TP-Link recently launched its latest range extender in the Indian market, dubbed as TL-WA820RE. Basically, the compact wireless extenders allows the user to extend the range of the wireless network and increase the bandwidth up to 300Mbps on low signal areas.
The TL-WA820RE is the company’s first-ever range extender that can be powered by any USB port. You can just plug into a power adapter, power strip, power bank or computer to extend Wi-Fi from the device. The box contents include the extender and quick installation guide. It doesn’t come with a power adapter.
Talking about the design, this range extender comes with a neat white minimalist design with glossy look on both sides. It is built in a way that when you flip open it, you will get a built-in two external antennas to expand your home’s wireless coverage, creating reliable connections and eliminating dead zones.
The right side of the WA820RE sports a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)/ Reset button.
It also has Intelligent Signal Light (Red/Blue) on the surface, which helps to determine the best location for optimal Wi-Fi coverage by indicating the signal strength in the current placement. The Blue light represents good connection, while the red light represents the exact opposite. This indicator is hardly visible when it’s off.
You can just press the WPS button on Router, then the WPS button on TL-WA820RE for simple connectivity without password.
The good thing about this extender is that it comes with an app that can be used to set up connection, monitor and control the device through smartphone. The app named TP-Link Tether is available on both Android and iOS platforms. It takes only few minutes to set up the extender through the app.
In terms of installation, it is pretty much simple. All you need to do is to plug in the extender to a USB adapter and wait power light. Also, make sure that you’ve installed the app on your smartphone.
Once you open the app, select the model of your extender and it requires you to complete process by selecting your network, entering your password and much more. Once the setup process is done, the blinking blue light will turn into a solid blue, which means the procedure is done.
We tested the extender by placing it in our office lobby area and it delivered a very good performance indeed for an entry-level Wi-Fi range extender.
On the whole, the TP-Link TL-WA820RE is not at all a bad choice for any prospective buyers who can afford the price tag of Rs. 1,135. For its compact size, it offers a good performance, but it has only the 2.4GHz band and lacks 5GHz band and support for 802.11 ac connectivity. However this is adequate for most applications we use in our day today life including streaming content, gaming and more. If you are looking for a compact and affordable range extender, this is a good choice.
The TP-Link TL-WA820RE Wi-Fi Range Extender is available exclusively from Amazon.in.