TP-LINK TL-WA860RE, we have tested it

The TP-LINK TL-WA860RE is an accessory that will allow you to take your home's WiFi signal to all corners. Especially in large apartments or chalets, many times we find rooms in which the router signal reaches weaker or even does not reach at all. Simply connect the TP-LINK accessory to a free socket and then synchronize it with the network, and in just a few seconds we will be able to enjoy a quality signal that will improve our browsing experience or download files. The TP-LINK TL-WA860RE can already be found on the market for a moderate price of 40 euros.We have had the opportunity to test this useful accessory for the home in depth. We tell you our impressions.

Easy connection throughout the house

One of the keys to this TP-LINK TL-WA860RE is its ease of use. It is a device that can be configured in just a couple of minutes and then completely forget about it, especially if our router has WPS functionality . In this case, the way to configure the WiFi repeater is very simple. The first thing to do is connect it to an outlet that is close to the router (using a power strip is not recommended). The router should have a WPS button that is used to automatically sync any compatible device (such as a computer). We press the button and in less than a minute we press on the side button of the TP-LINK TL-WA860RE.In the image just above is the button that is to the right of "Reset." After a few seconds, the repeater's LED indicator should change from flashing green to steady green and orange or flashing orange. In case the WPS connection has not worked, the indicator will turn off. By the way, the LED indicators are the ones that will mark us the ideal place to place the repeater.

An orange light means that the repeater is very close to the router, while if we have placed it too far, it will show flashing orange. When we see that the light is stable green it means that its position is the most suitable to transmit the WiFi signal strongly. Generally, where this repeater will work best is placing it midway between the router and the dead zone. The repeater shares the name and password of our network, so at this point we will not notice any difference when connecting to the Internet. One of the attractive points of the repeater is that we can disconnect it from the plug and connect it to any other outlet without having to redo the configuration.Just wait a few seconds and the connection will be made automatically.

If our router does not have WPS , we will have to use a computer. In this case there are two options. Use the Ethernet cable included with the device or use the wireless connection. To do this, we must find the adapter's own WiFi connection with the name " TP-LINK Extender ..." Then we open the browser and enter the address "//tplinkextender.net". By default, both the username and password of this portal is "admin". Once inside, we click "Next" and choose our region (for example Spain). The tool will then search for all connections within the repeater's range for about a minute and then display them on the screen. After selecting the home connection, the network password must be entered and the repeater will be synchronized with the router. To verify that this process has been done correctly, just look at the TP-LINK accessory if the LED indicator light is on.

Up to 300 Mbps speed and versatility

The TP-LINK-TL-WA860RE reaches maximum speeds of 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz bandwidth . This is a capacity that covers today's connections without problems, and will probably serve for several years without us. let's see limited by this cap. This repeater enhances its versatility thanks to the combination of a WiFi connection and an Ethernet port . This feature allows us to enjoy a clearer signal through cable. Another advantage of the TP-LINK-TL-WA860RE is the inclusion of a network socket inside the repeater. In this way, we will not lose sockets to connect other electrical devices.

Design and indicators

The TP-LINK accessory features an attractive and compact design in white. That allows you to go practically unnoticed on one of the walls of the room. To function, it uses two external antennas that improve signal transmission and that can be folded when we don't need them. The full dimensions of the TP-LINK TL-WA860RE are 11 x 6.5 x 7.5 centimeters.Inside the front of the repeater we find three different indicators, one of them to mark the on and off and another that marks the quality of the signal. As we had anticipated before, if we have placed the accessory very close to the router, the light will appear in a stable orange color. Meanwhile, if we have the adapter too far away the orange light will blink. The ideal place is marked by a continuous green light. On the other hand, the TL-WA860RE integrates three physical buttons on one of the sides, one to turn the device on and off, another to establish the connection through WPS and a third button to reset the device to factory settings.

Consumption, price and opinions

The consumption in operation of the TP-LINK TL-WA860RE amounts to 3W. Users who want to buy this accessory can get it for an approximate price of 40 euros in the market. In short, a really useful complement for those larger houses or apartments in which the signal does not reach certain rooms with force. Its price of 40 euros makes it an affordable expense that also has the great advantages of its ease of use (it just takes a couple of minutes to install and put it into operation) and its versatility by providing connection through WiFi or Ethernet cable. All this without stealing space from other electronic devices thanks to its integrated power socket.