I tried Amazon’s new Eero Wi-Fi router – and it fixes one major problem everyone suffers with
I KNEW Amazon's latest models of Wi-Fi routers were going to be good - but I completely underestimated just how effective they would be.
Amazon's Eero Max 7 tri-band mesh Wi-Fi router boasts speeds of up to 9.4Gbps and can cover up to 232 m² of space - so I tested a pair to see if they were legit.
Sluggish Wi-Fi speeds have long plagued my four-story, old London terraced house, that I share with five other professionals.
Old, multi-storey properties are notorious for gobbling up internet signals.
Let alone when there are six professionals - five of which who work from home several days a week - vying for the best connection.
In peak internet usage times, between 7pm and 9pm, most housemates are met with buffering Netflix screens and lagging gaming experiences.
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My PlayStation 4, for example, frequently crawls along with speeds of around 10Mbps to 15 Mbps.
So, when the opportunity to try out the Eero Max 7 presented itself - you best believe I bit at the chance.
And thank goodness I did.
Set up
I was dreading the set up process.
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But to my surprise, it was incredibly simple.
A QR code on the box - that you can scan with your smartphone camera - whisks you away to Eero's app.
Inside the app are easy-to-understand instructions on how to set up the router alongside your standard hub.
Essentially, turn your old router off, back on again, and plug in the Eero Max 7 via the ethernet port with the cables provided.
Then, wait for the Eero router to pair with your standard hub, so you can unplug and place your new Eero in the centre of your home to eliminate those pesky internet dark spots.
The app will let you know when the Eero Max 7 is up and running, and offer you tips and diagrams on where you should place it.
For example, place it centrally, and out in the open - not inside a cabinet or behind the TV.
Once it's set up, you may need to install a software update on the gadget - which can take a while.
You're then encouraged to turn off your old Wi-Fi network, as the Eero Max 7 will take over from here.
As Eero puts it: "Keeping two Wi-Fi networks on in the same space especially if they use the same name and password, will cause problems for your Wi-Fi devices."
Aesthetics
The Eero Max 7 is not as discrete as the palm-sized plug-in Wi-Fi boosters that you usually come across.
But it makes up for that with a sleek, clean-looking style.
It's certainly more easy on the eye than the router my network provider gave me.
Is the Eero Max 7 worth it?
Absolutely.
Considering the stress-free setup, the payoff is huge.
After moving the Eero Max 7 to the floor of the house where my bedroom is, my PlayStation 4's connection speeds immediately jumped from 8.7Mbps to 45Mbps.
While it's not quite the 9.4Gbps that is promised - you must remember that this is shared between a large number of electronic devices.
Most house members have at least one phone, one laptop, one game console and a TV in their rooms.
That's a lot of gadgets all demanding Wi-Fi signals.
One thing I must mention, however, is that the Eero Max 7 is not a budget friendly option for many households.
Just one of these Wi-Fi routers is £599.99, while a two-pack is a whopping £1,149.99.
This puts the devices out of reach for many households, although it would be a worthy investment for folks permanently working from home.
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You may well be able to find a cheaper alternative that is also effective.
But the boosters we've had so far in my house have not yet proved themselves as worthy as the Eero Max 7.
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