Linksys Velop AX4200 review
Our Verdict
Inexpensive and able to bathe a large abode in Wi-Fi, the Linksys Velop AX4200 mesh kit offers good throughput, a sophisticated optimization protocol and a iii-yr warranty. Unfortunately, it lags backside the all-time Wi-Fi vi devices and does without the customization options that some might demand.
For
- Cheap mesh kit
- Good throughput
- Dynamic tri-band functioning
- USB port for hard drive
- Three-year warranty
Confronting
- Small corporeality of customization potential
- No security software
- Irksome ready
Tom's Guide Verdict
Cheap and able to bathe a big dwelling in Wi-Fi, the Linksys Velop AX4200 mesh kit offers expert throughput, a sophisticated optimization protocol and a three-year warranty. Unfortunately, it lags behind the best Wi-Fi 6 devices and does without the customization options that some might demand.
Pros
- +
Inexpensive mesh kit
- +
Skilful throughput
- +
Dynamic tri-band operation
- +
USB port for hard bulldoze
- +
Three-year warranty
Cons
- -
Pocket-sized amount of customization potential
- -
No security software
- -
Ho-hum prepare up
Linksys Velop AX4200: Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: AX4200
Number of Antennas/Removable: viii/No
Ports: Router – one WAN/3 LAN, USB 3
Processor/Memory/Storage: Quad-cadre 1.4GHz/512MB/512MB
Wi-Fi chip: Qualcomm Networking Pro 800
Peak 802.11ax functioning: 507.7Mbps (at 15 feet)
Range: 90 feet
Size: 9.vi ten 4.5 10 4.five inches
Estimated Annual Electricity Price: $14.fourscore per unit or $44.40 for all three devices
A bargain that'southward cheap to keep, the Linksys Velop AX4200 brings together enough range and throughput to fill a big home with Wi-Fi data while continuously balancing how the data travels from the host to its satellites and dorsum once more. That was enough to become it named the best mesh router in our 2021 Tom's Guide Awards.
Its setup is easy to reach although, unlike other recent mesh kits, the Velop AX4200 lacks any extra security software to protect the network and its connected devices from attack. Its 3-year warranty leads the mesh world but the Velop AX4200 falls short on customization options but, if you have a big territory to cover, the Velop AX4200 delivers with $.25 and bucks to spare.
Linksys Velop AX4200 review: Pricing and availability
The Wi-Fi six follow-on to the Linksys Velop mesh systems, the Velop AX4200 is available either on its own for $250 or in a three-pack for $500.
- i-pack (Model MX4200) - $199.99
- two-pack (Model MX8000) - $299.99
- iii-pack (Model MX12600) - $449.99
This represents not but a 33 per centum disbelieve to buying them one at a time, simply the package costs $100 less than the eero Pro 6 iii-pack. It'south roughly what a ii-unit of measurement Orbi RBK752 kit costs. In other words, the Velop AX4200 is one of the least expensive Wi-Fi half-dozen mesh kits around. Each Velop AX4200 unit can comprehend ii,700 square feet and the three-piece kit can fill an eight,000 foursquare foot residence, co-ordinate to Linksys engineers.
Linksys Velop AX4200 review: Pattern
The Linksys Velop AX4200 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System (MX12600) is composed of white rectangular towers, much like its predecessor, the Linksys Velop AC1300. The move to W-Fi vi has meant that the devices have grown in all dimensions to 4.v x 4.v x 9.6 inches. Still, they're smaller than the devices seen in our Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 (RBK852) review.
Able to sit on a table, desk-bound or floor, the Velop AX4200 can even be used as a bookend on a shelf. Information technology may lack recessed mounting holes simply there are third-party brackets bachelor for attaching them to a wall.
The three Velop AX4200 devices that came in the kit are all the same and are configured as the host router or satellite during the installation process. They each take a single LED dot on superlative. When information technology's solid blue, everything is online but if it turns to xanthous or scarlet, the Net connection is weak or offline. The towers rely on passive cooling and never got higher up 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Inside, each Velop AX4200 device has eight antennas but they tin can't be aimed or replaced. Based on Qualcomm's Networking Pro 800 serial of Wi-Fi chips, the Velop AX4200 has a quad-core i.4GHz processor forth with 512MB of RAM to run its operations. At that place's 512MB of wink storage for holding its firmware and settings. The system uses the latest Wi-Fi techniques for pushing data to the limit with MU-MIMO and beamforming but can't run wide 160MHz data channels.
The Velop AX4200 tri-ring design has a ii.4GHz and two 5GHz data delivery portals that use a dynamic backhaul aqueduct. Rather than Orbi'due south fixed 5GHz backhaul channel for moving data from the satellite to the host, the Velop AX4200'due south software optimizes the backhaul over its two 5GHz channels. When needed it can speed communications from the satellite to the host, but when not needed, information technology can augment the overall information menstruum.
The tri-band design can move data over eight contained information channels. It can evangelize 600Mbps available over its 2.4GHz band also as 1.2Gbps and 2.4Gbps over its two 5GHz bands. The unit carries an AX4200 rating.
Notched out of one of the belfry's corners is its connexion panel. In addition to a WAN input, there are three downstream networking ports. All run at i gigabit per second, and the Velop AX4200 lacks both a 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig input and the power to aggregate two ports for higher throughput.
The Velop AX4200 does take a USB 3 port for connecting a hard drive and making information technology available over the network. This is something that the Netgear Orbi RBK752 and eero Pro 6 lack.
Underneath, the Velop AX4200 has a power switch and a recessed reset button to return the device to its factory settings and software. There's besides a button to actuate the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) system for quickly adding a device to the network, something the eero Pro half-dozen lacks due to security concerns.
Linksys Velop AX4200 review: Performance
Overall, the Velop AX4200 did very well on our tests with a crowded network using Ixia'due south ixChariot's benchmark in my 100 year old 3,500 square foot habitation. With 10 information-hungry simulated clients and 15-feet separating the Velop AX4200 router and the test system, the network was able to move 507.7Mbps. That may exist 40 percent off the pace set by the Netgear Orbi WiFi half-dozen (RBK852) router'due south 833.6Mbps, just it's roughly equivalent to the 506.7Mbps that the Netgear Orbi RBK752 managed. The eero Pro six was back of the class at 436.1Mbps.
Later I moved the test system l-anxiety from the host router, the Velop AX4200's throughput dropped off to 201.3Mbps. That'south improve than either the Netgear Orbi RBK852 (124.4Mbps) or the Orbi RBK752 (100.3Mbps). Neither could touch the resurging eero Pro six'southward 239.9Mbps of bandwidth bachelor for the test organisation at 50-anxiety.
At 75-feet, the Velop AX4200's throughput brutal to 139.6Mbps, still backside the eero Pro 6's 208.9Mbps. The Orbi nonidentical twins – the Orbi RBK752 and RBK852 – trailed with 82.5Mbps and 85.9Mbps available. The Velop AX4200 hitting its range limit at xc-feet, 15 feet short of the eero Pro six's 105-foot range and ability to evangelize 29.5Mbps at xc-feet.
Raw range doesn't tell the whole story with the Velop AX4200 router punching a stiff betoken through walls and floors. With the receiving examination system 25-anxiety from the router and on the other side of a wall, the Velop AX4200 delivered 525.7Mbps, well alee of the eero Pro half-dozen (375.6Mbps) or the Netgear Orbi RBK752 (326.6Mbps). But the Netgear Orbi RBK852 did better at 782.9Mbps.
With the exam organization set in a bedroom directly above the router, the throughput fell to 437.5Mbps, which is on a par with the eero Pro 6'southward 430.9Mbps; the RBK750 brutal dorsum with 281.0Mbps of bandwidth available, while its larger cousin, the Orbi RBK752 blasted 670.1Mbps of data. When I set upwards the Velop AX4200 satellite fifty-feet from the router on the same floor and the test system placed another twoscore-feet away, it moved 161.1Mbps, leading the pack. The eero Pro 6 was closest at 142.3Mbps but the Orbi RBK852 and Orbi RBK752 were well dorsum at 87.7Mbps and 39.1Mbps, respectively.
Later, with the satellite set upwardly a floor in a higher place the router and the test system situated fifty-feet abroad, it registered a throughput level of 329.2Mbps. Merely the RBK852 set did better at 405.5Mbps, while the RBK752 moved 209.4Mbps and the eero Pro half dozen managed 189.3Mbps. With the 2nd Velop AX4200 satellite ready a floor below the router and the exam arrangement 40-feet away, it managed to move 276.5Mbps versus the eero Pro 6's 190.2Mbps.
In other words, it works equally well in a horizontally-oriented ranch dwelling house as with a more than vertically-oriented boondocks business firm. With all three units in identify, it filled my home with Wi-Fi.
During a calendar week of testing that included downloading files, getting and sending email, playing games and watching videos, the Velop AX4200 performed reliably. I was able to view high-definition video on an iPad Pro tablet while a Macbook Air played an Internet radio station and a ThinkPad T470 was set up to play Spotify music. While all this was going on, an HP EliteBook Dragonfly notebook moved information onto and off a network-attached RAID storage system. During the examination, there were no freezes, skips or artifacts.
While it's being used, the Velop AX4200 consumed 13 watts. If it's on 24/7 and yous pay the national boilerplate of xiii cents per kilowatt hour of electricity, information technology should cost about $xiv.80 a year to use each unit of measurement. All three together will run virtually $44, or about $15 more than the eero Pro six'southward three-pack kit.
Linksys Velop AX4200 review: Setup
Setting up the Velop AX4200 mesh set starts with getting the Linksys app. There are versions bachelor for iOS (iPhones and iPads) as well equally for Android tablets and phones. Unfortunately, in that location's no way to use a browser to connect the mesh kit. I used an iPad Pro to set up the test units in my dwelling house.
I started past picking i of the kit'southward three devices to serve as the host router. Unlike Orbi's mesh sets, The Velop AX4200 units are the same and are configured as a host or satellite during installation routine.
Starting with everything unplugged, I followed the on-screen directions for setting the gear up and viewed several slides on properly placing the mesh host and satellites. I checked to brand sure the host's single LED was blinking purple, showing it was awake and was ready to get started.
The app scanned for the router and found it within a infinitesimal. Next, it automatically connected the router and it was time for me to sign up for a Linksys account.
Next up, the app wanted a name and password for the new network. I finished this phase past naming its room.
It'due south gear up and the app shows a success screen. At the end, in that location's a screen that has "Peace of mind" at the top that has a checkbox in the lower left corner for sending usage information to Linksys; for the sake of security, I usually refuse this opportunity.
All washed, the app shows that the network is gear up. Information technology connected to an iPad on the first effort. Start to stop, it took 12 minutes. Time to add the satellites. I started past plugging in the node'due south AC adapter in a bedroom on a floor in a higher place the router. I waited for its LED to blink purple.
Dorsum to the app, where I tapped that I wanted to setup a new product. Later the app provides advice on placing the node, it establish the satellite.
The software then configures the node and router. I then named the room the satellite would reside in. I finished upward by calculation the third node in a downstairs bedroom to embrace the entire firm.
The app finished upwards by showing that both nodes were active. And then it downloaded and installed a firmware update. Happily, the new Wi-Fi network still worked during this only automatically restarted when washed. On the downside, it took 8 minutes to add each node for a total setup time of 28 minutes, making the Velop AX4200 one of the slowest mesh kits to get started.
Linksys Velop AX4200 review: Configuration
I was able to use the Linksys app or a connected browser to brand modifications to the router'southward settings. Based on the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi software, just type "linksyssmartwifi.com" into the address bar and and so fix a new admin password. I had to blazon the recovery code that'south printed under the Velop AX4200 to make information technology work, though.
Once that's out of the way, the blue and white Smart Wi-Fi dashboard provides more configuration options than the Linksys app does. It's well organized with a list of major categories on the left and a series of cards showing different options. Be ready to zoom the browser to 50 or 67 percentage to get it all in, though.
In improver to seeing what devices are connected, it'due south easy to ready the guest network and parental controls. In a moment I was able to plant my computer equally the top priority for information admission by dragging information technology from the lesser to the superlative of the Device Prioritization screen. On the downside, it limits the prioritization to 3 devices.
The interface has a Speed Check feature to measure your current broadband connection at the router. It takes a moment to check whether there'south newer firmware to load, although the system performs updates at night during low-load situations.
On top of troubleshooting and diagnostic sections, the Velop AX4200 has adequate security settings. In improver to setting upward a DMZ and the built-in firewall, it'southward a snap to set up port forwarding for a gaming machine. It, however, lacks defensive malware protection that the likes of Asus and Netgear provide besides equally things similar ultra-wide 160Mhz data channels and the ability to tweak settings like the RTS threshold.
Linksys provides a three-year warranty that includes full support and service. That's much better than Netgear's year-long warranty coverage and 90-days of free customer support. The company's support site has information technology all, from information near the product and aid setting everything up to fixing Wi-Fi connection issues and adding new devices. To equal the Linksys'due south coverage, an Orbi RBK752 customer would need to lay out more than $100 actress.
Linksys Velop AX4200 review: Verdict
Rather than a sprinter, the Linksys Velop AX4200 is a mesh marathoner that may non offer the fastest service only tin can ready up a wide-ranging Wi-Fi network in a big firm. Information technology's amongst the cheapest Wi-Fi 6 mesh kits available yet includes two nodes for covering a lot of territory while its dynamic tri-band design ways that rather than dedicating a full band to the data catamenia from the satellites to the host, information technology is apportioned on a second-past-2nd basis for maximum efficiency. A large bonus is the USB port for turning a difficult bulldoze or memory key into networked storage.
It may have a class-leading iii-year warranty but the Velop AX4200 has 1 of the longest fix procedures for a three-piece mesh kit; plan on setting aside one-half an hour to build the network. It does without extra security software to continue the network and its devices clean and lacks high-end customization options only excels at automatic performance.
All in all, the iii-pack Linksys Velop AX4200 is one of the best bargains in mesh networking at the moment. It may not be a speed demon but the Velop AX4200 three-pack brings reliable Wi-Fi 6 networking to large homes at the price of an Orbi ii-pack or $100 less than three eero Pro 6 devices. That adds upwards to a winner for cheapskates like me.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/linksys-velop-ax4200
Posted by: etchisonhadvaid.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Linksys Velop AX4200 review"
Post a Comment