Skip to main content

TP-Link X20: The Good and the Bad.

I have a love/hate relationship with the TP-Link DECO X20.

I have a few of these set up in other peoples' homes. There are the things that I love about the X20, but they have serious limitations that I strongly dislike. I would recommend them to some people, but I would never buy one for my own home. Here are the details why.

Photo of TP-Link Deco X20

Overview

The Deco X20 is a cute-looking WiFi6 (802.11ax) mesh router system.

  • You can buy them in one, two, or three node packs. You can add more nodes later if you wish. One of my setups is a three node system, and one is a two node system.  It might be wisest to buy the three pack and sell off any nodes you don't need.
  • Each node is a dual radio device, with optional Ethernet back-haul.
  • Each node has two Ethernet ports that can be used for wan uplink, lan, or client device
  • They look like pretty little cylinders with an external power brick.

The Good

  • These are stupidly easy to set up. There is very little configuration that needs to happen. They are pretty much in line with the Apple philosophy in terms of making home networking super-easy.
  • They seem to be reliable. I have not noticed any of the devices rebooting on its own, or any other problems.
  • They seem to be plenty fast. They don't have any issue meeting the speeds of my ISP (basically, a Gigabit in the best case).  Sure, it can be slower at the periphery, but that's just how radio works.
  • They automatically (and optionally) support Ethernet for the back-haul.

The OK

  • They are good looking cylinders, so users will be tricked into leaving them out in the open, which is always going to be better than leaving them in a cabinet or behind the sofa. But wall mounting requires the purchase of custom 3rd party brackets, and ceiling mounting is a "never".
  • The smartphone app is pretty decent. Hopefully they don't kill it prematurely like so many vendors do. No one buys devices to just throw them into the e-waste bin after a few years. 
  • Like any WiFi device, placement is important. It's a good idea to minimize node count.
  • They are designed to be used indoors only.  They are not compatible with very hot or very cold temperatures, so they may not be suitable for placement in a garage or the porch or outdoor spaces that do not have climate control.

The Annoying

  • Limited configuration options. People who disliked Apple's Airport products due to their lack of obvious configuration options will hate these far more. Even the most basic settings like channel selection and channel width are not available. In relative terms, the Airport had a ton more options.
  • The device's WiFi channel selection is stupid. Sure, these are 802.11ax, but why are you choosing a 40 GHz channel in the middle of the 2.4GHz spectrum in a noisy neighborhood? It is as if TP-Link is going out of their way to noise up the spectrum, and I know of no recourse.
  • Firmware updates? These are pretty new devices. I can't believe they haven't seem a firmware update in over 18 months. Bug fixes? Security fixes? I can't believe that their software is so perfect.
  • No DFS, of course, as although these seem premium, in reality they are low-end consumer devices (despite the price tag suggesting otherwise).

Conclusion

I wouldn't buy the X20 for my home, but I do think they work well for people who need a very simple multi-node system within a very large residential home in outer suburbia. I'm concerned about the manufacturer's control over the device, and I hate the inability to tweak the channel settings.


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Fixing a SodaStream Jet, part 1: Disassembly Guide

I've had my SodaStream Jet for years, and once in a while something has gone wrong. Disassembly is the first step to repair.  Start with this article to see how to disassemble the SodaStream, and then once you have that down, scroll through my other articles to see how I repaired specfic SodaStream problems. SodaStream Jet Disassembly Guide Tools Required Flat head screwdriver Phillips head screwdriver 1. Remove the Carbonator.  Duh. 2. Remove the black panel lever The front big black tilt lever needs to be removed first. Removing this panel is tricky, but it isn't impossible. Looking up at the bottom of the black panel, there are two tabs, one on the left and one on the right. These tabs fully secure the panel in place. The trick is to use a flat-head screwdriver under the plastic to gently lever the tabs out of the way.  Note in the pictures how I approach these tabs with my screwdriver.  I usually release the left side first, and then I release the right
Read more

Fixing a SodaStream Jet, Repair #2 - Broken Fill Button

My Soda Stream Jet's fill button broke, which means I can not longer carbonate water by pressing the pushbutton. This caused all sorts of grief in my household. Here is how I managed to repair my Jet to give it another 10 years of life (hopefully). First, a look at the button The fill button on the top of the SodaStream is actually a simple lever. Pressing down on the button moves a pin that does the actual work of pressing open the Carbonator's valve. Unfortunately, the axis point is fairly thin and can see a lot of stress. That's where my Soda Stream button cracked. [ I think the usage tip here is "don't over-press the button like a gorilla, it doesn't do anything but put high stress on the button."] Cracked levering point of the button The Pesky Lever Retaining Pin The Fix It was pretty easy for me to replace the button: Take off the back of the Soda Stream and remove the carbonator. Push out the the button lever's steel retaining pin. This takes qu
Read more

Fixing my Wahl 9918 Groomsman Beard and Mustache Trimmer

Not everyone would bother repairing a $25 beard trimmer, but why not fix something for under $5 instead of spending another $25? My  Wahl 9918 Groomsman Beard and Mustache Trimmer  has admirably performed its beauty duty for many years, but the time came when the battery just wasn't holding a charge any more.  Most people would just put the trimmer in the trash and buy a new one, but I figured I could repair my otherwise excellent Wahl and save some money. In fact, even high priced trimmer and rotary shaver brands, like Norelco and Remington, can be easily repaired using a process similar to the one I used to fix my Wahl.  Read on to find out how. I opened up the Wahl by popping off the black plastic faceplate with a tiny flathead screwdriver, which revealed two screws.  By removing the two screws I was able to easily open up the unit, revealing the guts of the device. Backplate off, Revealing the screws The internals are rather simple: a motor, a simple circuit boar
Read more

Sodastream Carbonator Leakage, Usage, and Weight

SodaStream 60L "Carbonator" CO2 cylinders have a specific weight when empty, plus about 410 or so grams for the CO2 they should have when they're "full".  A little while ago I went to buy a replacement Carbonator from my local hardware store. The dealer pulled a new Carbonator out of the box and sensed it was lighter than usual.  He put the "light" Carbonator in the "empty" pile and sold me a different one.  At that moment I concluded that it would be smart of me to weigh both new and empty SodaStream carbonators.  Here are the results. Weighing a SodaStream Carbonator - for both Science and Consumer Protection.       The dealer told me that sometimes the carbonators leak after they leave the SodaStream filling facility.  That means there could be an opportunity for customers like me to get ripped off! The SodaStream cylinders I buy claim to have a net product weight of 410 grams - and that means that a full Soda Stream Carbonator shou
Read more

MacBook: burnt out magsafe connector repair

My MacBook (A1342 model from 2009-2010) stopped working, thanks to a cheap knockoff magsafe charger. The magsafe connector looked burnt with heat-distorted melted plastic and some black carbon surfaces.  Plugging in the charger resulted in no lights and no action.  My MacBook was dead. First I tried to clean up the connector with some Q-Tips, tooth picks and solvent, but that did little, as seen in this "after" picture (below).   The heat generated by the aftermarket charger permanently deformed and distorted the MacBook's magsafe connector.  Clearly the damage was significant. Burnt Magsafe Connector - Replacement Required! Looking at iFixIt , I determined that it would not be difficult to replace only the magsafe connector with the right tools.  I hoped and prayed that the problem was isolated to the connector assembly and not the logic board. I bought a replacement magsafe connector assembly (available from Amazon) for under $20 and started to replace it by
Read more

The Yamaha DD-65 and YDD-60 Digital Drums

Almost everyone I know who is into drums should get their hands on the Yamaha DD65 . It's a low cost, fun little kit that you can throw in your car to jam with your buddies. It's a lot easier than throwing your gear in your Subaru. The DD-65, also known as the YDD-60. Eight pads in a pretty package. I've owned the older, venerable DD-55 for about five years. The DD-55 is the ancestor of the newer DD-65, and is an evolution of the DD-50, which was first released some time in the mid 1990s. I just put my DD-55 on this light snare drum stand it's ready for some jamming. The classic DD-55. Seven pads of rockin' fun, since about 2001. Yes, everyone will tell you that the DD-55 isn't actually a real drum kit. No kidding. However, a skilled drummer can get some great sound out of this little box, and you can definitely keep the band together with it. Plus, it's perfect for apartment living.
Read more

Other Posts

Show more