Tp Link Deco vs Orbi- Investing in the best mesh Wi-Fi device
Mesh Wi-Fi is quickly phasing out the traditional routers, the simple reason being that they are now able to provide long-range strong internet signals to all the Wi-Fi devices connected to one network.
The Mesh Wi-Fi network enables internet coverage to all the rooms in your home including the back and the front yard, with this in mind many people are now in a rush to equip their homes with the best mesh Wi-Fi device.
The problem, however, is that all the available home Wi-Fi devices have been souped up and claim to be offering the best coverage with simple set and management logistics. The below article, therefore, seeks to establish between the Tp-Link Deco and the Orbi, which one offers the best coverage and internet speeds at long range, among other features.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between The TP-Link Deco and the Orbi?
Model |
Tp Link Deco |
Orbi |
coverage |
5,500 sq. ft. |
5,000sq. ft. |
Speed |
386.79mbps-Download
449.03mbps-Upload |
90.57mbps-Download speeds
41.27mbps-Upload speeds |
Wireless type |
2.4 GHz Radio Frequency, 5 GHz Radio Frequency, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
802.11bgn, 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency, 802.11a/g/n/ac |
Warranty |
2 Year warranty |
Limited hardware warranty |
The Tp Link Deco vs the Orbi- How do they compare?
Capacity
Home Wi-Fi devices that have been equipped with mesh technology should be able to cater to a high number of devices, however, this rarely happens in situations where people are engaging the higher bandwidth activities. The Tp-Link deco device, therefore, can accommodate up to 64 devices in a home setting.
The device has also incorporated the Ethernet ports where users will be able to connect their smart TVs, tablets or the wireless printers. The capacity of the Tp-Link in terms of coverage is 5,500sq. ft. and here the Deco M5 utilizes all the three units to create a mesh with fast and reliable internet speeds to all the devices in the network.
The mesh network created is what most people are looking out for in the home Wi-Fi devices because when you look back at the routers they only offer strong signals in the room that it has been installed and in other rooms that are in close proximity but fades as one gets further away from the router.
The Orbi Wi-Fi device, on the other hand, offers users a capacity of up to 250 connected devices, well this is quite an upgrade from Tp links 64. But remember that for users utilizing the Orbi home Wi-Fi device and are engaging in higher bandwidth online activities then the number of devices that can be properly catered to will drop down to 50, so in a home setting this can still be perfect unless you also have guests or outsiders who are using the same network.
The Orbi Wi-Fi device can accommodate a large number of connected users at a range of 5,000; the latter is a much smaller coverage range when compared to the Tp Links 5,500 while catering to only 64 devices, a number that will most likely go down if users engage the higher bandwidth activities.
Positioning in relation to signal strength
Investing in a mesh Wi-Fi device is one thing but finding a suitable position to achieve the mesh network is an uphill task. As a rule of thumb, the mesh devices are normally placed in elevated positions because they emit signals in a downward motion, and along the plane within which they are placed. Other home Wi-Fi devices emit their signals in an upward motion meaning that you will have to find a mid-point between the ceiling and the floor.
Also, keep off obstacles if you can manage to and in situations where obstacles are irremovable let’s say like a brick wall then you will have to get more nodes to extend the mesh and consequently the network coverage. Metal surfaces and objects should be shunned, and don’t enclose your home Wi-Fi device in a cabinet or put it behind books because you will experience poor internet signals.
So how best can you position your Tp Link Deco, to enjoy reliable internet speeds? Though it is not rocket science, you will still have to do some physical exercise, as you try out the different positions; you also have the option of using the Deco app to set the best position for your slave deco. You can, therefore, use the deco application to achieve the best position as regards your home layout.
While using the Tp-Link Deco, you will rarely have problems with the wired connections because they tend to enjoy fast Wi-Fi connections, the above, therefore, comes highly recommended for users who want to connect other external devices like the gaming consoles or the smart TV’s.
When determining the appropriate position for your Orbi Wi-Fi device, it would be best if you also took into account the layout and size of your home. Therefore, if you live in a three-story house, you will have to work with the distance in terms of feet, and clients who are 125 feet away from the device should be able to access good speeds.
A rule of thumb however when using the Orbi device is that it gets to offer good speeds when placed at the center of the house.
Application and other support systems
The Orbi app is necessary as it helps users customize their Wi-Fi devices as regards their needs, and the best thing is that you can download it to your ios or android smartphone. The application will thus enable you to set up and manage your whole Orbi Wi-Fi set up system, and that includes your mesh system, you could also pause the devices that have been connected to the system or run a speed test to check the download and upload speeds in case of buffering.
The smart parental control options have also been availed to you via the Orbi’s application intuitive dashboard. Other features that come incorporated in the Orbi application are such as the advanced cyber threat protection. The later is provided by the advanced Netgear Armor technology, the above feature will, therefore, provide your devices with a complete antivirus protection option.
Your Wi-Fi device system will also be subject to regular scans thanks to the Netgear Armor protection feature, and all the threats directed to the safety of your Wi-Fi devices will be blocked and these include all your personal and smart home devices. And even better is that you will get notifications in case any of the connected devices visit a website that is a threat to your network systems or data; you will also be notified when a new device is connected to your system.
The TP-Link deco application doesn’t work any different from the Orbi, however, there are some notable security features conspicuously missing from the Tp-link and which gives the Orbi a better competitive edge. With the Tp-Link application, you will be able to set up the smart parental controls, access the malware protection feature, and customize the mesh network as regards your needs.
The Tp-link deco security features are not consolidated in one package so the first package that you will be presented with is the Home Care suit, with a few of the protection features, and for the other advanced options, you will have to utilize the companion application that offers full remote control over the Wi-Fi network.
Structure and Design
The Tp-link home Wi-Fi device features a simple yet sophisticated design with a slight bump at the top that makes it stand out from similar Wi-Fi devices. At the top of the cylindrical Wi-Fi, the device is an installed led light, used to show whether the unit is on or off, or whether it has strong or weak signals. At the back of the device, users have been provided with two Ethernet ports and a separate USB port.
However, you have to know that the different Tp-Link devices with the same structure don’t feature the same port settings at the back. For example, the M9 plus has additional power port making the unit very reliable if you were to connect it to other devices.
The Orbi, on the other hand, features a completely different design, as it is taller, with a led lighting ring on top of the device, and up to 4 ethernet ports at the back of the unit. The latter makes it easy for a clean set up because all the wired devices will access the Wi-Fi network from the back. Remember that for the deco, you will have to utilize both the router and the satellite.
And the difference between the two is that the fourth port is used to connect to the modem, while the four Ethernet ports in the satellite will be utilized by the Ethernet-enabled devices.
The Tp Link Deco vs the Orbi- A comparison overview
The Tp Link Deco
- If you're looking to ditch your traditional router extender setup for a whole Home Wi-Fi system, put the...
- Better coverage than traditional Wi-Fi routers: Deco M5 uses 3 units working seamlessly to create a mesh...
Since we are fast moving into the era of smart homes, Tp-Link is keen to keep up with the trend and has thus provided us with a home Wi-Fi device system that can be integrated with Alexa. So all you need to do in a bid to manage your home Wi-Fi device is shout commands and they will be implemented without you having to go to the application.
When compared to the Wi-Fi range extender, the Tp-Link Deco has obliterated the need for numerous network names and passwords. You will, therefore, enjoy a seamless Wi-Fi network throughout your home using just one username and password.
Also, users who wish to adopt this specific unit for their home Wi-fi network needs will utilize some of the advanced technology, for example, the adaptive routing technology designed to automatically select the fastest path for each of the devices while also offering a more flexible placement when compared to the satellite system.
Pros
- It offers extensive coverage at 5,500sq. ft.
- Easy to set up using the Tp-Link Deco application
- Offers users a seamless and stable Wi-Fi
- Comes equipped with advanced features and at a fair price
Cons
- Does not offer extensive coverage
- Does not work well when engaging the complex settings
The Orbi
- Ultra-performance Mesh WiFi network blankets every inch of your home in super fast and seamless WiFi...
- Eliminates WiFi dead zones and buffering - 5,000 square feet of consistent coverage - with speeds up to...
The Orbi Wi-Fi devices have also been equipped with smart features that make it easy to integrate with some of the smart home devices like Alexa. The Wi-fi device offers users a whopping 5,000 sq. ft. with scalability options where you will have to invest in an extra satellite and achieve a range of up to 2500 sq. ft.
And apart from the parental controls, and other malware and virus protection features, users will have to pay for a premium package to use the advanced threat protection feature. Setting up the unit is fairly easy as users just need to download the Orbi application.
Conclusion
Both the Tp-Link Deco and the Orbi are great home devices that have incorporated the smart technology complete with important security features. The only major difference that users will have to consider is that the Orbi offers a premium package as concerns security while the Tp-link deco utilizes a companion application for the more advanced features.
Verdict: so which is better? The Tp Link Deco or the Orbi
The Tp-Link takes the lead when compared to the Orbi simply because it offers a wider range in terms of coverage at 5,500 while the Orbi only offers 5,000. Another notable difference is that the Tp-link offers its users a premium package when it comes to accessing the units full security features, while the Orbi offers users a companion package to enjoy the full security features.
And while the Orbi will cater to a huge number of about 250 connected devices with higher bandwidth usage the number drastically drops down to 50,s whereas the Tp-link will cater to 64 connected devices while engaging the higher bandwidth activities.
FAQs
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Is my Orbi Wi-Fi device scalable?
Yes, your Orbi Wi-Fi device is scalable to offer a wider range coverage, to which end you can comfortably connect up to three satellites and cover about 10,000 sq. ft.
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What is the maximum number of Tp Links that I can have?
If you want to experience a reliable network with minimal hiccups in the flow of traffic then you could use up to 8 adapters.