node's processors constantly evaluate the signal strength of each device in order to ensure the everything on the network has the best connection. Essentially, it's akin to an easy to setup bridged network system with intuitive and seamless device prioritization. The "Channel Finder" feature in the app evaluates connected devices and node placement should you wish to check that the system is properly functioning, however this is done automatically in the background. The speeds were slightly than my current AirPort Extreme Base Stations even though each utilize the same protocols. Trio-Band mesh networks are superior in this area as they are constantly adjusting to your needs. I tested this on my 300 Mbps down and 30 Mbps up system and found wireless speeds to be faster and more consistent, especially in area's that seemed to struggle maintaining a connection. The downside is the mobile application necessary for setting up and monitoring the system (although the desktop browser portal is a much better method as it allows for more fine tuning such as port forwarding, device prioritization, security options, etc). The iOS app UI seemed extremely basic and disappointing. In fact, it turned me off so much that I'm on the fence whether or not I should keep this system or sell it online. It's very limiting especially with naming and categorizing devices (the icons are not only hideous and generic at best, they are limiting as only a handful of devices are listed). Port forwarding allocation is archaic and my Synology servers did not recognize the systems UPnP or NAT and many manufacturers have been slow in developing proper mesh system support. Port Forwarding and DHCP Reservations are the only way to ensure LAN and external connectivity, which I normally do for all my systems. Unfortunately I experienced a handful connection issues over the 2-3 weeks in which I used the system. Sometimes a node would drop its connection, requiring the system to search for the node and ensure it was properly functioning. I had to restart it a few times as well, which I rarely had to do with my Apple wireless routers. At the end, a windstorm came in and the power flickered yet was never lost and my equipment is attached to server grade UPS's, etc. Yet the entire system lost all the settings. As there is no way to save your configuration to your computer as you can with other systems such as Apple's Airport Utility, this meant I had to setup the entire network from scratch. At this point, I packed up the system and reconnected my AirPort Extreme Base Stations and in a few minutes was back online. Pros: Speeds, coverage, seamless adaption Cons: Terrible mobile app necessary for setup and usage, lack of ethernet ports (although a simply switch remedies this issue), no dedicated desktop apps, no way to backup your system configuration should it fail

Hardware Set-up: Cujo, Arris Surfboard 8200, Linksys Velop (3 Pack), Linksys SE3005 (5 Port Switch), 4TB WD MyCloud, and a Philips Hue Bridge. I've seen a lot of bad reviews on this product. So, I wanted to write about my experience. Setup was fast, easy, and seemless! I have zero compatibility issues with any device, and I have about 50 connected, this includes smart lights, ring products, etc... This is a very solid mesh networking solution and I'd recommend it to anyone. My speed and range have stayed amazing without a single drop.

Where I was having all sorts of connection and bottleneck and restart woes with my previous router and extenders, EVEN though that router promised to cover the entire house in it's advertising, as soon as I set up this system, all the problems have vanished. We get super strong coverage throughout the entire house and even venturing outside to about 75' from the house in any direction on the property. No buffer issues anymore on the roku box, no sudden disconnections, no having to go to the den to reboot the router. AND, aesthetically these are rather attractive and fit into our decor perfectly. Setup was a breeze...the things practically set themselves up. We are extremely happy with this investment and would definitely suggest this product to anyone looking for something trustworthy.

I wanted to cover a 2400 sq.ft. house and a 900 sq.ft. detached garage apartment with a WiFi signal. The house was easy enough, my 5 y.o. router handles it no problem, but I really thought I was going to have run CAT cable from the modem-connected router that's located centrally in the main house to a slave router in the apartment which is approximately 35 ft away. I discussed my situation with a Best Buy employee and he suggested trying the Linksys Velop mesh router before I run cable. I had my doubts but I'm happy to say that climbing around the attic and digging a trench to hide a CAT wire between the 2 buildings won't be necessary, the Velop system works beautifully and set-up couldn't have been easier; the app walks you step-by-step through the process. I have a strong WiFi signal in both buildings and everywhere in-between. The signal even covers my entire back yard which is a pleasant surprise and is good enough everywhere to stream movies and play on-line games. My expectations are seldom surpassed but this Linksys Velop mesh WiFi system did just that. Great product!

I tried a number of different setups with wireless routers and range extenders and whatever I did I could not get good signal in my office. I set up 3 of these in about 15 minutes and I am getting 225 down (with 150 as my internet plan) and signal does not cut out. Amazed at the speed and constancy, you must give this a go!

Easiest, simplest set up I have ever done. Twenty minutes, three nodes, multiple devices. Immediately increased access speed and provided WiFi access to dead zones in my house including two bedrooms and immediately outside. Well worth the cost even if I had not saved seventy dollars. Used contactless, curbside service which was uncomplicated and quick. From online purchase to store to driveway less than one hour. My only regret is that I waited so long to take the plunge. Be safe; be smart; be well!

Okay, first let me just say that any person looking at this should understand what this is, this is a "whole" home wifi solution, what does that mean? That means that this device is created for the purpose of giving you stronger WIFI connectivity in your "whole" entire home. It is designed to clear dead spots, I did tons of research on items such as power line boosters, range extenders, no, I wouldn't recommend you go that route, those devices are essentially a connection of a connection, if that makes any sense. If it doesn't then what I mean is that if you have a 5 bar connection standing next to your router but a 2 bar when you go to your bathroom, placing a range extender in between truly only gives you a stronger connection of a weaker connection. Again, what this system does differently is that it makes the NODS (the devices in the box) speak to each other more intimately. One thing I strongly would like to point out is that you need to have a solid understanding of your home floor plan, failure to understand how much space your property has could result in inconsistent connection speeds, and if you're like me and trust your eyes with using speed test apps then this can drive you absolutely mad! I had a situation where I was using wifi and in certain spots it was just testing off. I found this to be a fix by simply moving one NOD into my master bathroom, I previously had it in my master bedroom. You position these by setting the first unit next to your modem of choice, I use one provided by Comcast Xfinity, one Ethernet (a flat one is provided in the box) is all you need to connect it to your modem, you're going to need to download Linksys application or go to their website to configure things, I did both, just because I wanted to understand the fluidity and if it was really as easy as they said it would be to setup, it was, but once you do that you then follow a step by step setup, once the first NOD is talking to the modem then you proceed to find where you want the second, Linksys claims each NOD covers 2000 square feet of living space, keep in mind that is very subjective, I'm almost willing to bet that those tests are done in a complete open floor plan but I have no proof, it is safe to assume that when they tested that and decided to give that claim that, that is MAX range, so expect each NOD to realistically cover around 600-1200 square feet for solid speeds, the home that I own is 3200 square feet, single level and I have a three pack installed, once you setup the first NOD, you then go and plug up the second and third just using the power cable provided, one at a time and you're going to also use the application on your mobile device (you'll need DATA because at this point you have no WIFI working) or you'll be using a laptop. The program or app will tell you if it's a good spot or not, again, I tested this by going to an unrealistic area to see if it would notify me if it were not good and it seems to detect weak and strong signals when calibrating itself. I've babbled enough and so I'll sum this up with stating that I also own the Linksys 9500 model router, look it up please as it's still open for sale on Best Buy website for around $300-$400 dollars, it was super good but this was even better. Find yourself a high quality Ethernet switch if you need hardwire connections as I did, this technology is really ahead of the game. I haven't tried any other companies options for mesh network but all of the consumer reports and product reviewers state that this particular options beats out Google, etc. -TKK