The TP-Link Deco P7 router is a unique offering from the company TP-Link. The TP-Link Deco P7 mesh wireless system is a little different from the previous TP-Link Deco mesh wireless systems that I have examined. It attempts to merge powerline technology with mesh wireless technology to create a new product that appears to be very promising.
In terms of WiFi specifications, the TP-Link Deco P7 is fairly comparable to the Deco M5 in terms of performance. It is equipped with an AC1200 dual band configuration.
However, the inclusion of powerline capability distinguishes it from the competition. The Deco P7 has the capability of using a powerline as the backhaul of a mesh wireless network, resulting in even greater performance overall. It’s also a clever one since it can combine the bandwidth of both powerline and wireless backhaul, and it can automatically determine which is the most appropriate to employ.
Design
I said in the opening that there is no physical difference between the Deco M5 and the Deco P7; both systems have compact form-factor units that are supposed to look like seashells on the top side, and their circular cases allow them to be conveniently placed in any location inside your room. Aside from that, each Deco P7 is finished in matte white and has a glossy band around the outside of it; the system is available in two or three device configurations.
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In contrast to its larger sibling, the M9 Plus, the Deco P7 has retained the same proportions as the M5, measuring 4.7 x 1.3 inches and weighing the same 0.48 pounds as its predecessor. However, the four silicone feet on the bottom section ensure that it does not tumble off the table, even when all of the ports are connected.
Similar to most (if not all) other WiFi systems, the new minimalist design is a significant improvement over the previous industrial-looking routers. However, there are some drawbacks, including the inability to mount the Deco units on the wall or ceiling and the inability to upgrade the antennas (because they are built into the unit).
In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, these compact gadgets will not take up a lot of shelves, tables, or desk space and will blend in with any room’s decor. To be sure, packing all of the essential technology into a little device is not always a good idea due to the increased risk of overheating. However, just as with the Deco M9 Plus and the M5, TP-Link has included those punctures holes on the bottom region which do assist a little with the heat management (more so than the Google WiFi or Eero which completely lack any type of ventilation cut-outs).
In certain cases, though, it’s more about chipset efficiency than it is about size, as demonstrated by the comparison between the old Asus RT-AC68U (which ran hot) and the current RT-AC86U (which has borrowed the same casing and is more powerful but runs at a suitable temperature).
Performance
The Deco P7 is extremely well-tuned thanks to the efforts of TP-Link. It’s a highly developed product that performs admirably in practice. This mesh WiFi system provides incredible speed, and because it works so effectively, you may not even notice that you are utilizing a mesh WiFi system. We have had no problems with roaming or disconnection, and the performance has always been constant.
I can wander about my entire flat and my phone seamlessly changes between multiple Deco nodes without a single decrease in performance. The Deco app could use a little more information, and I can’t even check the powerline connectivity speed at the moment because TP-Link does not supply any.
When it comes to raw numbers, the performance has been rather satisfactory. When tested on my iPhone X, which supports AC1200, we were able to obtain about 450Mbps from the main Deco P7 device. The satellite units, which we refer to as mesh nodes, are also doing a good job in terms of performance.
One thing I must point out is that the Deco P7 will not be any quicker than the Deco M9 Plus because it is intended for completely different use. The Deco P7 is designed for consumers that want to enhance their Wi-Fi coverage by employing a mesh Wi-Fi system with powerline backhaul, which is the entire objective of the device. That is one of the reasons why it is such a unique product since I have seen instances when wireless backhaul does not operate effectively in various situations.
Specifications
| WIRELESS | |
|---|---|
| Standards | Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
| WiFi Speeds | AC1300 5 GHz: 867 Mbps (802.11ac) 2.4 GHz: 400 Mbps (802.11n) |
| Powerline Speeds | HomePlug AV2 600 Mbps Powerline |
| WiFi Range | 4-6+ Bedroom Houses (3-pack)TP-Link Mesh Technology Optional Ethernet backhaul work together to link Deco units to provide seamless coverage Powerline Technology Uses your home’s electrical wiring to create stronger connections between Deco units, reducing the impact of walls or other obstacles on signal 4× Antennas (Internal) Multiple antennas form a signal-boosting array to cover more directions and large areas Beamforming Concentrates wireless signal strength towards clients to expand WiFi range |
| WiFi Capacity | MediumDual-Band Distribute devices to different bands for optimal performance MU-MIMO Simultaneously communicates with multiple MU-MIMO clients |
| Working Modes | Router Mode Access Point Mode |
| HARDWARE | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm 717 MHz Quad-core CPU |
| Ethernet Ports | 2× Gigabit Ports *Per Deco Unit Supports WAN/LAN auto-sensing |
| USB Support | 1× USB Type-C Port |
| Buttons | Reset Button |
| Power | 12 V ⎓ 1.2 A |
| SECURITY | |
|---|---|
| WiFi Encryption | WPA-Personal WPA2-Personal |
| Network Security | SPI Firewall Access Control HomeCare™ AntivirusMalicious Site Checker Port Intrusion Prevention Infected Device Isolation Notification and Log |
| Guest Network | 1× 5 GHz Guest Network 1× 2.4 GHz Guest Network |
| SOFTWARE | |
|---|---|
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
| Service Kits | HomeCare™ Learn More> |
| Parental Controls | HomeCare™ Parental ControlsCustom Profiles Content Filtering URL FIltering Time Limit Time Schedule (Bed Time) Log Insight Usage Monitor Monthly Reports |
| WAN Types | Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE PPTP L2TP |
| Quality of Service | HomeCare™ QoSQoS by Device QoS by Application |
| Cloud Service | OTA Firmware Upgrade TP-Link ID DDNS |
| NAT Forwarding | Port Forwarding UPnP |
| IPTV | IGMP Proxy IGMP Snooping Bridge Tag VLAN |
| DHCP | Address Reservation DHCP Client List Server |
| DDNS | TP-Link |
| Management | Deco App |
| PHYSICAL | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 4.7 × 4.7 × 1.5 in (120 × 120 × 38 mm) |
| Package Contents | Deco P7 (3-pack) 3 Deco P7 Units 1 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 3 Power Adapters 1 Quick Installation Guide Deco P7 (2-pack) 2 Deco P7 Units 1 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 2 Power Adapters 1 Quick Installation Guide |
| OTHERS | |
|---|---|
| System Requirements | Android 4.4 or later iOS 9.0 or later |
| Certifications | CE, FCC, IC, NCC, BSMI, IDA, RCM, JPA, JRF, VCCI, KC, RoHS |
| Environment | Operating Temperature: 0℃~40℃ (32℉ ~104℉) Storage Temperature: -40℃~70℃ (-40℉ ~158℉) Operating Humidity: 10%~90% non-condensing Storage Humidity: 5%~90% non-condensing |
| TEST DATA | |
|---|---|
| WiFi Transmission Power | CE: <20 dBm (2.4 GHz) <23 dBm (5 GHz) FCC: <30 dBm |
Verdict
The TP-Link Deco P7 mesh WiFi router is an excellent mesh WiFi solution. The hybrid powerline and wireless backhaul system have been meticulously designed and performed admirably. Better WiFi speed across my entire home than good WiFi speed while I am near the router but terrible WiFi speed anywhere else is something I would prefer over the other.
The Deco P7 is also quite easy to set up, and I had no negative feedback about the TP-Link Deco app while testing it. This hybrid concept appeals to me much, and I hope that additional models based on this concept will be introduced in the near future.
I would recommend the Deco P7 to those who live in a house with extremely thick walls, in which a traditional mesh wireless solution would be ineffective due to the thick walls. The Deco P7’s ability to connect to a powerline can help to alleviate this problem.
Even when compared to the Deco M5, the powerline capability has been demonstrated to be capable of working effectively in locations where standard mesh Wireless backhaul is unable to provide coverage.
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