The new $ 100 TP-Link router could also be the cheapest

Take a moment to count all the gadgets that connect to the wifi network of your home and you will quickly understand why it does not feel as fast and reliable as before. A mesh network with multiple access points can help reduce an overloaded wifi network, and for the first time you can upgrade to under $ 100 with the new TP-Link Deco W2400 kit.

Available exclusively from Walmart (at least for now), the Deco W2400 is not the most powerful wifi solution for any home currently available. It includes two nodes that, according to TP-Link, are enough to completely cover a 3000 square foot space and connect up to 100 devices at a time, but they are limited to an AC1200 dual band system. If you have a lot of missing Internet devices (ie streaming boxes) that connect to the W2400's faster 5GHz network, you may notice a drop in performance. Also missing are gigabit ports included in TP-Link's comparable Deco M4 kit. As a result, families with gamers may want to spend a bit more for something with more connectivity options.

It's not really surprising that there are compromises to make to get a wifi solution mesh below the $ 100 point of sale. But if a traditional wireless router is probably still the best value for money if you live alone in a cramped single studio, adding a second connection point to share the burden of the wireless connection should dramatically improve the speed and reliability of the Internet a home with multiple residents, each relying on multiple connected devices. The hardware also automatically connects devices to its 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz networks, eliminating the need to determine which access point will work best for a particular device.

If you have not upgraded your wireless hardware in a few years, the TP-Link Deco W2400 Kit could also be a good opportunity to try the huge improvements made to make wireless networks operational. Rather than rely on a browser to access the router settings via its IP address, an iOS or Android application gives a refined look to the entire process. It even includes tips on the location of both nodes for optimal wireless coverage, as well as simpler configurations for parental controls and filters.

The price reduction is not an altruistic gesture on the part of the company, it is an attempt to expand the market for its wireless mesh equipment. If all goes well, it works as well as the more expensive Deco M4 kit, but as a wireless alternative. Will the Deco W2400 be the best choice for the first mesh network in the world? Certainly not, but for $ 100, it will probably improve the lives of your parents and halve the number of technical support calls you need to receive.