To test these mesh networking systems, we have two notebooks, one acting as a host machine and the other as a client device. The router, or in this case, node, acts as a gateway. Since mesh networking systems typically manage channel settings on their own, we will leave it that way. For systems where manual settings are possible, a channel bandwidth of 40MHz is selected where applicable, while 80MHz or more is used for the 5GHz AC band.
The client device is a 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is one of the few client devices in the market to come with a 3x3 Wi-Fi receiver, allowing it to achieve wireless speeds of up to 1,300Mbps.
To evaluate, we will be measuring the time and calculating the speed achieved when transferring a 1GB zip file. We will do multiple tests with different setups and different distances to simulate use around a typical single story flat and in a multi-story home.
Here are the test distances we used and what they represent:
In this test, we will be looking at the performance of a single mesh networking router in a single-story (using the different distance markers) and multi-story home.
In this test, we placed a second node in between the first node and the 15-meter mark to create a mesh network to get signal to the problematic 15-meter mark.
In this test, we placed a second node on the second floor and created a mesh network to expand Wi-Fi coverage on the second floor.
With the second node still on the second floor, we moved up to the third floor to see if we could still get a signal and what the systems' performance would be like.
It went down to the wire, but for us, the D-Link Covr-2202 did enough to edge out its rivals in this shootout. While its feature set pales in comparison to some of its competitors, the Covr-2202 delivers where it really matters. Its inoffensive and pleasant design means it should blend well in most homes, while its ease of use means even those clueless about Wi-Fi and networking should have no problems setting it up. But perhaps most importantly, it has impressive range and was the fastest router that we have tested by a good margin. That’s not all, it is also relatively affordable. So when you put everything together, the D-Link Covr-2202 is comfortably the best all-around mesh networking system in this shootout.
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Model | D-Link Covr-2202 | Netgear Orbi RBK20 | Synology MR2200ac | TP-Link Deco M9 Plus |
---|---|---|---|---|
Design | 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 9.0 |
Features | 8.0 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 8.5 |
Performance | 9.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.0 |
Value | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.5 |
Overall | 9.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
Price (2 units) | S$379 | S$429 | S$398 | S$369 |
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