TP-LinkDeco X55 AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System - Covers up to 6500 Sq.Ft, Replaces Wireless Router and Extender, 3 Gigabit Ports per Unit, Supports Ethernet Backhaul, Deco X55(3-Pack)

Thanks to Prime Day it was time for me to finally upgrade my home network. I was looking for a reasonably priced WiFi-6 mesh system with 3 stations (1 main + 2 satellites), at least AX3000 speeds, and a price tag of up to $300. It came down to two choices: the Eero 6+ and what I chose instead, the TP-Link Deco X55. Both systems had similar specs, but I liked how the TP-Link Deco had 3x Gigabit ethernet ports per satellite (the Eeeros have just 2). That meant I could wire each satellite in a daisy-chain configuration for a wired backhaul AND connect the 3rd ethernet plug to the gigabit switches I had at each satellite location. This meant that all of my hard-wired devices could stay hardwired, while adding mesh WiFi at full speeds (no bandwidth reserved for transmission thanks to the backhaul).Installation was quick and easy - I simply turned off my cable modem, disconnected my previous router, installed one of the Deco X55's in its place (in my bedroom), and turned everything back on. After downloading the TP-Link Deco app I had an internet connection set up and good to go in less than 5 minutes! Once that was working, I added the other two Deco's into the mix - one in the living room and one in the family room - with all three forming an almost perfect triangle for whole-home coverage. In less than 15 minutes after opening the box, I had a fast, Wifi-6 mesh system in my home.I had been using an older AC1900 router for almost 10 years now and back then it was just fine - but with more and more smart home devices being added to my home, it no longer was enough. I have a medium-sized amount of smart home devices (around 50 devices including hubs) and on occasion, I'd experience signal dropouts on some of the farther cameras, and other devices would sporadically go offline/online at random. With the X55 mesh installed, all of my issues disappeared! My smart cameras used to show a signal strength of between 80% (indoor cameras) down to around 55% (outdoor cameras). With the TP-Link Deco mesh in place, the signal strength changed to 100% indoor and 95% outdoor - a major improvement for sure. Pulling up live and recorded footage from the outdoor camera is so much quicker now. All of the other indoor smart devices I have all show 98-100% signal strength. Needless to say, this was a definite upgrade!As for my rating, I give it a solid 4-stars. There are a few small details that keep me from giving it a full 5-stars: some missing features that I had with my old router. One of them is being able to bulk reserve IPs by entering them into the app beforehand; with the TP-Link Deco, the device has to be connected to the network FIRST (with whatever DHCP IP address the Deco gives it), then you have to go into the app to reserve it with a static IP. I would rather have the more common table where you just enter each Mac address, static IP, and device name and it's done. Another missing feature is being able to have at least 2 separate SSIDs (not including a guest SSID). With the Deco you can only have one main SSID and one isolated guest SSID.Finally, to see some speed numbers I ran speed tests using both fast.com and speedtest.com, and the day before installing the mesh system I had an average internet speed of around ~260Mbps. The day after I installed the TP-Link mesh system my speeds went up to well over 490Mbps! Downloading is a lot faster, and streaming is super snappy as well.So in the end, I am very happy with my purchase of the TP-Link Deco X55 Wifi6 mesh system. Aside from the small feature complaints above, everything is awesome! I no longer have devices going offline/online. My internet speed has almost doubled (my old router was the bottleneck!) and streaming seems quicker as well. If you are looking for a mesh system to upgrade your current home network to the current WiFi6 standards, I would say that this is definitely a good buy!------------EDIT 02.18.2024: TP-Link Improvements Are Awesome!TP-Link has been steadily pushing out Deco firmware and app updates, and my -1 star complaint no longer exists thanks to two added features that completely address my complaints:- CUSTOM IP RESERVATIONSFirst, I don't have to play the game of connecting a new device, letting the Deco assign a DHCP address to it, then having to go back into the app to manually change the reserved IP. Now I can go straight into the Deco app and under the "Address Reservation" tab I can now select "Custom"; this brings me to a page where I can manually type in a MAC address AND the local IP address that I want to assign to it - without having to connect the device first.- SEPARATE IoT NETWORKMy other complaint was that I only had the option to have two SSIDs - one main and one guest network. I wanted to be able to configure another SSID specifically so I could group all of my Smarthome devices, and after a couple of firmware updates later TP-Link not only gave me that option, but an even better one: they added a dedicated Iot (Internt of Things) network! Not only does this group my sparthome devices separate from my main network, but it also restricts communications between networks so that the IoT devices stay isolated. This is exactly the feature I wanted them to add during my initial review.- VPN COMPATIBILITYTP-Link has also added the option to use a VPN (server or client) directly through the router, as opposed to having to VPN each individual device manually. Furthermore, the VPN can be assigned to the network in two ways: either all devices (every device connected to the mesh will go through the VPN) or I can select specific MAC addresses that must pass through the VPN before reaching the Internet (tI chose option #2). With this I can make sure that certain devices that like to "call home" can only do so through the VPN, helping to protect my network and privacy.All in all, TP-Link has done a great job at supporting these devices, and their ability to add additional features over time have made me feel confident to revise my initial review now give this system a worthy 5 stars!

Highly recommended upgrade for those looking to increase their wireless speeds with several connected devices. I thought it wouldn't be much of an improvement over my DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem/router + Wifi extender, which appeared to be significantly throttling my bandwidth, but mesh Wifi is in fact different and more effective at extending range and providing speed consistency throughout the home.Why I purchased:I decided to try a mesh network as we were having some issues with streaming video quality, such as blurry/pixilated picture on our streaming TV, or buffering/loading on tablets or other devices playing video. A couple suspected reasons for these bandwidth issues were ethernet connected computer(s), use of a Wifi extender, and/or a Wifi security camera at the extent of the Wifi signal range that were reducing the connection quality of the other devices mentioned.Improvements after installing:One main issue I was seeing was an outdoor security camera that had a weak signal was having trouble staying connected. On my smartphone, I also had trouble staying connected to my Wifi when standing next to the camera outside. After installing this system, I have a strong signal throughout the house and near this camera, and speed tests indicate a much faster connection speed than before. There was a +50 Mbps jump in the upstairs far corner of the house. The security camera also remained connected much more reliably. I thought that it wouldn't be possible to still get a great signal across the house, figuring there was no way connecting through a satellite would provide any kind of decent speed, but it does! My understanding is that the software for this system is able to appropriately manage consistency of connections (through all connection points), so there is in fact an advanced capability over older routers to keep speeds high regardless of distance from the main router.Setup:Installing this system took less than 10 minutes to be fully up and running - very easy plug-and-play. May take 20 or 30 minutes for someone not as savvy.. but between the app and the automatic connections between the routers, it couldn't have been easier, and very difficult to mess up. Simply connect an ethernet cable from your modem to the main router (each of the 3 units is the same), connect the power cable, then download the app on your smartphone. In the app, after some brief setup steps (includes creating an account), the main step is to connect to the router through the on-screen prompts. From there, you can name your wireless network and password.Connecting the other 2 satellite routers:Place them within a reasonable distance from the main router (~20-30 feet/1-2 rooms away), then plug in to power. Wait ~2 minutes and done! The whole system was live and wirelessly connected through the main router. I couldn't believe it. In my relatively square-shaped house with the main router on one far side, I was able to place the 3 routers in a triangular pattern, where both satellites are about equal distance from the main router in the middle of the house (about 20 feet each). If your router is in the middle of your home, you may want to place the satellites at either end. I believe a daisy chain (main router at one end like I have, then 2 satellites in a line across the house) is also an option for larger, more expansive homes to maximize the range. I didn't test the daisy chain, but I'd expect diminishing speed at the far end (although one may be surprised based on my observations so far with the management of the traffic at farther distances). While at the far end of my house and running a speed test, I can't tell that I'm not connected to my main router as the speed is still very good. The daisy chain may slightly differ, but can't say for sure.2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz networks:Wait, you don't need to set up 2 different networks?? The app basically eliminates all complexity over traditional router setup apps, making the setup choices totally accessible for anyone of any networking skill level. In the app, there is an option to broadcast 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz only, or 5 GHz only. I remained on the first option as I needed support for 2.4 GHz-only devices. Otherwise, 5 GHz would be fine and preferred for everything (supports faster speeds). Apparently, the single network name/password automatically creates a dual band setup, if choosing both. Devices that connect apparently are favored to the optimal band - frankly, I don't know the details there, but would assume 5 GHz connects first over 2.4, unless only compatible with 2.4.Refurbished vs. New:No difference here. If you want to save a little money, refurbished is a good option for you. The box came with everything in it including an ethernet cable as if it were new. As far as condition, there were a few scuffs on the units, but nothing terrible. I could almost rub off any blemishes. I'm not looking at them anyway.Overall, highly recommended for those looking to make the leap to a mesh network, or debating whether mesh is just all hype (it's not with this system).

The TP-Link Deco X55 (AX3000) is an affordable Wi-Fi 6 mesh system ideal for Spectrum gigabit users. Its dual-band AX3000 speeds (up to 2.4 Gbps) and AI-driven mesh optimization deliver seamless coverage for 6,500 sq. ft., eliminating dead zones in large homes. Each unit’s three Gigabit ports support wired backhaul for faster node-to-node speeds, while the Deco app simplifies setup and management. Users praise its plug-and-play simplicity and ability to handle 150+ devices simultaneously without lag. Though lacking multi-gig ports, the X55 offers excellent value for Spectrum households seeking reliable whole-home Wi-Fi at a budget-friendly price