The TP-Link Deco P9 is a hybrid mesh Wi-Fi system that uses both Wi-Fi and Powerline technology for extended home network coverage, especially useful in homes with thick walls.
TP-Link Deco P9 Pros and Cons
TP-Link Deco P9 Design
The TP-Link Deco P9 shares a similar design to the Deco M4, being comprised of three identical, white cylinders. Each of the units is 190 mm high with rounded edges and measures 91×91 mm. Each one has a TP-Link logo-shaped grille on top augmented by a central light-up emblem that also serves as a status indicator to help you troubleshoot when something goes wrong. Not to fear, however, TP-Link is well aware that LED bulbs can be an insufferable hell… especially in bedrooms, so the smartphone app includes an option to turn off the little indicator at night. There are two Gigabit Ethernet ports per unit. There is an Ethernet-port on the back so you can add the connection for your laptop or gaming console as well as other devices that require Ethernet access. On the surface that might seem like a simple and unimpressive feature, but you’d be surprised how many Mesh Wi-Fi systems don’t include it.
Deco P9 also has dual-band Wireless AC1200 like the Deco M4. It has 802.11r fast roaming technology, so you can be in one room, used the phone and you wont be broken up will other users connecting; your devices will remain connected to that wireless mesh network. MU-MIMO and band steering are also found here.
TP-Link Deco P9 Feature
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi + Powerline – AC1200 dual-band Wi-Fi + AV1000 powerline combines for speeds of up to 2200 Mbps.
- Signal Pass through Walls – Transmit data using your home’s electrical wiring, no worries about Wi-Fi dragging down by walls or ceilings.
- Connect More Devices – Deco handles traffic from even the busiest network, providing lag-free connections up to 100 devices.
- Seamless Roaming – Deco is the product line that delivers a truly seamless Wi-Fi experience. Now you can roam around your house while maintaining the fastest connection possible.
- MU-MIMO Technology – Transfers data to multiple devices at the same time for better performance.
- Quality of Service – Prioritize devices for faster performance when needed.
- Robust Parental Controls – Manage content and control when each device can access the internet.
- Setup Made Easier than Ever – The Deco app walks you through setup step by step.
TP-Link Deco P9 Specifications
| Brand | TP-Link |
| Model name | Deco P9(3-pack) |
| Special feature | Guest Mode |
| Frequency band class | Dual-Band |
| Standards and Protocols | Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
| WiFi Speeds | AC1200 5 GHz: 867 Mbps (802.11ac) 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps (802.11n) |
| WiFi Range | 4-6 Bedroom Houses (3-pack) |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 3.6 × 3.6 × 7.5 in (90.7 × 90.7 × 190 mm) |
| Wireless communication standard | 802.11ac |
| Compatible devices | Laptop, Personal Computer, Smart Television, Smartphone, Tablet |
| Frequency | 5 GHz |
| Included components | Deco P9 (3-pack) 3 Deco P9 Units 1 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 3 Power Adapters 1 Quick Installation Guide |
TP-Link Deco P9 Performance
TP-Link touts the inclusion of powerline connectivity in the Deco P9 to ensure wireless coverage even in houses with thick walls. Today, I’ll test just how well the Deco P9 performs. We tested three Deco P9 systems in four locations inside a small three-bedroom terraced house. We started by testing near the router in an upstairs room at the front of the house. Next door in a bedroom 5m further away from the router, downstairs at the back of the house, and then to the garden for the ultimate signal and network strength test.
| Virgin Media Hub 3 | TP-Link Deco P9 | |
| 1m | 541Mbps | 609Mbps |
| 5m with wall | 315Mbps | 444Mbps |
| Downstairs near the rear of the house | 40Mbps | 368Mbps |
| Garden | – | 100Mbps |
Compared to Google Nest Wi-Fi’s maximum speed of 400Mbps, the Deco P9’s 609Mbps offers better value for money, though speeds gradually decreased as we moved around the house.Bear in mind that Wi-Fi benchmarks merely indicate performance; actual results may vary depending on factors including house layout and Wi-Fi channel congestion. Regardless, it represents a significant improvement over the Virgin Media Hub 3, which struggled to maintain a connection at the rear of our property and failed entirely to reach the garden.
The Deco P9 has an official limit of 100 connected devices, which is great for those who live in smart homes. While we don’t have 100 devices to test this claim, we did connect up to 30 simultaneously with no issues with anything from smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles, smart home gear, or whatever other equipment that we had connected to the Mesh Wi-Fi system. Three Deco units can indeed cover areas up to 6,000 square feet (approximately 577 square metres), sufficient for most households.
TP-Link Deco P9 Setup
Like most Mesh Wi-Fi networks, setting up the Deco P9 is remarkably straightforward; simply download the Deco app for iOS or Android, plug in the units, connect them to your router, and follow the app’s instructions to configure your Wi-Fi network. In our practical testing, the setup process took under five minutes and proceeded without a hitch. Once complete, you can begin configuring the Deco P9 system’s various features.Via the application, you can effortlessly create guest networks, blacklist specific devices to prevent internet access, prioritise devices (such as gaming consoles and streaming devices), and configure parental controls – a crucial feature for households.
You may create individual profiles for each family member and associate devices with each account, enabling control over features like limiting online time, blocking access to specific website categories or individual sites.You can even track users’ browsing history to ensure your children aren’t accessing inappropriate websites.
TP-Link Deco P9 Firmware
The TP-Link Deco app is well-designed, offering an excellent user experience for managing your mesh wireless network. You can easily view all connected devices and their current network speeds within the app. I recommend enabling the Fast Roaming feature in the firmware, as it allows devices to roam seamlessly across the entire network.TP-Link advises disabling it, as some very old WiFi devices may not support fast roaming. It includes all standard features, such as port forwarding and LAN IP reservation, just like any typical wireless router. TP-Link also provides a free DDNS service, facilitating access to CCTV servers or remote connections to your home network. The TP-Link Deco P9 also features an access point mode based on Mesh wireless technology.
And it does actually have parental controls that are pretty damn good. It’s capable of filtering content on certain devices by category. Moreover, you can also schedule time to have no internet and limit the length of the daily internet, very humanized design for some parents. But what is not available on the Deco P9 are the Homecare Antivirus and QoS functions discovered on both the Deco M5 and Deco M9 Plus. TP-Link probably knows many users don´t use these features so it is most likely just to save costs.
TP-Link Deco P9 Verdict
TP-Link Deco P9(3-pack) AC1200Mbps Whole Home Powerline Mesh WiFi System, Up to 6000 Sq ft Coverage, Dual-Band WiFi Booster with...
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