[Review] Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450

The Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450 serves to increase coverage of Wi-Fi networks. These are its main features, According to manufacturer:

• Maximum Coverage – Extend your coverage for up to 1, 115m ²
• WiFi Dual band AC1750 – Simultaneously in 2.4 GHz 450Mbps + 1300Mbps in 5 GHz
• Three external antennas offer excellent wireless coverage adjustable and reliable connections
• Gigabit Ethernet port that acts as a wireless adapter to connect a device to your cabled network with Gigabit speed
• Intelligent lights help to find the best position demonstrating signal strength
• AP Mode – Creates an enhanced wireless access point, improving also your wired connection
• Application TP-Link Tether – Easily manage your network through smarphone iOS or Android
• Universal Compatibility – Extend the Wi-Fi network to any router or access point

Specifications

And these are the specifications of the Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450:

Purchase

One of the highlights of RE450 is acting both on the 2,4 GHz and of 5 GHz, including the IEEE 802.11 ac. Many cheaper models operate only in 2,4 GHz. What you can find in the Brazilian market, mainly in local stores from the inside, He is one of the best, at least in the specifications.

The Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450 It was purchased in local shops for R$ 449,00, for my work. I don't need a Repeater in house, because my Roteador ASUS RT-AC86U positioned in the middle of the House gives an account to cover the entire area. And my old routers (ASUS RT-AC68U Netgear WNDR3700 and) working with Access Points still give account to strengthen the signal in some rooms.

But anyway, I decided to do some tests with the Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450 to bring this review.

Unboxing and Tests

Check out the photos and videos of the unboxing and first tests:

The Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450 It has a Gigabit Ethernet port and can function as Repeater or access point. As he takes the Repeater signal from the wireless network and the replica, increasing the range of the network. In this case the Ethernet port can be used to connect cable equipment. In spite of being Repeater dual band, the cable-connected devices are connected to a single WiFi frequency.

The mode access point can be used when the location of the Repeater will be installed already have wired connection. Thus connects the network Ethernet port, and the router acts as access point, What is best from the point of view of use of the WiFi band, because the Repeater mode each package needs to be relayed, taking up twice the bandwidth.

The web interface RE450 It's that basic thing of TP-Link products. HTTPS simply does not exist, and settings leave somewhat to be desired.

The circular LED RE450 indicates the quality with which he is receiving the source signal. Blue indicates that the quality is good or strong. Red indicates a weak signal.

You can choose the SSID signal source 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz, However you cannot choose the MAC address, and this leads to one of the major problems of RE450. As both my router as access points use the same SSID, from time to time the RE450 resolves to connect in a access point more distant, leaving the weak signal, When ideally he'd stay connected only on the main router closer to him.

The extended network gets the same channel and original network password, but the SSID can be changed. With the same SSID users connect to transparently Extender, doing the roaming (handoff) as the customer decide, assessing the strength of the signals.

With different connection SSID is more explicit, Since the user needs to configure the SSID of the Extender to use it, and the roaming (handoff), can be more restricted, also depending on the client implementation.

In the network settings it is possible to connect a DHCP server, segmenting the network, what you wouldn't normally use in the case of Extenders.

In the advanced settings it is possible to connect a schedule of times when the Extender is connected. For example, in commercial environments, it can automatically turn off outside the hours of operation of the establishment. The signal can be configured in 3 different levels. Access control can be done with whitelist or blacklist.

In system tools, you can configure time zone, start and end daylight saving time, control a time LEDs stay off, What can be useful for anyone who uses the device in the room and mind with LEDs on at bedtime.

Still in the system tools you can update the firmware, Save and load settings, change the administrator password (but not the username), and view system logs.

Check out some screenshots of the web interface Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450:

The Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450 comes with plug on Brazilian standard (without ground pin) and has three retractable antennas. I chose the farthest point of the House to my tests. Not given to extend one of the antennas on the wall next, What seemed to affect some signal reception.

Most of the time the RE450 got a signal strong or good, even with some walls by way. But eventually the sign appeared as weak and back to normal after a few moments.

The biggest flaw I found in Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450 did he eventually stops functioning and needs to be restarted. When that happens it simply loses connectivity and clients that are connected to it are without access to the network. New clients that attempt to connect cannot IP, on behalf of the DHCP server be on the router and he lost the connection silently and can't recover.

This fails for me is a total deal-breaker. Simply could not keep in my network a device that gets lost and stops functioning, in need of a reset manual. I tried some changes taking, but the problem always came back.

Final Considerations

TP-Link is that there, a brand that sells enough, have reasonable priced products, but quality usually leaves something to be desired, whether for lack of more advanced features, is for crashes that need reset. The Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450 is no exception. For me it is totally useless until the TP-Link correct this problem of losing connectivity and device needs to be restarted. What, in my experience with the brand, I don't think it's going to happen.

I've had a router TP-Link TL-R470T+ Load Balance Broadband Router in that the interface would work and needed reset. Is something unacceptable in a router, in a multiple WANs, that is exactly what people look for in a network that can't stop. The problem was identified by many people, to the point of identifying even the daemons they were leaking memory and causing the crash, and yet the TP-Link has not been able to solve. At least not until I got tired and left to another router. And I waited several months…

Of course, not all the equipment of the TP-Link is a complete disaster. The simplest equipment tend not to give problem. I have here two switches of the brand (TL-SG1016DE and TL-SG1024DE V2), and even though one of them has needed warranty Exchange, at least sent a premium model that's ok until today.

I also have a Modem Router TP-Link TD-W8960N, at least as ADSL Modem pick up well for over a year and a half. The functions of router I never used, but I saw that are pretty basic. I just disabled it for a few days because Living fiber arrived here on the farm and then did the upgrade, Disabling the ADSL.

Regarding Wi-Fi Repeater TP-Link AC1750 RE450, is my not recommendation. There are reports of people who have had no problems with it, so it may be that the crashes are due to something he is of specific in my setup. Anyway, should not happen.