TP-Link Deco X50(2-pack) AX3000Mbps Whole Home AI-Driven Mesh WiFi 6 System, Dual-Band WiFi Booster with 3x Gigabit Ports, Coverage up to 4,500 ft2, Connect up to 150 devices, HomeShield Security

**** Overview ****I should be working, but I’m taking time out to write this elongated review of the Deco M5 X3 for good reason. Read on….I purchased the Deco x 3 after reading a review here on Amazon stating that it worked great with Virgin Superhub 3. I carried out additional research and the Deco was listed as the best to buy on a few websites, especially for the price. I took the plunge and eagerly awaited it to be delivered 2 days later after suffering a seriously bad wifi connect for 2 months. In the past week, it became even worse and I decided I had to make the move to fix the issue.PackagingUpon receiving the package, I admittedly wasn’t particularly ecstatic to see that it was in its cellophane covered retail box without any Amazon other packaging. I usually save boxes for my gear and like them to be in good condition if I resell, but as luck would have it, there wasn’t any damage worthy of note. More to the point, I’ll be damned if i’m selling this any time soon due to it’s astounding performance!The box is well presented with the 3 ‘Deco’ nodes on the front with PC Pro ‘Recommended seal as well as Amazon Alexa and IFTT logo assuring that the product will work with those devices and service. There’s also a sticker on it which assures that the hardware will work with any broadband provider which definitely gives peace of mind. There a ‘HomeCare’ 3 year free service emblem too, which I believe relates to virus protection.Opening the box, you’re greeted with the 3 futuristic looking dish style ‘nodes’. Beneath this tray, is a row of 3 power adapters, ethernet cable and a Quick Start Guide. The presentation is immaculate and resembles that of Apple. It looks like quality and feels like quality which gives assurance of a quality product from the get go.**** Product ****Each node is a circular disc, around 2.5cm in height and 12cm in diameter with a small multicoloured LED in the centre. The nodes design suggests the form of a radar which I thought was quite innovative. They are fairly light, they look like part of the ‘Deco’.Ports on the back include power and 2 ethernet.Power adapters and cables are high quality, as is the supplied ethernet cable.**** Setup ****On the top tray, there is a clear, simple instruction to download the app from the Apple or Android store. A quick search and I had the app installed within a minute or so through my then slow wifi. The app is very basic and to the point. It requests the user to create an account (or login if you have an account) choosing email and password. You then confirm on that email address. After this, it prompts the user to plug one of the 3 nodes (it doesn’t matter which) into the modem / router and then plug it in using the power adapter.The light on-top of the node lights up and signifies its state:Yellow - Start upBlue Pule - Ready for setupBlue Solid - Setting upGreen - All is well.Red - IssueThe app shows a 3D plan of a property and prompts you to select one of three which matches your home best - one floor, two floors and 3 floors. The diagram shows how you should consider spacing the nodes too.After asking which room the node will be placed in, the app then connects to the node through your router / modem and the lights change according to the state. After going from all stages (apart from red) from yellow to green, it notifies the user that it’s successfully connected.The user is then given the option to name their network and apply a password to access within wireless devices.It then gives the user the option to add another TP Link product. In this case, there were two more to add so I added the second in the same way and the third. Each was a breeze just like the first.There was a notification for a firmware update, so I ran that and it installed and rebooted all devices within 4 minutes.Although the product comes with a Quick Start Guide, this wasn’t necessary. The app makes things simple.This setup process was a godsend, since i’m not tech minded and I always prepare for things like this to just fail to work. It was absolutely childsplay!Approximately 20 mins to unbox and set up!**** Speed & Coverage ****After installing the first node in my office (connecter to the router), I ran a set eager to see what effect it had and to my amazement, on my 100 mbs connection, after testing my wifi previously and getting a mere 8 mbs, I was clocking in 105 mbs- through the air! It’s clearly solved a huge problem with pertaining to Virgins Superhub 3!What’s more after installing the next two in the same way - one in the lounge and one in the kitchen at the rear of my flat, the speeds, as I moved around with my iPad (after connecting with new Network and password) were almost the same minus a few meg. Delighted!I reached for the TV remote for my new 60 inch OLED LG which was previously bottlenecking with it’s capability and my previous poor wifi, entered network and Password and booted dup Netflix. It painted the screen immediately with all content. I clicking into a movie and it played after a second and fast forwarding was done equally as quick. Despite it previously pixelating and buffering often throughout media, it is now working perfectly!General Internet browsing on iPad and iPhone is notably faster.Whats more….At the very end of a flight out stairs, outside, on a level below, I have full strength WiFi in my GARDEN which i didn’t have previously. RESULT! Streaming tunes in the summer!Full Strength literally everywhere where I will go throughout the vicinity of my entire 2 bed upstairs flat with downstairs remote garden.**** Experience ****Netflix, Amazon Video and Apple TV would take a while to load and the content would often be pixelated and buffer, however now it’s as slick as butter. General Internet browsing is so much more effective and enjoyable now too. I click and something happens - usually a near immediate download of a web page or stream of a video, stable as can be.**** Alexa ****To use Alexa with the devices, you need to install the relevant skill.This is not mentioned in the app, but I’m told it is mentioned in the quick start guide.Searching ‘TP-link Router’ within ’Skills’ in the Alexa app and clicking ‘Enable to Use’, the skill is downloaded.You are prompted to log in to your TP-link account to enable the skill. You do so, by clicking ‘Authorise’ once logged in.The Alexa app prompts to find new devices to which we accept. It then discovers the TP-Link router.Clicking ’Set up Device’ and ‘Done’, the Deco will be shown in ‘Devices’.You can then add it to any roomAlthough I’m an ardent Alexa fan as an owner of a ‘Smart Home’ I wasn’t aware of how these devices would work with Alexa. Having searched for the skill however, the page informs us that Alexa allows us to:* Enable Guest Network when friends come over* Activate WPS to add new devices to the network* Turn off the routers (‘nodes’) LEDS at night* Check the Internet connection speed you’re getting from your provider* Prioritise online applications or devices at those important momentsPrimary commands (at time of writing):‘[Alexa] Turn off the LED’s’‘[Alexa] Enable night mode’‘[Alexa] Enable my guest network’* I haven’t managed to get Alexa to work with any commands as yet, but will report back.**** Summary ****As a Virgin Superhub 3 user, I’m over the moon with this! As an owner of a two bedroomed flat, I did consider that this package might be overkill. Seeing the performance, I could have possibly done with only two, but the pricing for 3 and the availability here on Amazon (x2 were only available for delivery in a few weeks) promoted me to buy the Deco M3 X 3.This hasn’t only changed the way I entertain myself, but also my actual work which pays for this kind of stuff. I can now work much more faster and more efficient. With this considered, it’s one of the best investments I’ve made in years. I wish I had of bought this much sooner. My fear of tech, error and complications always deters me, but as mentioned, this could not be more simple. It products like this that give me the confidence to spread my wings and buy more.Running circa 106 mbs - That’s a 98 mbs increase!Very pleased!Thoroughly recommended!

UPDATE: Changed to Sky Q because they force you too from Sky HD. The TP Link really struggles to cope as Sky Q has its own mesh for three units. Downloads, BNC iPlayer and Netflix failed to connect via TP Link Deco 5.I had to use my Amazon Fire stick on Virgin router to watch Netflix.Downloading a program on TP Link Deco 5 took 24 hours each episode. BAD!I reverted the Sky Q back to the Virgin media hub and it now functions. BUT, a power cut and it went back to TP. So block sky from connecting to TP in the app.————————————————-Original review now.Very simple to setup, but you have to change the Wi-Fi on everything you own.This would be an issue for less bale homeowner, especially if disabled or much older, it take as lot of time and the Meross WI-FI ambient light no longer functions on the mesh or with Alexa..Yes, everything needs to be ported and in the case of TV's and Sky, entering passwords is a right pain from the remote.It seems to work very well once setupNote the initial instructions are confusing about turning your modem off, well they meant the wi-fi and just use it as a signal decoder, not Wi-Fi I guess. Badly worded as you need a decoder on the end of the line to function.The first unit plugs into you existing Decoder or Modem ( mine is a Virgin cable system, so not a modem technically, via the phone line would be an ADSM modem).The only way to set these up is via a smart phone and the app, it is straightforward once you have registered your self on the app. The first Deco is slow to set up, the 2nd and third ones piggyback onto the first one and they remember the password.Tip: is you use a suggested password, like ~!8"^%*/ etc, oit is near impossible to type it on a sky remote and sky won't use my USB keyboard, the two Sony Tv's did however. There is no WPS button on the Deco M5, but is it asks you if you want to use WPS. HOW?Update WPS is hidden in the phone app.In use the network is good, I added a brick built front extension and the Ring Doorbell (which is mandatory) would not work when re-positioned due to the brick twin walls. My Existing TP link Wi-Fi extended AS 1900 could get a send a signal out; so Amazon laid y my package out in the rain, instead of using my parcel bin, and no Ring doorbell signal did not help.I have mounted the 2nd Deco C5 on a table near the extension, 50% signal, it was better yesterday, weirds how it changes for no reason. It will have it's own power supply in the extension when wired up.Now how does one mount it away from the all-fingers grandson?Buy a wall mount, well they are cheap plastic and ship from China, slowly at £10 each for simple plastic plate with 3 clips. Honestly, they cost pennies to make, so include them in the box.I have already paid enough guys!Frustrating, but essential.I will experiment with a windowsill siting to see if the signal to the porch is better, maybe from above is the answer. If so, I will update this.

Set up wasn't as expected. I had to contact the technical support team to get it working. In fairness, Charlotte from the technical support team was very helpful and ended solving the problem and got the mesh system working fine.

Really good, I had two already and it was easy to set it up. Highly recommend

Recommended from a workmate, he was right, spot on and easy setup and works brilliantly