Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 review

The place a number of Wi-Fi extenders plug instantly right into a mains socket, the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is extra like a standard router in dimension and comes with an 18W energy provide within the field permitting you to position it away from a socket.

Its most (theoretical) Wi-Fi velocity is 4804Mbps over 5GHz and 574Mbps over 2.4GHz, because of 4 MIMO streams over 5GHz and two over 2.4GHz. 

Wired gadgets—possibly a sensible TV, Sky field, video games console or laptop—could be linked by way of two Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports on the again. 

You can even use the Devolo repeater as an entry level by connecting it to an Ethernet socket and utilizing a wired connection to your fundamental router. Devolo doesn’t embrace a LAN cable, although.

Straightforward setup

The WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is straightforward to arrange. You’ll be able to both use the “Add” button on the again, which begins a WPS connection, or through the use of the Devolo “House Community” app or the repeater’s browser interface. 

When organising with out WPS, you need to first join your laptop or smartphone to the unencrypted Wi-Fi of the repeater. Unusually, entry to the menu just isn’t secured with a password, and the repeater doesn’t immediate you to set one.

The app provides you tips about how greatest to position the repeater in order that it isn’t too shut or too distant out of your present router. You need to use the reset button to reset the repeater to the manufacturing facility settings if you wish to join it to a distinct router later. 

4 LEDs on the entrance let you know the sign power and the standard of the Wi-Fi connection.

Efficiency

So as to get the most effective out of the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 and use its speedy 5GHz band, you’ll must have a high-end router as a associate.

To check it, we used a Fritzbox 6690 Cable, which additionally transmits 4 MIMO streams on 5GHz with 160MHz channel bandwidth. We positioned the repeater is midway between the router and a laptop computer with Wi-Fi 6, which was 20 metres away from the Fritzbox.

We had been actually impressed with the WiFi 6 Repeater 5400’s efficiency. The common information fee of 450Mbps (simply over 56MBps) is nice, and that is partly right down to the truth that 5400 can use ‘crossband repeating’. Meaning as an alternative of utilizing the identical 2.4GHz or 5GHz band to ship and obtain (which reduces the utmost potential velocity), crossband makes use of one band, say 2.4GHz, to speak with the router, and 5GHz to speak with the system (the laptop computer in our case) with no loss in velocity.

If needed, although, the Repeater 5400 can use the identical band, and if that’s 5GHz, you must nonetheless see equally quick outcomes.

Utilizing the Repeater 5400 is an entry level

The Devolo Repeater 5400 works even sooner as an entry level. When linked to the router by way of an Ethernet cable, the transfers between the laptop computer and Fritzbox had been simply over 900Mbps. And that’s with the laptop computer round 10m away from the repeater. This isn’t far off the bandwidth of the gigabit LAN connection. Once more, spectacular stuff.

You’ll be able to join the Wi-Fi 6 repeater with an Ethernet cable to your router after which change the settings to “Entry Level Mode”. The repeater receives the data-signal over the LAN cable slightly than by way of flakey Wi-Fi.

If there’s a criticism, it’s that the auto-channel operate of the 5400 might do with some fine-tuning. In entry level mode, the repeater initially linked the laptop computer by way of 2.4GHz, whereas different repeaters we’ve examined instantly supplied the shopper the extra wise reference to 5GHz. 

It was solely after restarting the laptop computer that the 5400 switched to the 5GHz frequency and chosen the optimum channel there.

If you happen to do go for entry level mode you get some additional choices, resembling a visitor community, Wi-Fi schedules, plus some parental controls. 

Energy consumption

Energy consumption sits between a typical plug-in repeater and a tri-band repeater. With out energetic WLAN transmission, it consumes round 6.6W, and when transferring information, it consumes over 8W.

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The visitor Wi-Fi could be encrypted utilizing WPA2, WPA3 or the hybrid mode from each strategies, and it may be switched off after a specified interval.

Utilizing the scheduling, you outline the times and occasions when the Wi-Fi ought to be on or off. You can even set this for particular person gadgets with the parental controls, and right here it’s a must to enter the MAC handle of the system within the menu.

As well as, the repeater reveals an inventory of the neighbouring networks together with the radio channel and sign power, however solely as an emblem. The occasion log could be saved, however not referred to as up within the menu. Basically, there’s greater than sufficient right here in case your necessities are comparatively primary, however energy customers would possibly want for extra settings.

It’s additionally price noting that the WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 can kind a part of a mesh community, and assist features resembling band steering and entry level steering with a purpose to all the time have the ability to supply Wi-Fi gadgets the optimum radio sign. Nevertheless, this solely works at the side of different Devolo adapters such because the Magic 2 Wi-Fi Powerline Mesh package and, certainly, different Repeater 5400s.

Devolo’s Magic WiFi adapters and the WiFi 6 repeaters use the identical software program platform (devolo OS). Subsequently each are assist the identical Wi-Fi options (Entry Level Steering, Consumer Steering,Airtime Equity, Band Steering, and so forth) and are capable of work collectively seamlessly. You probably have a Magic WiFi package operating at house, you’ll be able to combine a Devolo Wi-Fi repeater on this house community. The repeater will obtain the Magic WiFi sign and lengthen it.

See our beneficial greatest Mesh WiFi kits.

Do I want a WiFi 6 router to make use of a WiFi 6 repeater?

A Wi-Fi repeater will lengthen the velocity you get out of your router. Clearly, you get sooner speeds when utilizing a WiFi 6 router, however it would additionally lengthen a WiFi 5 router’s WiFi sign.

The WiFi 5 router would additionally profit from a bigger Wi-Fi vary and use all of the WiFi 6 enhancements (bi-directional MU-MIMO, OFDMA, TWT, BSS coloring).

And within the particular case of the 5400 the consumer advantages from the large antenna configuration (2×2 at 2,4 GHz + 4×4 at 5 GHz).

If you wish to purchase a repeater and have the finances for it, you can purchase a Wi-Fi 6 repeater as a result of it’s future proofed for velocity and options.

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Value & availability

The RRP of the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is £129.99. You’ll find it cheaper at retailers resembling Amazon and Field.

Though Devolo sells a few of its merchandise within the US, you couldn’t get the Repeater 5400 on the time of overview.

Devolo additionally sells a cut-back mannequin (RRP: £89.99), the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 3000, which, as its identify suggests, presents a most of 3000Mbps slightly than 5400Mbps, and has simply the one Ethernet port, in comparison with two.

For options, see our roundup of the most effective Wi-Fi extenders.

Verdict

The Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is a succesful Wi-Fi extender that provides spectacular efficiency when paired with the suitable router and Wi-Fi gadgets resembling telephones and laptops.

It can work with non-WiFi 6 routers however the speeds gained’t be as nice. That stated, shopping for a WiFi 6 repeater now make sense from a future-proofing viewpoint. Ultimately, you’ll get a sooner router so be sure you are already ready with a suitable repeater.

You probably have a succesful Wi-Fi 6 router and gadgets now, and need to stream 4K video or want a quick connection for different causes, the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is properly price the additional cash over cheaper, much less succesful Wi-Fi extenders.