TP Link Deco M5 Vs BT Whole Home Wi-Fi – Which router is best suits your needs?
If you’re struggling to get a signal at certain rooms and points in your house, then you need a mesh router system as the traditional routers don’t cut it. In this article, we are going to do an in depth review of the TP Link M5 and BT Whole Home Wi-Fi and see which is the most suitable for you.
If you you’ve experienced dead zones in your house, then you know how irritating they can be. Traditional routers are not built to transmit the signal over long distances. Therefore, you will find that if you live in a large house, there are a lot of corners and maybe rooms where the WIFI signal does not reach.
To eliminate this problem, we have mesh routers. Mesh routers work by providing and spreading the signal equally to all points in your house. The TP Link M5 and BT Home routers are very popular in the mesh network market today. They have both been around for a long time. Depending on your needs, either of these routers would be best for you. They are built differently to suit different users. They are differ in everything from design to their hardware capabilities.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between TP Link M5 and BT Whole Home Wi-Fi?
Model |
TP Link Deco M5 |
BT Whole Home |
Radio Freq. Support |
Tri-band radios at 2.4GHz and 5Ghz (x2) |
Dual 2.4GHz/5Ghz |
Processor |
Quad core CPU |
Quad core CPU |
Speed |
2.4GHz – 400Mbps
5GHz – 867Mbps |
2.4GHz – 380 Mbps
5GHz –750 Mbps |
Flash Memory |
4 GB |
4 GB |
RAM |
512 MB |
1 GB |
Ports |
Two Gigabit ports per unit and one USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 4.2 |
One gigabit Ethernet port and a power jack |
Availability |
TP Link Deco M5 vs BT Home – How do they compare?
Hardware Capacity
The TP Link M5 is an AC1300 processor with a dual band 802.11 networking system powered by a powerful 700 MHz processor CPU. It is fitted with a flash memory of 4 GB and RAM of 512 MB. This is one of the best memory capacity in any router, with the only the Google Wi-Fi beating this number. The TP Link M5 is that uses for independent data lanes.
On the other side, we have the BT Home. The BT Home is an AC2600 mesh router with a 4 x 4 MIMO dual band system powered by a powerful 716 MHz CPU processor. This CPU processor is powerful and is able to transmit signals for very long range. The BT Home is fitted with a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio band and works on both bands. However, like many other routers, you cannot manually connect to either if the bands separately.
Positioning and signal strength
The search for a mesh router system comes from experiencing dead zones in the house. Always select the router with the coverage area and minimal loss of data. When it comes to TP Link M5 and the BT Home, they differences between them are small.
The TP Link M5 is powered by a quad core processor with four internal antennas inside. It is also an AC1300 router meaning it can do speeds of up to 400Mbps while on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 867 Mbps when on the 5 GHz band. Furthermore, it has beamforming abilities which is an important feature for all mesh routers. Through beamforming, signals are sent directly to wireless connected devices instead of over a wide spectrum. MUMIMO is also supported by the M5 which allows in simultaneous communication with other MUMIMO compatible devices.
The BT Home on the other hand is a 4 x 4 dual band router that delivers a speed of up to 1733 Mbps over the 5GHz band and up to 800 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. BT Home supports beamforming and MUMIMO.
Mobile app and other support systems
The TP Link M5 and BT Whole Home routers all require mobile apps to install and run the system. Everything is done from the app from configuring the routers and naming them to updating their firmware. The TP Link M5 features a mobile app for both android and iOS users.The app is known as Deco App. The app features a lot of functionalities but perhaps what stands out the most is its simple, clean and clear cut interface design. The app is easy quick and easy to understand from the clear guides provided. Another great perk is that the app regularly receives update that improve its functionality and provides new features. Some of the functions of the app include: installation and configuration of the routers, speed test, display number of connected devices and update the routers’ firmware.
The BT Home also features an app that is compatible with both android and iOS devices. Everything is done from the mobile app including installation and configuration of the routers, naming the routers, parental control among others. The app is seamless and switching connection between the routers is smooth.
Design and structure
When it comes to the exterior design, the Deco M5 has one of the best mesh router design. It comes as a three piece unit. Each unit is identical and features two gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB type C power port and a reset button, all located at the back of the router. They are white in color and shaped like a cylinder. Each unit is 4.7 x 1.4 inches long in diameter and height respectively. With these design features, the routers fit into your interior deco perfectly without looking out of place.
The BT Home has a rather lovely design. It is circular with a shiny silver metallic base that support it when placed down. The BT Home also comes as a three piece unit with all pieces being identical to each other. Each piece is white in color and has a small LED light at the front bottom of the router. At the center of the router, the BT logo is imbibed in colorful fonts. On top of that, the router has small holes on the sides for ventilation and air cooling. At the back of the router, we have the gigabit Ethernet port and the power jack. There is also a cap that contains the password for the piece and LED color indicator meanings.
All mesh routers come with internal antennas to send and receive signals from each other. The TP Link M5 comes with four internal antennas that are powered by the quad core processor inside. These antennas are omnidirectional and are irremovable. The BT Home also contains four internal antennas. The antennas communicate with each other to provide a seamless connection all through the house.
The TP Link Deco M5 vs BT Home – A comparison review
TP Link Deco M5
The TP Link M5 is one of the best mesh routers you can find in the market today. It is a stylish router with one of the best exterior designs there is. But it doesn’t just look good, it performs as well by delivering seamless connection and solid performance. It also supports MUMIMO data streaming for simultaneous communication between MIMO compatible devices.
When you buy the M5, it comes as a default three piece unit. The units should be placed at different points or rooms in the house that are Wi-Fi dead zones. The three communicate and connect and form a mesh network throughout your home. On top of that, it comes with other amazing features such as malware protection, powerful parental controls and a simple beautiful interface that is easy to configure and manage.
When it comes to pricing, the TP Link M5 is quite affordable and should be a top consideration for anyone on a tight budget. It offers great value for money as you pay less for high level performance. It is capable of a speed of up to 5500 sq. feet and can support over 100 connected devices. For this fair price, you also get an inbuilt antivirus system, robust parental controls and constant firmware updates.But perhaps the best feature of the TP Link M5 is its ability to support smart home devices. It also acts as a hub for multiple devices and is compatible Alexa.
Pros
- It supports both mobile app support systems
- It comes with an nice inbuilt feature such as parental control and malware and virus protection
- The TP Link M5 is easy to install and configure
- The parental controls are detailed and robust
- The firmware receives regularly updates with new useful features and functionalities
Cons
- It does not have web based support system
- There is no dedicated channel band control
BT Home 2019
- Works with all UK broadband providers, AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless technology. Not compatible with Complete...
- Three discs create a complete Wi-Fi network for medium to larger homes with 3-5 bedrooms, removing Wi-Fi...
The BT Whole Home is a wonderful choice for large elegant homes that require very broad WIFI coverage. It is considered a premium router and therefore comes at a premium price. When you buy this system, it comes as default three piece pack unit. This means there are three identical routers inside. One router, the main router, is connected to your home router while the other two are secondary routers and are placed at different points or rooms of the house. They all transmit WIFI creating a mesh network. It offers powerful connection throughout the house from the four antennas installed inside it. Furthermore, it supports MUMIMO technology for compatible devices.
The BT Home is a premium priced package that is worth every penny. Not only is the coverage good, but the app is also quick and easy work with. The pieces are beautiful and have an LED bright at the front bottom that indicates connection or lack of it. The LED brightness can be adjusted at night to be dim, and this is done through the app. When it comes to performance, the BT Home delivers up to 1733 Mbps over the 5 GHz band and up to 800 Mbps over the 2.4 GHz.
Pros
- It has superior area coverage
- It can easily be mounted on walls
- The design is stylish and beautiful
- It is easy to setup and manage using the mobile app
- The mobile app is very versatile and has many functionalities such as speed test, guest access and parental control
- It offers very stable connectivity
Cons
- There is no web based management system, only the mobile app
- There is only one LAN port for wired connections
Conclusion
All in all, both these routers are great depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a low budget router with superb features that are almost like premium mesh systems, the TP Link M5 would be a great choice.
Verdict: So which is better? The TP Link M5 or BT Home
The BT Home takes the lead when it comes to choosing a reliable router for your home. This is because it offers faster speeds at both long and short range. The TP Link M5 is better for smaller and average sized homes.
FAQs
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Does the BT Home come with Zigbee technology?
Yes. Since only the BT Home was built to also act as a hub for smart home devices, it comes with inbuilt Zigbee technology to communicate with these smart devices.
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Does the TP Link M5 overheat?
No. It comes with ventilation points located on the sides of the router.
