Two-minute overview
The Wi-Fi 6 commonplace guarantees speeds that exceed a 1G wired connection together with supporting extra linked gadgets and higher safety features. The workplace gadget that opens the door to the Wi-Fi 6 world is a Wi-fi Entry Level (WAP) whose important job is to transform a wired connection right into a wi-fi one. The qualities that we search for when looking for one are simple set up, good antennas and total ease of setup and use.
TP-Hyperlink has turn out to be a family identify because of their inexpensive sensible residence merchandise. Low-cost normally equates to poor software program assist however this is not the case with TP-Hyperlink merchandise. Their gadget set up normally takes a few steps and is fuss-free whereas the affordability comes partly from being the producer of their very own gear and reducing the middle-man.
The EAP660HD Wi-Fi 6 Entry Level suits extraordinarily properly in TP-Hyperlink’s ecosystem, with many software program options shared with different merchandise. The WAP is constructed round a strong Qualcomm CPU. The Wi-Fi radio additionally provides nice bang for the buck with a twin 4×4 structure that covers each 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies.
With an mixture bandwidth of 3600Mbps underneath splendid circumstances utilizing each radio bands, the EAP660HD falls into the class of an AX3600 entry level. It’s at the moment on sale on Amazon for $179.99 and comes with a restricted lifetime guarantee.
Design
The EAP660HD is bodily larger than different entry factors with comparable efficiency. At nearly 25 cm in diameter, it would take a variety of wall house. That is partly to accommodate eight high-gain antennas. The AP doesn’t generate a variety of warmth and can keep cool even underneath heavy site visitors because of air vents situated across the case.
The white matte colour of the enclosure will mix naturally on a white wall or ceiling and he bundle additionally contains the mounting package and an AC wall adapter.
The entry level will be powered both utilizing the offered 12V AC adapter or a PoE energy injector by way of the Uplink connector. The one Ethernet port, the Uplink can assist as much as 2.5Gbps, therefore permitting the bandwidth of both radio channel to be utilized absolutely. Internally, the EAP660HD is constructed round a quad-core Qualcomm CPU clocked at 2GHz supported by 512MB of DDR reminiscence and 128MB of flash reminiscence. The CPU system is highly effective sufficient to accommodate 16 SSIDs and community isolation by way of VLAN.
The radio efficiency is what we will anticipate from this class of AP. 4 5GHz antennas with beneficial properties of 5dBi and one other 4 2.4GHz antennas at 4dBi. Transmission energy is a good 26dBm at each frequencies. These numbers ought to translate into good transmission and reception information charges even at ten meters or extra. One draw back of the EAP660HD is that the radio bandwidth for the 5GHz band is restricted to 80MHz, leading to slower switch charges in comparison with APs that supply 160MHz.
In use
Utilizing the EAP660HD is easy. The best approach to get the entry level working is to make use of a change with PoE such because the TL-SG2210P linked to the uplink port. The preliminary power-up will lead to a newly created unsecured Wi-Fi SSID. The boot time is quick, taking lower than one minute to emit the SSID.
A reset button situated subsequent to the facility socket supplies a fallback if the setup doesn’t go correctly. A single blue LED provides the standing of the AP. Whether it is at all times on, then every part is sweet. Blinking signifies that the AP is initializing or being upgraded whereas being fully off signifies a difficulty.
Configuration will be executed both utilizing TP-Hyperlink’s cell app or by way of an online browser linked to the SSID. By way of just a few steps, the AP is secured and a brand new SSID identify is offered. Because the firmware isn’t up to date mechanically, the proprietor has to get it from the TP-Hyperlink web site and add it to the gadget. This step is fast and takes about one minute to finish.
The TP-link cell app often known as the Omada app could be very easy to make use of however has restricted performance in comparison with the entry level’s internet portal. It’s utilization is restricted to viewing linked purchasers and the state of the Wi-Fi radios and to dam purchasers. Then again, the web-portal permits person restrictions by way of charge restrict, addition of VLANs and the setup of QoS parameters.
The Omada SDN is a service supplied by TP-Hyperlink to bridge the AP to the cloud. It comes both as a {hardware} field or as a software program part that resides on a bunch laptop. The SDN software can be utilized to observe a number of APs and different TP-Hyperlink gadgets equivalent to Ethernet switches. Because it makes use of assets of a bunch PC, it’s extra helpful in comparison with the web-portal that resides on the AP with occasion logs and per gadget statistics out there.
Efficiency
The efficiency of the EAP660HD is evaluated with the assistance of an iperf2 server and shopper. The primary take a look at is completed by way of the Uplink port at 2.5Gbps to get an higher restrict of the bandwidth. Subsequent, the wi-fi bandwidth is decided at varied distances over a Wi-Fi 6 connection. The take a look at is completed in a multi degree home with drywalls.
The iperf2 server was began on the EAP660HD by enabling SSH and working the iperf command on the console. Shoppers used have been a laptop computer linked to a 2.5Gb USB to Ethernet adapter and a Samsung S21 smartphone working the HE.NET software.
The EAP660HD can put out a most of 1.53Gbps by way of its Uplink port. For the next take a look at factors, iperf2 was run utilizing the HE.Web software for Android. At a one meter distance, the velocity drops to 782Mbps and additional decreases to 431Mbps and 183Mbps at seven meters for 2 completely different flooring. The velocity finally reaches 42Mbps exterior of the home at ten meters. The outcomes fall consistent with different comparable entry factors.
The competitors
The house for Wi-Fi 6 entry factors has seen a variety of competitors not too long ago. Extra persons are working from residence and utilizing a room as their workplace. The EAP660HD suits properly on this setting by having an affordable vary and being speedy.
Netgear’s WAX214 Wi-Fi 6 entry level is an honest various to the EAP660HD at a MSRP of $120 and with a protection space of 140 sq. m. However its efficiency is much under what the EAP660HD supplies. First a 2×2 radio affords much less bandwidth when many customers are accessing the AP concurrently. The 1Gbps Ethernet port additionally limits the uplink bandwidth whereas there isn’t a point out of a cloud entry equivalent to what the Omada SDN affords.
The Ubiquity U6 LR entry level appears to be like loads just like the EAP660HD. It affords comparable efficiency when it comes to bandwidth and has a 4×4 radio system. However just like the WAX214, the Ethernet uplink port is restricted to solely 1Gbps whereas the single-core CPU is just not in the identical class because the EAP660HD quad-core. You’ll get extra to your cash with a EAP660HD.
Last verdict
Wi-Fi 6 is changing into the norm and with an enormous selection of entry factors out there to the shopper, getting one that really suits the invoice when it comes to efficiency is getting trickier. There are 4 issues that we take a look at when choosing an awesome entry level: vary, bandwidth, scalability and manageability. The EAP660HD ticks all these options whereas additionally being very inexpensive like different TP-Hyperlink merchandise.
The one grievance is that it’s bodily imposing and is not the type that can go unnoticed. The EAP660HD will present an awesome worth for cash with its quad-core CPU and a 4×4 radio. It can be managed remotely because of TP-Hyperlink’s Omada SDN cloud service which is free if a devoted laptop is out there. TP-Hyperlink has as soon as once more proven {that a} good product will be obtained with out costing an arm.
We have additionally featured the greatest WAP, greatest wi-fi router and greatest mesh WiFi router