TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor Access Point, AC1200 Gigabit Wireless Access Points, 802.3af/Passive PoE, Omada Mesh, Seamless Roaming, Weatherrproof, Optimal for Garden Wi-Fi, Free Controller Software

I use two of these to provide WiFi hotspots and outdoor coverage. One is just coming up to 2 years old and the other is 9 months. Both have lived outside and worked pretty flawlessly so far. For someone familiar with home networking, they're fairly easy to set up. You can either login via a browser and set them up via the web interface or use TP-Link's Omada software to provision them. Omada gives them a few extra features and lets you see and log more information than they would do by themselves.For speed and range, I've seen them top out at around 600mbps when within 10m with no real obstacles on 5GHz. Line-of-sight outdoors, the furthest I could test was 100m away where I could still get a decent signal and around 100mbps on my phone. Signal strength and speed drops off very quickly at this distance as soon as there's obstacles which is to be expected really. This is with 5GHz DFS channels which tend to be fairly free from interference. I haven't been able to make fair tests on 2.4GHz as this seems to be very busy in my area. I actually leave it disabled as it's pretty much unusable at any distance due to the amount of interference. I've had this with other routers/APs too here.Good points for me:- Omada is pretty cool (but not necessary for most cases)- Performance is as good as you'd expect from 2x2 WiFi 5- They seem to survive outdoors- Range is good but as usual in WiFi manufacturer doodar land, their claims seem fairly optimistic ("300m+", line of sight at 1mbps while in an RF chamber during a full moon wearing no clothes)- With Omada, they apparently can be used in a mesh sort of configuration but I have yet to try this- Support for DFS channels on 5GHz (usually clearer channels if there's no weather radars)- PoE- Includes mounting bracketBad points:- They're WiFi 5 and a little dated now (there are WiFi 6 models but they're kinda expensive)- If weather radar is detected on a DFS channel, they'll change to another non-DFS channel and remain there. It'd be nice if they returned once the channel was free again. You either have to reboot or change the frequency again.I think they're pretty neat but it would be nice to see the EAP610-Outdoor, the WiFi 6 equivalant drop down in price and replace these (assuming they're just as good but with WiFi 6). They're currently almost twice the price vs these EAP225-Outdoor (£150 vs £80). Booo!

I had been using a booster in an up stairs bedroom and then another 20m down the garden in the shed to reach 45m down to the very bottom with the purpose of getting wifi to a solar powered ip camera, the camera is working better than before probably due to a better signal and less connections.I get full signal on 5g on my phone and the same speed test results 45m down the garden as i get direct from my router in the same room, with the booster setup the speed was poor and the connection was unreliable.The set up is so easy and worked straight away without any issues.

This is installed by Ethernet cable (not supplied) to an existing network. So you need to be able to run the cable from your router insider to the access point outside. Power is supplied via the Ethernet cable, which avoids the need for a separate power feed. You do need an available power socket near to where you connect the cable to your existing network. The access point needs to be installed fairly high up.In my garden, reach is rather less than claimed even if you have completely clear line of sight. The signal is fairly weak at 50m and doesn’t get through dense plants.I am advised ( but haven’t tested) that you cannot connect more than one of these together wirelessly ( as you can for Linksys velop for example) so if you need more than one, then you need to run an Ethernet cable from your existing network to each one.Speed is fine for ordinary purposes. The downloadable app for smart phone makes straightforward configuration easy.

A while back, I decided to change my BT mesh type system for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's not as fast as I'd like and secondly, the range is quite small. I have 5 BT mesh units and I still don't have full coverage, at least not guaranteed.So, I looked at an Access Point type system because each AP is hard wired back to the network switch thus avoiding the issues of repeating a WiFI signal.So, I looked around and there are some pretty pricey systems around for offices and industrial areas - far more than wanted to spend - and then I came across the TP-Link Omada system which, is far more reasonable in price.And it's utterly brilliant.First off you do not need to be a PHd level IT guru to set it up. Anyone with a modicum of willingness and the ability to download an App can do it. The system as a who is designed to be controlled just by your app or you can boy a small network controller module that you plug into your switch and using the App set things up from that. This I recommend and it's genuinely idiot proof.You'll then need a network switch preferably a POE one. I also used a TP-Link one because the price is very good and of course guaranteed compatibility. It also has sensing built in such that if I plugged a non-POE device in it would not blow it with an over voltage.And then you pick some AP's. I have four indoor ones to cover my house and a couple of outdoor ones, one for the front of my house and one for the back garden which is large and backs onto woods and open county - which is why I wanted a good WiFi signal.Cameras. Specifically WiFi ones my wife and I have in place to watch the various animals and birds that visit our garden. Covid has been miserable but it has introduced us to an outside world we paid little heed to before and thus we have had a bit of a silver lining to the misery of 2020 and now 2021.Anyway, I ran a Cat6 cable to where I wanted this AP - a pole I'd previously installed - and then fitted it with the included mountings which, are neat, easy to use and work well.Once mechanically and electrically fixed I simply used the app to set this up and off it went. I now have excellent WiFi across the entire back area of my house.And as you move around and back into the house the system allows seamless transitioning from one AP to the next using the stronger signal as it comes up.Overall, a fantastic system and AP from TP-Link.