Linksys Velop Home Mesh WiFi System Router Review

The Linksys Velop is one of the best Wi-Fi system available on the market. It comes with a Mesh System, which satisfies the requirements of home-based internet users. First, you need to understand that this router is specifically designed for users who don’t want a tri-band Wi-Fi system.

Through Linksys Velop, you can get a stable and decent wireless performance at the most affordable price. This is the claim of the California-based company “Linksys.” So, the next thing is to make sure whether the claim is valid. For this purpose, we are writing this review article, which is based on our personal experience of the router. Read on!

Specifications

Size: 3.1 x 3.1 x 5.55 inches

Antennas: N/A

Wi-Fi Spec: 5 GHz dual-band

Ports: 1 x 3.0 USB ports

Peak Performance: 5.3Gbps

Range: 4,500 sqft.

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Unbox Video

Linksys Velop AC3900 Mesh Network - Unboxing

Networking

First, we tested the networking features of the Velop router. For this, we took one Linksys Velop node and created a new network. Then, we added the 5 GHz wireless client and measured 485 Mbps average speed at 5 feet. Then we tested the router at 15 feet and measured 448 Mbps speed.

The most fascinating thing about the Linksys Velop Mesh router was that at 30 feet, there was no considerable decline in the wireless speed. We measured 356 Mbps at 30 feet, which was reasonably consistent.

Then, we took the second node and started testing it at 35 feet distance. We added this node to the network and used the same wireless client. This time, we measured 169 Mbps average speed.

At 15 feet, the speed measured was 133 Mbps and the average speed at 30 feet was 62.4 Mbps. Next, we connected the third node to the network. Again, we use the same wireless client.

On average, the speed recorded was 116 Mbps at 5 feet close range. Likewise, at 15 feet, the average speed measured was 87 Mbps and 35 Mbps at 30 feet. Interestingly, it was a considerable decrease in speed.

Backhaul traffic handling is a problem. Many other users have also reported this issue. We think that with firmware updates from Linksys, the problem will be solved in the future. Anyway, the Ethernet backhaul ensures a better Wi-Fi performance and thus it is better than the Wi-Fi Mesh System.

Also, we tested this Wi-Fi router on a 2.4 GHz radio frequency band and measured an average speed of 169 Mbps at 5 feet distance. At 15 feet, the speed slightly went down to 133 Mbps. Next, at 30 feet distance, the speed calculated was 62 Mbps.

Design

The Linksys Velop mesh Wi-Fi router has an attractive case design, which comes with the rectangular box inflated slightly towards the bottom side. The tri-band measures are 3.1 x 3.1 x 7.3 inches and the dual-band system of the Linksys Velop is slightly taller than the tri-band system. The dual-band system measures are 3.1 x 3.1 x 5.55 inches.

The dual-band system is also lightweight, which weighs 0.71 pounds. The size reduction implies a robust casing. It does not budge even if both ports are connected. It is because of the silicone band, which surrounds the bottom of the Linksys Velop unit. On the bottom side of the router, you will see all the buttons and ports inside a carved-in area.

However, the dual-band Velop has a slightly different design and includes 2 auto-sensing Ethernet ports. The power connector is located in the small carved-in area. It is important to know that the 2 Gigabit ports can become WAN ports. The main unit connects to the modem and has 1 WAN port. The other Velop nodes have 2 LAN ports available.

Moreover, on the bottom side of the Velop router, there is a label within the silicone bezel, which shows info about the router such as the SSID, the password, as well as the recovery key. It also shows the MAC address and the Serial number. You will also find a Power ON-OF button and the Reset Button.

Hardware

The Linksys Velop mesh Wi-Fi router has a dual-band Wi-Fi system. It comes with a quad-core Qualcomm chipset with a clock speed of 710 MHz. Like the Tri-band Velop, the Linksys Velop dual-band has the same Atheros switch chip. It has 256 MB of flash memory and 256 MB of RAM.

Compared to the tri-band Velop, the dual-band is a slightly powerful Wi-Fi system. The Linksys mesh uses the Qualcomm IPQ4018 chip with Skyworks SKY85330-11 front-end 2.4 GHz radio frequency band. The Linksys uses the IPQ4018 chip with a front-end platform module for the 5 GHz radio frequency band. Also, the Linksys Velop mesh dual-band Wi-Fi router has Cambridge Silicone Radio with CSR8811 Bluetooth SoC 4.1.

Installation

The installation procedure of the Linksys Velop Ac3900 dual-band router is simple and easy compared to routers of other brands like Asus and Netgear. You can easily set up the Linksys Velop dual-band Wi-Fi system through a proprietary app. So, first, you need to install the app on your smartphone device.

The app designed for the installation of the Linksys Wi-Fi system is compatible with both the Android operating system and iOS devices. Once you have launched the app, you need to tap the “Launch Setup.” Next, turn on your Bluetooth on your smartphone device. This is important because it is required for the initial Velop node connection.

Next, you need to set up the Linksys Velop system. You must follow the instructions to connect the system properly. Once you have connected the Velop system – i.e. the first node to the modem, you need to wait for a few seconds so that the LED becomes purple. Next, the app will detect the node.

You can continue to use the app for further configuration and set up. Overall, we think that this is one of the best and powerful Wi-Fi systems.

What We Liked

• Mesh Technology
• Attractive Design
• MU-MIMO Technology
• Ethernet Plus Wireless Backhaul
• Mobile App plus web-based Interface

What We didn’t Like

• The Backhaul Traffic requires improvement
• Each unit has only 2 Ethernet Ports

Recommend Topics

• Best Wireless Routers for Large House
• Best Mesh Wi-Fi System (Reviews & Buying Guide)

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