review
Devolo Wifi 6 Mesh Repeater 3000 and 5400 Review Wifi Strengthening Solutions
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Devolo's
new Wifi 6 Mesh Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400 solve the
drawbacks you typically get with Wifi repeaters by increasing network bandwidth and boosting Wifi signal boost via mesh Wifi
networking, which enables the Repeater 3000 and 5400 to roam seamlessly and boost a WiFi signal over long
distances (in direct line of sight).
The
Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400 are an upgraded version of their
predecessor - the devolo Wifi
AC repeater+ which uses Wifi 5 (802.11ac). Repeater
3000 and Repeater 5400 use Wifi 6 (802.11ax),
which is the newest Wifi standard delivering faster
performance.
The
faster performance is achieved by decreasing
bandwidth congestion via the integration of multiple
antennas for multiple simultaneous connections and built-in
Gigabit Ethernet designed for applications that need high
Internet speeds such as online gaming. The Gigabit
Ethernet feature is also useful when
downloading huge files, streaming 4K TV, running a
public web server and gameplay live streaming.
Devolo's WiFi 6 Repeater 3000 has a transmission speed up to 3000
Mbps (3 Gbps),
while the devolo Wifi 6 Repeater 5400 has a transmission speed of
up to 5400 Mbps (5.4 Gbps). Mbps stands for Megabit
per second, while Gbps translates to Gigabits per
second.
There are, of course, other ways to fix a weak Wifi signal like
getting a more powerful Wifi router (e.g. mesh router) with more
antennas and spatial streams or, using a second router connected
to a main router via Ethernet as a wired range extender. The neat
thing about the Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400 is that
they work similarly to a mesh router. You can buy multiple
3000 and 5400 repeaters and use them like node access points, placing
them strategically around your home weakest Wifi points.
Unlike
standard Wifi extenders or Wifi repeaters, the Repeater 3000 and
Repeater 5400 are designed specifically to work together
and provide a more seamless roaming experience for your devices.
Another neat "mesh networking"
feature you get with the Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400 with
is high-speed LAN ports, which allow you to run a dedicated
wired Ethernet connection (backhaul) between repeaters so, the
outgoing traffic can travel directly back to the router faster and
more reliably with less frequency cross-talk.
If you currently
use an old devolo repeater/extender, upgrading to
the Repeater
3000 and Repeater 5400 could be worthwhile depending on your needs. That said, an
old repeater/Wifi extender are still useful as a bridge. When paired with an Ethernet
switch, you can connect all your devices by gigabit LAN to each
other using the port on the Wifi extender. This method will
allow you to wire up something like a security camera
without having to route Ethernet all the way to your main router.
The mobile app interface is easy to use and user friendly,
guiding you through entire setup process. There is no account
registration needed, other than agreeing to Devolo's privacy agreement
and granting some app permissions. The app is also designed to collect
data anonymously but, you can opt out by unticking the box. From the Home Network app, you can also access your router and change settings.
In terms of construction, the Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400 are made of fire resistant plastic with strategic perforations to allow cooling and ventilation. Repeater 3000 has the form factor of a Devolo powerline adapter, while Repeater 5400 looks more like a mini router. The repeaters integrate leds built-in to feedback connection status, as well as a reset pinhole and button for WPS pairing. Repeater 5400 weighs 316 grams and comes with a 1.5 meters long power adapter.
In terms of construction, the Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400 are made of fire resistant plastic with strategic perforations to allow cooling and ventilation. Repeater 3000 has the form factor of a Devolo powerline adapter, while Repeater 5400 looks more like a mini router. The repeaters integrate leds built-in to feedback connection status, as well as a reset pinhole and button for WPS pairing. Repeater 5400 weighs 316 grams and comes with a 1.5 meters long power adapter.
Performance-wise, the Internet speed was tested via speedtest.net.
The Repeater 3000 clocked 39.7 Mbps for download speed and 16ms low
latency (ping). Repeater 5400 clocked 46.93 Mbps download speed and 18ms
low latency (ping). Anything below 20ms is very good.
Potential deal breakers
- No benefit from Wifi 6 performance unless your router also supports Wifi 6 and has similar antenna setup as the Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400
- Repeater 5400 does not plug into an electrical socket like Repeater 3000
- No passthrough plug (Repeater 3000)
- Repeater 3000 sticks out of the electrical outlet more noticeably than a devolo powerline adapter
- Reinforced concrete ceilings, lightweight walls with metal profiles and underfloor heating have a dampening effect on the WiFi signal
- It creates another network
- Not suitable for boosting a poor Wifi signal
- Not ideal for large homes with multiple floors, unless using add-on units
- No Ethernet cables included
Selling points
- Easy way to boost your Wifi without upgrading your router
- Plug and play - ready to use in minutes via WPS pairing
- Can be used as a boost to a devolo powerline adapter
- Wifi 6 standard - higher performance
- Backwards compatible with Wifi 5 and older Wifi generations
- Built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports for online gaming, livestreaming and more
- Compatible with all routers
- Supports Guest Wifi
- Can be setup as a mesh network or repeater
- Telephone, App and email support provided
- Prosumer grade Wifi repeater
- Turns a wired Ethernet connection into wireless Ethernet
- WPA2/WPA3 encryption standards (same used by banks)
- 3-year manufacturer's warranty
- Can be used as an AP (access point)
- Mesh Wifi integration
- 2x2 MIMO antenna configuration
- Compatible with 2Ghz and 5Ghz
- Devolo mobile app support (Home Network app)
Whether you get the Wifi 6 Repeater 3000 or Repeater 5400 depends
on your own specific requirements. The Repeater 5400 is, essentially, an upgraded
version of the Repeater 3000 with faster transmission speed, thanks to its 4x4/2x2 MIMO
antenna configuration, which enables the Repeater 5400 to split
the 5400 Mbps throughput over six spatial streams. Via 5Ghz,
Repeater 5400 can handle 4800 Mbps, while Repeater 3000 handles
2400 Mbps via 5Ghz. Both Repeater 3000 and 5400 handle 574 Mbps
via the 2.4Ghz radio band frequency.
Repeater 5400 is also equipped with two built-in Gigabit Ethernet
LAN ports as well. The main advantage of the Repeater 3000 is that
it plugs into the electrical outlet so, it is more compact and
takes up less space than the Repeater 5400, which is powered by an
external AC power adapter. You can buy the Repeater 3000 and Repeater 5400 from devolo and amazon.
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