TP-Link Deco M4 is a Wi-Fi mesh network throughout the house that will not ruin your wallet

TP-Link Deco M4 is currently one of the cheapest systems to create a Wi-Fi network throughout the house. We check it in practice.

Wi-Fi mesh is the easiest way to cover the entire home with Wi-Fi. I already had contact with mesh networks and they made a great impression on me with the quality of work and ease of configuration, but I did not take them into account in my own home, because I did not smile at spending a minimum of PLN 1,500 on a sensible system. And mesh systems have just begun with this price level.

When the option to test the TP-Link Deco M4 system appeared, I immediately volunteered. Looking at the parameters, the system seemed to meet my needs, and you can buy it for ... 440 PLN, which was a big surprise for me. Is cheap equipment able to provide a good quality Wi-Fi network?

How does TP-Link Deco M4 work?

TP-Link Deco M4 is the basic Mesh Wi-Fi system consisting of two Deco M4 devices. This is a solution for home users, and two Deco M4 devices are to allow covering 260 square meters of space, but a lot depends on the layout of the rooms and the quality of building materials. Additional Deco devices can be connected to the system, with up to 10 base stations can be connected in one network, to which a total of 100 devices can be connected.

All Deco devices form one common Wi-Fi network and ensure smooth roaming, which is unnoticeable for the user to switch between access points. In a properly configured network, we do not lose connection even when we move around the house. We can start downloading the file on the ground floor, in the meantime go to the first floor, and the smartphone or laptop will not interrupt the transfer. The system ensures a stable connection and at the same time to achieve the highest possible speed.

Deco M4 devices can work in three modes: main router, access point or network amplifier. Deco M4 support Wi-Fi ac and 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bandwidth. The transmission speeds are 300Mb / s in the 2.4 GHz band and 867Mb / s in the 5 GHz band.

If you can enable Facebook on your smartphone, you'll also be able to set up a TP-Link Deco M4 Wi-Fi network.

In the box with the set you will find two Deco M4 devices, two power supplies and an ethernet cable. The network configuration is carried out on a smartphone, in the Deco application available on Android and iOS. The application works only in English.

The entire configuration process is very easy and even a non-technical person can deal with it. The next application screens show step by step how to connect devices. The first Deco M4 must be connected with an Ethernet cable to the modem provided by the internet service provider and to the electricity. The application detects the device and configures it itself. The next Deco M4 can be set, for example, upstairs and all you need to do is connect to the electricity.

You do not need to have any knowledge of the network configuration to cope with the creation of a home Wi-Fi mesh network covering the whole house. In the default configuration, the application will do everything for us. The user only has to select the network name and set the password.

The Deco M4 devices themselves are very minimalist.

Deco M4 have the shape of rolls. I really like the fact that the diode informing about the work status is visible only from the top, so that the router can be placed on the RTV cabinet even in a minimalist interior, and no diode will not spoil the climate. The diodes do not bother them at night.

There are also 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the routers, except the power outlet and the reset button. It is a pity that we do not have four sockets, but we could not expect a different solution in the budget mesh set.

TP-Link Deco M4 in practice.

Let's get to the heart of the TP-Link Deco M4 practical test.

I use a fiber optic connection directly connected to the home (FTTH), and the bandwidth is symmetrical 300 Mb / s for upload and download. The optical fiber goes to the garage, where my operator installed the modem. I have an ethernet cable connected to the modem, the other end of which is in my office located on the first floor. I set the main Deco device in the office, and additional in the living room, on the ground floor.

This distribution provided a stable Wi-Fi network in the whole house with an area of ​​132 sq m. I do not have any dead spot. In the living room, in the immediate vicinity of Deco M4, I receive transfers of approximately 235 MB / s download and 293 MB / s upload.

tp-link deco m4 review

In the open kitchen the speed is 217/268 Mb / s, the smartphone is not "seen" in the straight line of the router.

tp-link deco m4 review

In the closed toilet the result is 84/231 Mb / s.

tp-link deco m4 review

On the first floor, the best result is recorded in the office where the router is. I get 209/294 Mb / s here.

tp-link deco m4 review

In the room and bedroom I have 205/292 and 193/230 Mb / s, respectively.

tp-link deco m4 review

tp-link deco m4 review

In turn, in the closed bathroom the transfer amounted to 131/122 Mb / s.

tp-link deco m4 review

The whole layout looks as follows. The red "X" symbols are the places where I placed Deco M4 devices.

tp-link deco m4 review

tp-link deco m4 review

What software features does TP-Link Deco M4 offer?

All network settings can be changed in the Deco application. On its main screen, we can see the devices that are currently connected to the network, devices that are currently offline, as well as the status of Deco devices. We can also extend the network at any time with another router / access point.

The application allows you to create a guest network, with a separate SSID name and your own access password. By default, the application informs us of any new device that connects to our network, and for this we can add a device to the blacklist, after which it will lose the ability to connect to the network. So we have full control over who is connected to the Wi-Fi network.

An important element of the application is the section devoted to parental control. The application has four predefined filters: child, younger teenager, teenager and adult. Each can be adapted to your needs, blocking entire categories of pages (adult content, paid, social media, games), as well as specific websites that will be unavailable. For this we can set a maximum time that a given group will be able to spend on the Internet, divided into working days and weekends. You can also completely block Internet access at selected times.

The application also allows you to change VLAN parameters, address reservations, port forwarding and settings for IPv4 and IPv6. We also have a QoS (Quality of Service) section in which we can give selected devices a higher priority to take precedence in using the link.

In addition, we get the option of displaying monthly network reports and granting network administrator rights to selected persons.

In summary: it's worth it.

TP-Link Deco M4 is one of the cheapest solutions to build a Wi-Fi mesh network in the whole house. I expected that the equipment will have problems with ensuring a stable transfer, but I was wrong. In every room of the house with an area of ​​132 sq m, I have a very good range, and the transfer rates are also very satisfactory.

tp-link deco m4 review

In fact, the only compromise is software in which we do not find many advanced configuration options. However, this is not important for the average user who would just like to install the system and forget about it. The software enables, among others parental control, creating a guest network, or preview of connected devices, so all the most important functions are provided.

It is difficult to get any attention to TP-Link devices, especially in terms of price. The equipment meets the manufacturer's declarations, and the devices themselves are extremely minimal.

* The entry was made in cooperation with the TP-Link brand.



TP-Link Deco M4 is a Wi-Fi mesh network throughout the house that will not ruin your wallet

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