Setup and Installation

The setup process was straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions in the Deco app. I have a total of four Deco units: two upstairs (one in each office at opposite ends of the house), one in the centre of the house downstairs connected to the router, and the final unit outside in a shed, providing seamless coverage to my garden. Even with the thick brick walls, the Wi-Fi coverage is strong throughout the entire house, a vast improvement over my previous ISP-supplied router.

Coverage and Performance

The Deco S7 system excels at extending Wi-Fi coverage, providing solid performance across all areas of my home. The range is impressive, extending well into my garden and shed. One of the best features for me has been the ability to uplink a PoE switch directly to the Deco unit in the shed, effectively turning the Deco into an Ethernet cable alternative. This saved me from having to run long Ethernet cables through walls or drill holes, which was a huge convenience.

Roaming

Roaming between the Deco units works well, especially with portable devices like mobile phones and laptops. As I move around the house, my devices seamlessly switch from one Deco to another without any noticeable interruption. This is particularly useful during video calls, where I’ve experienced no drop in connectivity or quality while moving between rooms or even stepping outside into the garden.

App Features and Usability

The Deco app is generally user friendly and offers a range of useful features. I particularly appreciate how it notifies me when a new device joins the network, giving me better control over the devices connected to my system. The Network Optimisation Scan is another helpful feature, scanning nearby network channels and switching to the least congested one for better performance. However, this scan has to be done manually, and I’d love the option to schedule it to run automatically on a weekly or monthly basis.

Reliability and Reboots

For the most part, the system has been reliable, providing steady Wi-Fi without major interruptions. However, I’ve encountered a few instances where the system needed to be rebooted to restore connectivity. This is a minor inconvenience, as the system recovers quickly after a restart, but it’s worth mentioning.

Key Strengths

• Handling Brick Walls: One of the most impressive aspects of the Deco S7 is its ability to provide strong Wi-Fi coverage throughout a house with thick, solid brick walls, where other routers have failed.
• Range and Coverage: The system provides excellent Wi-Fi coverage throughout my house and garden, ensuring that all areas receive a strong signal.
• Ethernet Functionality: Being able to connect a PoE switch to the Deco in the shed is incredibly handy for extending the wired network without needing complicated setups.
• App Notifications: The app’s ability to notify me of new devices joining the network adds an extra layer of security, making it easy to monitor and manage connected devices.
• Roaming Performance: Portable devices can seamlessly switch between Deco units with no interruption, which is perfect for maintaining stable connections during video calls or when streaming content.
• Network Optimisation: The scan feature is great for ensuring the optimal Wi-Fi channels are in use, though I wish this could be automated.

Areas for Improvement

• Manual Network Scans: As mentioned, it would be helpful if the system could schedule automatic network optimisation scans instead of requiring a manual trigger.
• Occasional Reboots: While the system is generally reliable, there have been a few instances where I’ve needed to reboot it to restore full functionality. It’s not a major issue, but something to be aware of.

Final Thoughts

The TP-Link Deco S7 AC1900 has been a fantastic solution for extending Wi-Fi coverage in my house, where the ISP provided router had failed to provide sufficient signal. The app provides useful features like device notifications and manual network optimisation, and the ability to uplink devices directly via Ethernet to the Deco units is incredibly convenient. For the price, it delivers great performance and coverage, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable mesh network, especially if dealing with thick walls or hard to cover areas.