Table of Contents
amazon TP-Link AC750 WiFi Range Extender RE220 reviews
Should your WiFi router be struggling to reach the deep corners of your home, the TP-Link AC750 WiFi Range Extender RE220 could lend a hand. Uplifting the look of the room with its elegant design yet priced on the modest side: very simple to set up and manage. It extended the 2.4GHz radio channel well but does not nearly compete with Netgear Nighthawk EX7300 in terms of 5GHz throughput or features.
Sophisticated design
The RE220 is a dual-band plug-in extender measuring 4.3 x 3.0 x 2.6 inches (HWD) and featuring a white finish that will match almost any home decor. The front panel of the extender has LEDs indicating both the radio band, the signal strength to the Router (green is suitable, red is weak), power, WPS, and Ethernet activity (LAN port). Around the back is a bi-directional plug that is used to plug the device into a wall outlet. The plug position allows access to the second socket in a two-socket. At the bottom of the extender are a Reset button and a LAN port for wired connectivity. Still, it’s a Fast Ethernet port (1/100), despite its name being significantly slower than a Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000). You’ll find on the Amped Wireless REC44M and the Netgear Nighthawk EX7300 extender.
The RE220 is an AC750 WiFi extender that can achieve data rates of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz radio band, 433Mbps on the 5GHz radio band. It has three internal antennas and can serve up to 32 client devices, but it lacks MU-MIMO simultaneous data transmission and direct-to-client beamforming support. However, it provides a High-Speed mode where one of the bands can be dedicated to the backhaul connection between the extender and the Router. In contrast, the other band provides the WiFi connection from the client to the router expansion set.
The RE220 can be accessed using the web console or the Tether mobile app for iOS and Android devices. The web console opens to the status with a map of the network, the extender’s status, including the name of each extension band, the channel is operating, and the MAC address. On the left is a menu bar with tabs for Status, Wireless, Network, Advanced Settings, System Tools, OneMesh, and TP-LinkCloud.
Wireless settings allow you to choose a security method (WPA, WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP) for each SSID and change the extended WiFi name and password. Use the Network settings to automatically get an IP address or enter your default IP address, subnet mask, and gateway information. In the Advanced Settings section, you can create a Power Schedule to turn the extender on and off at specific times of the day, choose coverage settings to help save power if needed, configure Access Control Access to Black List and White List. As well as configure High-Speed Features mode. Here you can reserve the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band for backhaul communication or set it to Auto so that the extender decides which band provides the best transfer rate performance based on its connection to Routers.
In the System Tools menu, you can configure timing settings, turn LEDs on and off, update firmware, back up extender settings, and view system logs. The OneMesh option allows you to use the RE220 with a compatible TP-Link OneMesh Router to create a network using a single SSID. It allows you to roam from room to room without having to log into the extended network. The TP-Link Cloud feature allows you to access extender settings from anywhere via the internet remotely.
Mixed performance
Setting up the RE220 is fast and easy, whether through the web control panel, the WPS button, or the TP-Link Tether mobile app. I set about using the web control panel and started by placing the extender into an outlet near the Router; I then connected my laptop to the wireless SSID of the extender and launched a web browser. My browser’s address bar got http://tplinkrepeater.net into it, rendering the extender setup page, prompting me to create a new password.
Afterwards, I chose both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSIDs for my home network from the list, keyed in their passwords, and renamed the extended SSIDs. I waited about 30 seconds for the extender to reboot and then followed the on-screen directions for moving the device between the Router and the dead zone room. The RE220 signal LED glows green within a minute, indicating a good Router connection, thus completing the setup.
The RE220 exhibited rather mixed outcomes in our transfer rate performance tests. The transfer rate recorded on the proximity test in the 2.4GHz band the same inside a room-from was 77Mbps, besting the Netgear Nighthawk EX7300, Amped Wireless REC22P, and Zyxel WRE6606. The transfer rate at the 25-foot distance is 35Mbps, the same number as Zyxel WRE6606 and a bit faster than the Amped Wireless REC22P but slower than the Netgear EX7300. The 50-foot result gave 27Mbps for the RE220, just a little faster than the other three. At the 75-foot mark, the RE220 delivered 12Mbps, the same speed as the Netgear EX7300 and certainly faster than the Amped Wireless REC22P as well as the Zyxel WRE6606.
The RE220 did not perform well during our 5GHz transfer rate tests. An instant transfer was recorded at 115Mbps at near-proximity; the Amped Wireless REC22P churned 75Mbps and the Zyxel WRE6606 did 58Mbps. The Netgear EX7300 received the highest score at 338Mbps. Similar results on the 25-foot test: The RE220 scene of 70Mbps was the lowest among all; at 170Mbps, Netgear EX7300 stood highest in the bunch. Again, for the 50-foot and 75-foot tests, the RE220 managed to outrun the pack, scoring 48Mbps and 12Mbps, respectively.
Features and Price
The TP-Link AC750 WiFi Range Extender RE220 can do just about anything to get you WiFi dead zones for under $30. Stylish and speedy setup, this plug-in extender is considered good for extending 2.4GHz WiFi. Sadly, it’s not excellent at 5GHz. It does not even support the latest 802.11ac features like MU-MIMO data transfer, beamforming, and wired Gigabit Ethernet. The more powerful Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender (EX7300) is one to consider. It is much more expensive than the RE220 but offers truly sterling 5GHz performance, supports MU-MIMO and beamforming data transfers, and carries a Gigabit LAN port.
where can you get a TP-Link AC750 WiFi Range Extender RE220 online
TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender (RE220), Covers Up to 1200 Sq.ft and 20 Devices, Up to 750Mbps Dual Band WiFi Range Extender, WiFi Booster to Extend Range of WiFi Internet Connection: Buy it now
TP-Link AC750 WiFi Range Extender – Dual Band Cloud App Control Up to 750Mbps, One Button Setup Repeater, Internet Booster, Access Point Smart Home & Alexa Devices (RE220) (Renewed): Buy it now