Eero Pro 6 review
Our Verdict
It may not have the highest throughput, just the eero Pro half dozen mesh kit does well at mid-range distances where others peter out, is quick to fix and automatically adjusts just well-nigh everything. Information technology's for those who desire Wi-Fi half-dozen networking without the hassles.
For
- Not bad range
- Dynamic tri-band operation
- Like shooting fish in a barrel fast setup
- Good functioning at mid-range distances
Against
- Devices accept only ii Ethernet ports
- Moderate throughput close up
- No USB ports
Tom'southward Guide Verdict
It may not accept the highest throughput, simply the eero Pro 6 mesh kit does well at mid-range distances where others peter out, is quick to set up up and automatically adjusts just about everything. It'southward for those who want Wi-Fi half dozen networking without the hassles.
Pros
- +
Bully range
- +
Dynamic tri-ring functioning
- +
Like shooting fish in a barrel fast setup
- +
Good functioning at mid-range distances
Cons
- -
Devices take only two Ethernet ports
- -
Moderate throughput shut upward
- -
No USB ports
Eero Pro 6: Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: AX4200
Number of Antennas/Removable: 7/No
Ports: Router and satellites– 2 Ethernet
Processor/Memory/Storage: Quad-core 1.4GHz/1GB/4GB
Wi-Fi chip: Qualcomm IPQ8174
Tiptop 802.11ax performance: 438.2Mbps (at 15 feet)
Range: 105-anxiety
Size: 5.3 x five.3 x one.ix inches
Estimated Annual Electricity Cost: $x.25 per unit or $30.75 for three devices
With i of the quickest and easiest setup routines in the earth of mesh networking, the eero Pro 6 is the all-time mesh router for those who don't care about getting elevation speed, every Wi-Fi 6 feature or customizing their network. The idea is that everything that has annihilation to do with information delivery with the eero Pro vi is automatic, including its dynamic tri-band engineering that continually balances the data menstruum.
While it'southward throughput can't compare with the all-time Wi-Fi 6 routers, the eero Pro half dozen provides long range and surprisingly potent mid-range throughput. The eero Pro 6 is for those who are willing to trade customization options and top speed for a swift setup. In other words, it'due south for those who desire a depression-maintenance wireless LAN that they can set and forget.
Eero Pro half-dozen review: Pricing and availability
The tri-band eero Pro half-dozen is available in packages that include a unmarried unit for $229 that can fill a 2,000 foursquare pes home with Wi-Fi, co-ordinate to eero. There are besides the eero Pro 6 two- and iii-packs for $399 and $599 that tin cover up to 3,500- and vi,000-square feet. The units are available on Amazon, eero's corporate parent, as well as a variety of retail outlets. The pricing progression represents a small volume discount over buying them one at a fourth dimension.
- Amazon eero Pro 6, single unit: $229
- Amazon eero Pro half dozen, 2-pack: $399
- Amazon eero Pro half dozen, 3-pack: $599
There's too the dual-ring eero vi, which limits its top speed to about 500Mbps and might brand sense in a smaller home or one that is bandwidth-express. Single units capable of filling a one,500 square human foot home become for $129, while two units that can work with a 3,000 square pes home toll $199. Finally, eero half dozen'due south three pack sells for $279 and is adept for up to 5,000 foursquare feet. The eero 6 extender tin can fill in a Wi-Fi dead zone of upward to i,500 foursquare feet and costs $89.
Eero Pro 6 review: Design
Produced and sold by Amazon, the eero Pro vi owes a lot to its family Dna. Like its predecessors, the third generation eero products keep with the rounded white plastic rectangular blueprint and a slightly angled top. The 5.3 x v.ii x 1.9-inch eero Pro 6 devices are nearly twice the size of the last generation ones. Still, they're tiny and more easily hidden compared to the Netgear Orbi RBK 752 or 852 models.
Underneath, the eero Pro 6 has a thick rubber base of operations and then every bit not to scratch your furniture and tin hands be hidden cheers to the compact design. Without a manner to mount it on a wall, several third parties sell brackets for wall installation or a rack that's directly plugged into an AC outlet. The eero Genie is my favorite at $thirteen.
The 3-piece kit includes a trio of identical eero Pro half-dozen units. Unlike the Netgear Orbi router and satellites, the eero Pro 6 devices are configured every bit either host or satellite during setup. Forget well-nigh the units providing a Wi-Fi lite bear witness considering each eero Pro half-dozen device has a single demure LED on top. It glows blueish when it's set to be configured, white when information technology'due south connected and red when it's offline; it's piece of cake to turn them off.
Each eero Pro 6 has internal antennas for Bluetooth (used during setup) and Zigbee (for connecting dwelling house automation devices) besides as five Wi-Fi antennas. Based on Qualcomm's IPQ8174 Wi-Fi chip, the system has a 1.4GHz quad-cadre processor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage for its settings and firmware. Information technology includes MU-MIMO and beamforming engineering to button the maximum amounts of data to the continued devices.
On elevation of its 2.4GHz data band, the system has two 5GHz bands that as share in the movement of data to and from the network's wireless satellites. Using eero'due south Modulation Coding Scheme, the system dynamically optimizes and balances the flow of data to and from the host router. Past dissimilarity, Orbi reserves ane of the 5GHz bands for advice from the satellite to the host, whether it's needed or not. The eero Pro six system is theoretically capable of delivering 574Mbps over its 2.4GHz link as well as 1.2Gbps over one 5GHz connection and 2.4Gbps over the other 5GHz band. Altogether, the eero Pro 6 is capable of 4.2Gbps of throughput.
All this adds up to a lot of oestrus generated in a small infinite. Relying on passive cooling, each eero Pro 6 unit has limited ventilation and topped out at 124 degrees Fahrenheit, much hotter than others in its class.
In the back is a rudimentary connectedness panel with two Ethernet connections. They're both capable of moving 1Gbps of information, but the system lacks the power to connect with Multi-Gig 2.5Gbps modems or perform port aggregation. Information technology's powered by a USB C power port but stick to using the included AC adapters or yous'll risk encountering a compatibility problem and seeing a blinking yellowish alert light. Information technology does without a USB information port for adding a hard drive to the network.
While the eero Pro 6 lacks a ability switch, there is a reset button underneath. The company continues its long-held view that the Wi-Fi Protected Setup system is inherently insecure and doesn't offer it.
In addition to the expected security attributes, the eero Pro 6 offers the Secure package. At $ii.99 a calendar month or $29.99 a year, it adds basics like content filtering, parental controls and ad blocking that others, like Asus, provide for gratuitous. It includes frequent reports on who'south doing what online as well as VIP support. By contrast, the Secure + plan costs $9.99 a month or $99 a twelvemonth and adds the 1Password password managing director, Encrypt.me virtual private network and Malwarebytes antivirus software. It adds up to a $145 a yr value and is like to the annual charges for Orbi's Armor security software.
The eero Pro 6 has a domicile automation ace up its sleeve that volition entreatment to those who want to use online thermostats, lights and locks. It has a full 802.15.four smart dwelling hub built in and works with Alexa voice command. In other words, the eero Pro half-dozen can consolidate all this gear.
Eero Pro half dozen review: Functioning
Using Ixia's IxChariot networking criterion software, nosotros created a busy Wi-Fi network in my 100-twelvemonth former iii,500-square-human foot domicile. With 10 simulated data-hungry clients, the eero Pro half dozen was a disappointing performer up close, delivering only 436.1Mbps to a Dell XPS 15 system xv-feet away. This is not but slightly more than than Wi-Fi 5 mesh kits could deliver simply was well off the pace set by the Netgear Orbi RBR850 (833.6Mbps), the Linksys Velop AX4200 (507.7Mbps) and the Orbi RBR750 (506.7Mbps).
With the router and the test system 50-feet apart, the eero Pro 6'southward bandwidth caught up with the others at 239.9Mbps, surpassing the Linksys Velop AX4200 (201.3Mbps), the Netgear Orbi RBR850 (124.4Mbps) and the Orbi RBK752 (100.3Mbps). Meanwhile, at 75-feet, the eero Pro 6 retained the lead at 208.9Mbps, while the Linksys Velop AX4200 moved 139.6Mbps and the Netgear Orbi RBR850 and RBR750 fell behind at 85.9Mbps and 82.5Mbps, respectively.
Happily, the eero pro six stayed online at 90-feet with 29.5Mbps of throughput available for the exam system; the others were offline at this distance. The eero Pro six had a range of 105-feet, every bit much as twenty feet farther than other Wi-Fi vi mesh kits.
It was a mixed handbag when information technology came to pushing a strong information indicate throughout my old house. In fact, information technology was able to move 430.9Mbps upstairs to a system direct to a higher place the router. This is roughly the aforementioned as the Linksys Velop AX4200 (437.5Mbps), but off the stride set by the Netgear Orbi RBR850 (670.1Mbps).
With the receiving organization ready up 25-feet and a wall away from the eero Pro half-dozen router, information technology was able to get 375.6Mbps, well-nigh half that of the Netgear Orbi RBR850 (782.9Mbps). Still, it was betwixt the Linksys Velop AX4200 (525.7Mbps) and the Netgear Orbi RBR750 (326.6Mbps).
With a unmarried satellite unit ready 50-anxiety from the eero Pro vi router on the same floor, the network delivered 142.3Mbps to the test system positioned some other 40-feet away. This was less than the 161.1Mbps that the Linksys Velop AX4200 managed just well ahead of the Netgear Orbi RBK752 (87.7Mbps) and the RBK852 (39.1Mbps).
In another real-world arrangement, we placed the satellite upstairs from the host router and set the test system up 40-anxiety abroad at the top of a flight of stairs. The system was able to grab 189.3Mbps of data. That'south the lowest throughput of the class of Wi-Fi 6 mesh kits and well backside the Netgear Orbi RBK852 (405.5Mbps), Linksys Velop AX4200 (329.2Mbps) and the Netgear Orbi RBK752 (209.4Mbps).
On the other hand, a 3-piece eero Pro 6 network with one satellite set up a floor above the router and the other a floor below did remarkably well. With the test system set upwards 40-feet away, it received 190.2Mbps. That'due south 45 per centum less than the 276.5Mbps that the Linksys Velop AX4200 delivered. Notwithstanding, it was enough to fill up the home with Wi-Fi.
I used the eero Pro half-dozen for a calendar week of daily utilize for emails, video bingeing, listening to music and downloading files. It held up well to this utilize and passed our saturation exam. While I watched YouTube video on a Macbook Air, a ThinkPad T470 played Spotify music and an iPad Pro streamed an Internet radio station. As this was going on, an HP Elite Dragonfly notebook copied and saved data on a network-attached RAID storage system. During the test, there were no audio or video skips, freezes or artifacts.
Each of the three eero Pro 6 units used 9.0 watts of power, which adds up to $x.25 each if they're ever on and you pay the national average of 13 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity. All three devices together would cost roughly $thirty.75 a twelvemonth to operate. That'southward nearly the same on a per unit of measurement basis every bit the Netgear Orbi RBK752 with only two devices.
Eero Pro 6 review: Setup
Every bit has been the example with the first two generations of eero hardware, the emphasis is on making eero Pro vi's setup process equally quick, easy and painless equally possible. Getting the Pro 6 online started with downloading and installing the eero Home WiFi System app. There are versions for iOS and Android, which I used with my Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 tablet. Unfortunately, at that place's no way to use a continued Web browser to fix the eero system up.
Afterward opening the eero box, I picked one of the three devices at random and followed the app's illustrated directions for setting up the router. I created an business relationship with eero that required a phone number. I needed to respond to a verification text to get the installation process going.
Side by side, I plugged everything in and allowed the eero app to utilise my tablet's location. Finally, the tablet started scanning for eero hardware using the device'due south Bluetooth radio. At this point the unit'south LED is solid blue, showing it'south ready for a connection.
Within 20 seconds, the eero device was plant. If you take trouble with this office, an alternate approach is to enter the unit's serial number and accept it from in that location.
Adjacent, I needed to fill in what room the router was located and added a new network name and countersign.
The system incorporated the new settings, optimized the data period and did a restart. When the unit's LED glowed white, it was fix and connected. Start to cease, information technology took but five minutes and 30 seconds to set up the router.
Adding eero Pro 6 satellites is even easier. I plugged in the second eero Pro half-dozen unit about 50 feet from the host and tapped the app's "Add another eero Device".
The app scanned for the device and found it in well-nigh 15 seconds. The software and so optimized the data flow.
Finally, I needed to give a name to its location. I repeated this to go the second node connected. It took all of 11 minutes to put together eero Pro 6's 3-slice mesh network. It was enough to fill my entire 3,500 square foot home with Wi-Fi.
Eero Pro 6 review: Configuration
The only way to configure and customize the eero Pro 6 set is via the eero app. Its Home page has a lot: online condition, a list of connected devices likewise as whether the host and nodes are connected. At that place're alerts for getting new firmware and adding home automation devices. Along the bottom is a carte for Home, Action and Find (for IOT devices). The Settings section includes the ability to work with the Guest network and use the interface'south beta Nighttime mode.
Want more info? Click on whatever to get details, like IP address and LED light status (and an opportunity to turn it off) for placement in a chamber, for instance. Tap Advanced for things like the device'southward model and serial number and a serial of MAC addresses that well-nigh should never need to know. There'south a identify to restart or remove the device from the network.
The Pro 6 tin exist prepare to ship usage information weekly to an email account also as update the software. It can alert you equally to new devices entering the network. But that's virtually all, with the devices lacking the ability to do things we take for granted with Wi-Fi 6 – from using ultra-wide 160MHz data channels and picking the channels to giving the two.4- and pair of 5GHz networks dissimilar names and passwords. Still, the automatic aqueduct option finds the least congested data portal on its own, making this the mesh kit for those who don't know or care almost the intimate set up details.
On the other hand, if yous have Ethernet cabling in your home, the satellites can be used as wired access points with eero'due south optimization. At that place's a nice troubleshooting department for when things don't go well that uses plain English language, like "My Internet Connection Drops".
In addition to eero's Smart Queue Management software that apportions bandwidth to the devices that need information technology virtually, the eero Pro half-dozen app has iii beta programs: Band Steering (to get devices to use the faster 5GHz band), Local DNS Caching (that can speed upwards folio loading past keeping frequently used addresses handy) and WPA3 (for extra security). Others have already incorporated these items into their operations.
Happily, at the lesser of the page are places to email eero's support staff and the aid desk-bound'due south telephone number. I wish every router maker would do this.
Like many competitors, eero warranties the Pro 6 set for a yr. This includes total support and service. While better than Netgear'southward 90 days of back up for its Orbi line of mesh products, information technology pales next to the iii-years of warranty and support from Linskys. The support site has lots of self-serve items, from articles to ready help to lots of practical info virtually the inner workings of eero gear.
Eero Pro 6: Verdict
The eero Pro 6 is for the impatient among us. With it taking only most 11 minutes to create a three-slice mesh network, it continues to have one of the quickest, easiest and least frustrating set upwardly procedures. Those who get and install an eero Pro 6 mesh network will exist rewarded with first-class mid-range speeds and a long range of 105-feet that uses an innovative dynamic balancing arrangement to streamline the network's data flow. On the downside, the eero Pro 6 set lacks the high-speed of its competitors up close and actually comes into its own at mid-range distances where the operation of others lag. It has only 2 Ethernet ports available for connecting a storage device or a wired figurer and lacks any USB data ports.
At $599 for three units, the eero Pro 6 is moderately priced but more than expensive than the Linksys Velop AX4200 mesh kit. All told, the eero Pro half-dozen is a neat mesh kit for those who desire to bask Wi-Fi data without footling with settings.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/eero-pro-6
Posted by: traylorwifflife.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Eero Pro 6 review"
Post a Comment