

A bit of confusion stemmed from imprecise wording of the input fields for the router password and the Wi-Fi password. I encountered only one problem at the outset. The easy-to-use app drove the rest of the setup process, and I got my whole home Wi-Fi network up and running in less than 10 almost totally frustration-free minutes. I plugged the router into my cable modem using a standard Ethernet cable and downloaded the AmpliFi app to my iPhone (it’s also available for Android). Setup of the AmpliFi HD could barely have been simpler.

This is all well and good, but I honestly didn’t find myself using the touchscreen because the AmpliFi app delivered all the information I needed. Tap the touchscreen to cycle through three different modes: One tracks how much data you’ve downloaded and uploaded over a set time period a second shows the current speed of your uploads and downloads a third displays your WAN and router IP addresses. You can adjust the brightness of the touchscreen or set it to turn off at a certain hour. The AmpliFi HD router itself looks nothing like old-school networking gear. Depending on your home’s layout, a hallway might be the absolute best place for a mesh point - and not a great place for a corded, tabletop design. Since they’re not designed to sit on a table, they work great in a hallway or an inconspicuous corner. To me, the mesh point design is one of AmpliFi’s key selling points. I find them endearing - they remind me of a white chocolate Easter bunny with a swiveling head - but others might prefer the tabletop design of competitors like Eero or Google Home. To me, they look like oversize night lights. Some people might not like the way AmpliFi’s antennas look or the fact that the power adapters plug directly into the wall rather than using a cord. You can waggle and twist the antenna to find your home’s sweet spot, or pop the mesh point out of the electrical outlet and move it to another location.
#AMPLIFI HD MESH ROUTER REVIEW SERIES#
A demure series of five blue LEDs on the antenna indicate the signal strength - the more that light up, the better. The novel design allows the antenna to swivel to optimize signal strength. A ball joint connects the antenna to the adapter, and a strong magnet holds them in place. The AmpliFi HD setup consists of three pieces of hardware: a cute little router shaped like a cube, with a round touchscreen on front and a subtle light on the bottom, and two identical mesh points.Įach matte-white mesh point consists of two components: A power adapter that plugs into a standard electrical outlet, and a long, thin antenna that sits atop the power adapter. Instead, they deliver simple setup, extensive coverage and advanced tools that anybody can use to take the headache out of networking. Wi-Fi mesh networks eliminate dead spotsĬalled mesh networks, these systems rebuke yesterday’s ugly Wi-Fi router design and the baffling array of add-ons promising better coverage. That convenience doesn’t necessarily come cheap, but once you’ve experienced rock-solid Wi-Fi throughout your house, you’ll definitely be addicted. But AmpliFi and its competitors make it easier than ever to get fast internet everywhere you want or need it. Traditionally, frustrated people who couldn’t get reliable Wi-Fi in certain sections of their homes typically turned to range extenders or higher-powered routers to reach those dead zones.
