We are going to discuss with great detail the comparison between Linksys Velop vs TP Link Deco M9. Both of these products are designed to help you set up a reliable wi-fi network in your home in a simple and practical manner. However, there is some price difference between them, and they do come with different features.
Continue reading to find out more information about
- The design and dimensions of each unit
- The connectivity features on Linksys Velop and TP Link Deco M9
- The comparison of their coverage area
- The connection speeds of Linksys Velop vs TP Link Deco M9
- Which wi-fi system that is generally more recommended for you
Linksys Velop: Design and Features
We will begin with Linksys Velop. In a previous post, we have seen how Linksys Velop vs Eero Pro compare to each other. Although it is not the most compact wi-fi mesh router in the market, Linksys Velop is still a very attractive option due to a number of benefits that it offers.
Each unit measures 3.1 inches wide, 3.1 inches deep, and 7.3 inches tall. The weight is about 630 grams, and the body is block-shaped. It sports a white finish with a gray stamped logo. Design-wise, Linksys Velop is quite different from most other products in the category. Still, it should be still room-friendly enough to fit into the space on your desk or shelf.
One reason behind the somewhat bulky shape of Linksys Velop vs TP Link Deco M9 is the components that it has been packed with. On the back panel of every unit, there are two ethernet ports. One of these will be used for connecting to your ISP, whereas the other can be used for providing a more stable and faster wired connection to a computer. Yes, despite being a wi-fi mesh router, Linksys Velop doesn’t completely abandon the wired option.
Linksys Velop is also armed with six internal antennas and high-powered amps, a quad-core 716MHz processor, and a 512MB RAM. It has three simultaneous wi-fi bands on 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 5GHz, and it supports beamforming on all of them.
As a note, when you are using multiple Linksys Velop units, a radio band that is different from those three is used to connect one unit to the other. This way, adding a node to your mesh to expand the coverage won’t reduce the network’s bandwidth. The connection is secured with the WPA2 Personal encryption.
Linksys Velop: Setup
Setup is performed through the Linksys app. It will guide you through every step, and the directions are clear and easy to follow. You don’t need to be tech-savvy at all to get the job done in several minutes.
After installing the Linksys app, just run it and follow the instructions. You will be asked to connect the Linksys Velop unit to your ISP via an Ethernet cable. Then, it will run some firmware update. Once the process is finished, you will be asked whether you would like to add more units or not.
Adding a new unit will allow you to expand the coverage of your wi-fi network. When adding a new unit, it will be considered as a child node, and the very first unit that you have set-up will be considered as the parent node. A child node doesn’t need to connect to the ISP directly. Instead, it will access the Internet via its parent.
The process of adding a child node is actually simple, but make sure that you don’t place the new unit too far away from the primary unit. This is especially true if there are plenty of walls in-between them. A diagnostic test during the setup will tell you whether the placement is good enough or not.
Once the wi-fi mesh has been setup, you can customize the settings also via the Linksys app. Here, you can also see statistics such as how many connected devices there currently are, implement guest access settings, and set parental controls. The company also provides 24/7 customer support and a 3-year warranty.
Linksys Velop: Performance
Both the coverage and performance of Linksys Velop vs TP Link Deco M9 are superior. With a single Linksys Velop unit, you can create a wi-fi network that covers a 2,000-sq-ft area. That should be sufficient for two bedrooms. If you add another unit, you can cover up to 4,000 square feet. The maximum number of units in a network is three, and this will give you a coverage of 6,000 square feet – should be sufficient for an entire home.
In use, Linksys Velop rarely has issues like sudden reboots and connection drops. Overall, the connection stability is very good. Not to mention that there are ethernet ports available for applications that require reliability.
According to the specifications, the 2.4GHz band has a total bandwidth of 400Mbps, whereas each of the 5GHz bands has a total bandwidth of 867Mbps. In practice, you can expect a stable wi-fi connection of about 60Mbps if you are quite close to the node, or 30Mbps if you are in the edge of the covered area. Linksys Velop is easily among the best wi-fi mesh systems in terms of performance.
TP Link Deco M9: Design and Features
Now, let’s take a look at TP Link Deco M9. It is a small and slim wi-fi gear. It is shaped like a disk with a white finish. It measures 6.0 inches in diameter and 1.3 inches in thickness. You can simply place it on a flat surface such as a table or a shelf, or get a third-party wall mount.
On the top of the unit, there is an LED light indicator. It will light up in yellow during start-up, blue during configuration, and green when the system is up and working. It will glow red when the internet connection is having a problem.
Just like its competitor that we previously discussed, TP Link Deco M9 has three simultaneous bands of 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 5GHz that are respectively rated at 400Mbps, 867Mbps, and 867Mbps. However, TP Link Deco M9 also has built-in Bluetooth for setup and the Zigbee technology for integration with compatible home automation products.
On each unit, you can actually find two ethernet ports and a USB port. Unfortunately, the company says that these ports are only for future use. They probably will deliver a firmware update to enable these ports. There is also a small reset switch which, when pressed, will return the default factory firmware and settings.
TP Link Deco M9: Setup
The setup of the Linksys Velop vs TP Link Deco M9 wi-fi mesh system is also performed via an app, which is called Deco. You can install the app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad device. It is fairly straight-forward and easy to use, and is equipped with illustrations to make the process as easy as possible.
In order to get the app, you can scan a QR code on the included the manual. As a note, the manual is extremely small and difficult to read. So, it is a good thing that you won’t need to open the manual at all, as the setup is guided through the app and there is a downloadable version that is much easier to read.
First of all, plug the TP Link Deco M9 unit to a power outlet and your ISP modem. Then, open the app; you may need to create an account first before continuing. Select the operation type for the router, and give it a name. Next, you will be asked to create a name and password for your wi-fi network.
Afterward, you can continue by adding another TP Link Deco M9 unit. The app will automatically scan for an extension unit. When you have added all the nodes, the app will perform a firmware update. The company provides some FAQs and tutorial videos regarding the setup. The product is backed by a 2-year warranty. Overall, the customers are satisfied with TP Link’s support.
TP Link Deco M9: Performance
Armed with a Qualcomm IPQ 4019 control chip which is armed with a 717MHz quad-core processor and some 512MB RAM, TP Link Deco M9 claims to be able to handle over 100 simultaneous device connections with a dynamic streamlined data flow.
The company further claims that, with two units in a network, you can cover 4,500 square feet. With three, you can cover 6,500 square feet. In theory, you can even connect ten units into the same network for a mansion-size coverage, but you will have to buy the additional units individually and consider the fact that they will all share your ISP’s bandwidth.
Unfortunately, the performance of TP Link Deco M9 is often erratic. Sometimes, the units indeed provide fast connection speeds. But at other times, the connection speeds drop and become unreliable, even when there aren’t many connected devices. It also struggles when dealing with walls and ceilings.
Linksys Velop vs TP Link Deco M9
Conclusion
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Between the two, Linksys Velop is generally more recommended. It has better overall performance. The coverage is good, and the wireless connections are generally fast and stable. Linksys Velop is also relatively easier to set up.