Amazon.com: Customer reviews: TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) – Up to 5,500 Sq.ft. Coverage, Replaces WiFi Router and Extender, Gigabit Ports, Works with Alexa, 3-pack

Top positive review

great wifi coverage, easy to install and use

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2020

we moved during the pandemic and all of a sudden had to accommodate 4 children and 2 adults all needing Internet access at the same time. We had around 30 connected devices. We replaced our combined router/cable modem/wifi with a separate Arris Surfboard dedicated cable modem and used this product to do meshed wifi throughout our house.

Before setup we were getting continued wifi drops which often interuppted video calls even when we were in the basement with the wifi. After setup it now works seamlessly across our 3 floors and loft in our nearly 8000 square feet house... even extending into the yard. was expecting to need more than 3 but it did the job.

I think our prior issue was a combo of mixing the wifi with the router/modem and having two many devices connected at once (I was able to connect directly via an ethernet cable and work fine before so it wasn't our Internet connection).

the app is easy to use and provides good info. I haven't toyed around with the QOS aspects or parental controls yet but was surprised it had the options. look easy to just turn a device on or off.

Install was super easy (most smart products are now though)

Highly recommend this... no need to go pricier.

318 people found this helpful

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Eastern

Product use requires release of user's data

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2020

Read the privacy policy in the manual before you purchase. You can only install the device if you agree with the manufacturer's "privacy" policy. The policy includes the automatic download of user data, including internet use and much more. Why not just allow the customer the option to use the product without having to give their use data to the manufacturer? I did not install and sent it back. I will find another router.

1,551 people found this helpful

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Paul William Gordon

great wifi coverage, easy to install and use

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2020

Style: 3-5 Bedrooms,3-packVerified Purchase

318 people found this helpful

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ARVIN CASTRO

Finally WiFi that doesn't feel compromised

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2020

Style: 3-5 Bedrooms,3-packVerified Purchase

I have Verizon FIOS bundled service, so I have my TV, phone and internet all-in-one. While I do love FIOS, one of the negatives is that I had to use their bundled Gateway modem/router because of my TV and phone services. My house does have a wired ethernet network running thru it, which is great for all my desktop PC's and Home Theater setup, but the FIOS Gateway router's WiFi performance didn't adequately cover my three floor house (the FIOS modem is in my garage, next to my home wired-network box). To help solve this issue, I tried using the very well reviewed Netgear EX6200 range extender, but I could never get reliable performance out of it...random drops, slow speeds...it just didn't seem to like working with my FIOS router.

In looking for a better solution, my research led me to looking into Mesh networking, especially as these systems (supposedly) would not need to bypass my FIOS modem...it would work with it, just taking over the WiFi functions. I was apprehensive, so I wanted a cost effective product. Tp-Link's Deco series have gotten rave reviews and their latest S4-series was actually cheaper than the previous M4-series, so I took the plunge.

Getting the Deco S4 up and running is so much simpler than traditional WiFi extenders and boosters...download the TP-Link mobile app, launch it, pick your TP-Link product and it guides you through the whole process. There were some hiccups during installation, mainly where the app failed in finding the S4 devices on the first pass, but hitting the Try Again button solved the issue. The S4 router unit (all three are identical) simply plugs into any open port on the back of the FIOS modem. Once the Mesh network is setup on this S4 router, you can now easily add the other units throughout your home using the app. The app has a lot of functionality...you can set-up usage profiles, "Blacklist" devices from using your network, monitor network health and utilization, etc. Two other benefits with the S4 Deco units are that each includes two auto-sensing Gigabit ethernet ports (useful for network switches/hubs or plugging in non-WiFi devices, etc.) and that they are compatible with all TP-Link WiFi devices, so expansion and upgrades are easy.

Coverage is excellent. The big benefit to a Mesh network is that all the S4 units are essentially operating as one...so, as you move throughout your house (or even outside!), your devices simply pick-up the strongest signal from the best available S4 router. You don't need to manually switch from network to network like you would with a traditional WiFi extender. Speeds are surprisingly fast. I only have FIOS 100/100 service, but I am getting WiFi speeds of 100+ Mbps on my ground and third floors (both S4 units are wired) and almost a full 80 Mbps on my second floor with a non-wired S4 unit. Outside on my back deck, speed drops to "only" 60 Mbps...incredible! I spent about 4 hours stress testing the network and found it to be rock solid...very consistent and dependable WiFi performance.

If there were two things I'd list as negatives, they would be the lack of a web-based network tool/programmer (everything has to be done on the mobile app) and that there was a way to identify/isolate usage between the 2.4 and 5.0 bands.

This is a long review, but to sum it up, the Deco S4 is a great product. It's simple to set-up, works with your existing modem (a HUGE plus for Verizon FIOS users), doesn't act like a bottleneck and offers a huge area of coverage. And there's the very nice price. I finally feel like I'm getting all the WiFi I'm supposed to be getting!

235 people found this helpful

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Very fast, great coverage and works seamlessly

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2020

Style: 3-5 Bedrooms,3-packVerified Purchase

I had an Amazon eero three point mesh router that constantly gave me "connected, no internet" problems--because I believe the router often would not assign an IP address to a connected device. Happened with IoS, Mac OS and windows. It also would not connect certain Internet-of-things devices like my Ring doorbell or a webcam--perhaps because these devices were 2.4 ghz only--but the eero does have both a 5 ghz and 2.4 ghz network, so not sure what the problem was (form internet searches, I know I was not the only one having problems connecting the ring to the eero).

Did some further research, bought this tp-link product, and both problems I had with the eero went away. Coverage and speed are fantastic. Setup very similar to the eero. eero's form factor and app may be slightly more polished, but that is not a substitute for the fantastic functionality and instant connectivity of this tp-link router.

When you are looking at mesh routers, you might want to give extra point to the ones made by long-time networking companies, like netgear (orbi) and tp-link, as opposed to the ones from amazon (eero) and google (nest). Apple got out networking two years ago.

One small point--when power cycling the router and modem (hey, sometimes you have to do it), you have to disconnect the ethernet between the modem and the router as well, not just the power.

237 people found this helpful

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Troy

The Family Doesn't Complain Anymore

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2020

Style: Mesh WiFi for Thick Wall,3-packVerified Purchase

Man, I replaced my aweful Google WIFI with the Deco P9. It was easy. There isn't really too much to say. We have 4 people streaming, gaming and browsing all day, every day. And there aren't any issues. Mobile devices travel across access points in the mesh throughout the house. There are no dead spots even though we have thick, old walls. I have WIFI in the front yard, in the back yard and back in the parking area. That was all I needed. I am a little surprised that a cheaper solution replaced a garbage, expensive, non-solution from one of the largest companies in the world.

I was concerned after watching all of the videos and discovering that there was a configuration issue that would make it problematic for older devices to connect to the mesh network. However, when I installed everything, there was a firmware update that resolved the issue of not having separate 2.4Ghz/5Ghz bands. My Ring doorbell, thermostat and old firestick work just fine. I believe it had to do with that update.

If you have dead spots in your house. If you purchased Google WIFI, but the pucks don't communicate with one another, even if in the same room. If you have thick walls. If you have multiple floors and limited places to situate network hardware. This is the most perfect solution. I would know. I've spent thousands on expensive, overly huge routers. They didn't work as well or as simply as this. I'm quite happy with it.

58 people found this helpful

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Raymond R.

Powerline makes a difference in old house

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2020

Style: Mesh WiFi for Thick Wall,3-packVerified Purchase

Replaced an apple airport network when I had to work from home because its an old adobe and
brick house Southwester house with a modern addition in back. We were getting up to 150 mbps in the addition but my office was getting less than 5 mbps at the other end of the house. Read the reviews on Amazon and other sites and the choice seemed to be between a more expensive 3 channel mesh system or a cheaper two channel system. Then I spotted this PowerLine version for a bit more than the 2 channel system that specifically mentioned that it worked with thick walls. We have brick, adobe and plaster walls between the cable and my computer. Installed the new network and I'm getting 70-90 mbps in the office now. It works well and it was setup in less than 30 minutes as I played with placement of the two remote units around the house.

73 people found this helpful

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dr.corso

So Far So Great

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2020

Style: Mesh WiFi for Thick Wall,3-packVerified Purchase

I purchased this system this week because the router that I had was around 8 years old and I figured it was time for a change. In addition there were a few annoying dead spots around our house that I wanted to get rid of.

I focused my search on the new 'mesh' systems since they are reported to minimize those dead spots. I did some research using a few different sources online and found that T-Link was one of the best reviewed systems and found that the Deco 9 specifically was indicated for 'thick walls'. We live in a fairly new 4000sqft house with steel beams and multiple levels which seemed to have limited our old router. Given that this system is indicated for houses up to 6000sqft houses I thought that it might be overkill, but thought better to buy too much than run into the same issue that I was having. In addition this system is reported to use the houses existing wiring as a "belt and suspenders" form of communication between the base units secondary to wireless signals.

Upon receiving and unboxing the system, the set up was a breeze with the app that I downloaded on my phone. The primary unit is in my basement which is where the internet and modem is located. The other two units are on the main living level and were set up very quickly with no issues.

We have been living with the system for 4 or 5 days now and all of the dead spots from the previous router are gone. The signal in general is much stronger throughout the house and everything is running noticeably faster.

I would expect our experience to remain very positive and we are very pleased with our choice. Would highly recommend.

64 people found this helpful

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kssg

Great system, my review has actual numbers in it.

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020

Style: 3-5 Bedrooms,3-packVerified Purchase

Have a ranch house with a full finished basement, 2700 sq feet. Suddenlink router is in the northwest corner of main floor, home theater and laptop are in southeast corner of basement. Wifi was very bad down there using the wifi signal put out by the router, so I put in a powerline system a couple of years ago, but it recently shot craps.

I had never used a mesh system before, decided to try this one, bought and Installed it a month and a half ago. Easy to get running and it performs flawlessly. I plugged in one of the three units in the outlet next to the router, put a second unit on the same floor in the living room, and the 3rd unit is plugged into the outlet in the southeast corner of the basement.

Most reviews don't seem to give stats, but I think they are valuable. Doing an internet speed test on my desktop that is directly connected to the router via ethernet, I am getting around 100 mbps. Doing a speed test on my laptop in the basement by connecting to the network via wifi, I am now getting about 50 mbps. And if I connect my laptop via ethernet to the mesh unit that is plugged into the outlet in the basement, I am getting 90 mbps....only 10 less than a direct connection to the router.

Clearly my experience with this system has been outstanding.

28 people found this helpful

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Tom McGrew

It helps if you do it right!

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2021

Style: Add-on UnitVerified Purchase

Didn't set it up right but once I did it works like a champion. We probably have been using the TP-Link Deco Whole Home Mesh WiFi System (Deco S4) for over a year before I finally figured it out with the help of Spectrum technician. This was a typical operator error on my part. First I was using a excellent Modem and Router combination (TP-Link CR700) for a year before tempting the mesh system route. We needed to cover our house which is two stories and separate garage. The house had it's own challenges but the garage was over 60 feet from the house and 100 feet from the wireless router/modem. Worked good in the house but no reception in the garage. We did have some blind spots in coverage but over all it worked well. Then we bought a new TV for the bedroom which was a Toshiba/Fire UHD version that needed a much stronger wireless signal for viewing. That was followed by the pandemic which resulted in my wife and I working at home and she needed to now have wireless capabilities in the garage. So I started with the TP-Link Deco mesh system. First I need to uncouple the bridge used for the router and modem so it acted only as a modem. That took four months to figure out. Next we keep trying to link the garage Deco to the system and it was intermediate and unstable. So I boosted the internet speed from Spectrum and we lived with a unstable system. Finally I had Spectrum come out and take a look since we would go off line every couple of days and I would have to cold boot the modem/router. Their tech who was excellent by the way pointed out a couple of problems from my setup. The first was we needed a faster and newer modem which we got from them. The second was I was using a PlugLink which send signals over the house electrical grid and carries the wifi signal to Decos that were distant from the modem (the garage and master bedroom). The new Spectrum modem would be faster and send a better signal through the Mesh System. All of a sudden everything worked and not drops or need to reboot. The Decos all connected and didn't drop off the network like the old router/modem. The pesky garage received a clear wireless signal. My wife who sometimes had to use her iPhone for conference calls on Zoom or Skype found everything worked perfectly. Just wanted to tell my story and admit that I did not set up the system right but once we did it works really well. Even with the garage studio which is fairly far way from the house.

15 people found this helpful

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RBNJ

Amazing! Don’t expect it to do the impossible.

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020

Style: 3-5 Bedrooms,3-packVerified Purchase

TL:DR - This mesh system is awesome! But it’s not a miracle worker. Don’t expect near impossible results: be realistic!

Let me start by saying: NOBODY. And I mean NOBODY. Had a less adequate router and service than we did before this TP LINK Deco system.

I’m pushing the limits of this 3 “pod” Deco S4 system. I am asking it to cover a 5,450 SQ.FT. Area with many walls and electronic devices in between.

Before installing this system, we had countless dead spots in our home, including my bedroom which is on the opposite side of the house as our network equipment. And of course, like most of you reading this, my house doesn’t have cat5 (Ethernet) cabling through the walls.

These were setup using the wireless configuration.

Install was a breeze. Literally taking no more than 15 minutes (other reviewers mention this, but I was skeptical. It really is that easy...).

After the brief and painless installation, I get over 150 Mbps in 65% of the house, with about 30-60 Mbps on the edges of the house that had nothing before: Enough to stream Hulu Live TV in the farther bedroom of the house.

Huge Win!

All in all: these things kick butt. But, be realistic. Don’t expect wired access point speeds from wireless mesh systems (The marketing and other reviews make it quite easy to think this will magically solve all connectivity issues, no matter what).

If you’re looking for the next step up from a single router or a router/WiFi repeater setup, this is the ticket!

10 people found this helpful

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CF Davis

Live up to their promise

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2021

Style: 3-5 Bedrooms,3-packVerified Purchase

For my brick house, it's not possible to string Ethernet cable everywhere needed so I've tried various solutions over the years. The latest was 3 TP-Link wifi repeaters to get signal from one end where the router is to the other end of the house. My IT consultant told me about the Google Mesh system. When I researched mesh systems, I discovered the TP-Link Deco line. I've always had good experiences with TP-Link products and the Deco reaffirmed that.

I bought the three pack, anticipating I would need all three. After setting them up, I determined that I actually only needed two -- the signal is that much stronger than traditional means. This finally seems to be the end to 15 years of struggling to use Internet throughout a house built well before the Internet was created.

My router provides only 2.4GHz and didn't know what to do with earlier devices I tried that would handle 5GHz. The Deco happily connected and provides both bands, working together to provide faster throughput than either band can alone. While my Internet speed is still limited by the ISP's capacity (historic districts aren't renown for having the greatest technology infrastructure), the in-network speed (such as computer to printer and computer to computer) is decidedly faster. Our over-the-air TV signal comes from an outdoor antenna that feeds to a Sling AirTV rebroadcaster, so the faster in-network speed has help with buffering and latency problems.

A distinct plus is that each Deco unit has two Ethernet ports. Of course, one is needed for the base unit to connect to the router. For the other unit, I have one line running to a computer and the other to a 4-port switch to feed other devices.

Setup was as easy as TP-Link's 3-minute video on YouTube says. Essentially all configuration is handled through a smartphone app. I did have a problem when I needed to reset everything after an router Internet connectivity issue, but a call to TP-link's support got me back on track quickly.

Not that it makes any technical difference, but the white cylinders are considerably more attractive the the typical black box tech devices. The Deco units definitely live up to their promise and I would absolutely recommend them for anybody grappling with difficult home WiFi settings.

8 people found this helpful

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