Not the usual Wi-Fi range extender
Rs. 5,999, tp-link.in
It’s safe to say that most of us have a wireless router at home but there have been instances where the Wi-Fi network is spotty in some areas compared to another in your home. One can address these deadspots is by installing a repeater or use mesh routers. Both TP-Link and Asus allow transforming select regular routers into mesh ones but TP-Link has gone a step further by allowing repeaters to act as mesh network nodes. This month we have the RE505X, which does exactly that. It works as a repeater for any non-supported OneMesh router but transforms into a mesh node with a compatible one.
Clad in white, the RE505X has a design similar to most other repeaters in the market but two things that set it apart are the external antennas for better reception and its sheer size. The RE505X is a giant compared to other repeaters but sports a clean, streamlined design. There are four status LEDs on the front with the WPS button and reset key on the right whereas the gigabit ethernet port is placed on the left.
One can setup the repeater via the web interface or can download the Tether app from the respective app store. The RE505X can be used as an access point or as a repeater. Irrespective of the modes you use, setup is a cinch. The only thing we did not appreciate is the fact that it does not allow to set a separate password of the extended network. It allows to create a separate SSID but keeps the same password as the network that is being repeated.
The RE505X is an AX1500 range extender, which means it supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard. Needless to say, older devices are compatible as well and supports theoretical speeds of up to 300Mbps on 2.4GHz band and up to 1200Mbps on 5GHz.
The RE505X delivers decent coverage to eliminate deadspots and even comes with handy features like Location Assistant that is accessible via the app. A quick scan will tell if the repeater is placed in a good wireless coverage area of the main router. There’s an intelligent signal light on the device as well that indicates the same. The app and the web interface gives granular controls to get the most out of the RE505X. One can control the wireless coverage and access, enable/disable high-speed mode that repeats the router’s connection via one frequency band and transmits on the other. OneMesh works with compatible TP-Link routers and all it takes a single to transform the RE505X into a mesh node.
That said, RE505X is a power-packed range extender that delivers on what it is intended for. Get a compatible OneMesh device and you can create a cost-effective mesh network of your own.
RATING 4/5
WE’RE IMPRESSED Performance
WE’D IMPROVE Set separate passwords
THE LAST WORD A power-packed repeater that can be transformed into a mesh node with OneMesh support.
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