I had purchased an older version of the eero mesh WiFi system, which has since been discontinued. I had 4 of the devices and they provided adequate coverage for several years and I was happy. Over time though we started having issues when streaming higher definition 4k movies to our Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV devices. I attribute some of this due to the fact that I am a gadget geek and have more Echo devices than I would like to admit, as well as many other WiFi sucking products throughout my home. More often than I liked, perhaps even more frustrating for my wife, the TV would lag. Device and router resets became more frequent and wouldn’t always solve the problem
During the pandemic I had converted the room over the garage to my personal man cave and connectivity was limited to say the least. Unfortunately our router is on the first floor of our house near the outside wall and the room where I was now spending most of my time was on the opposite side on the second floor. To make matter a bit worse, like most finished rooms over garages (FROGs), they are an addon. So other than the door opening its sort of like having an attached room, outside the main house.
Basic internet surfing was fine, but as a guitarist, some of the newer pedals do support WiFi updates, but their range is limited. Connecting these pedals to the internet often required disconnection and carrying them downstairs to get updates, which is more of a pain-in-the-behind than you can might imagine.
I decided to upgrade to a 100 Gbps internet connection, but we didn’t notice a significant increase in WiFi performance. Why? Because the older devices were capped at ~500 Mbps. Even with the previous / slower internet connection, it never dawned on me that the mesh network was limiting my bandwidth and likely wasn’t the internet connection at all.
After doing some research I decided to upgrade to the eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi system, which not only doubled the speed, but boosted overall coverage from ~1,500 square feet to ~4,500.
The Amazon eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi system has proven to be a reliable solution for improving internet coverage. Its easy installation, seamless mesh network, and compatibility with various devices make it a valuable investment, particularly when on sale. The enhancements to our WiFi speeds and coverage were significant. Streaming was fast, all of my smart devices were noticeably snappier in response and perhaps most impressive, devices in the FROG that couldn’t get a connection at all were now downloading updates in no time at all. Here is a pre and post internet speed comparison.
While I haven’t had any real complaints, based on my research the product is not without its drawbacks. Compatibility issues with Apple devices, particularly those using “Private Wi-Fi Address,” have been noted. Additionally, known problems with MyQ devices impact Amazon Key delivery, potentially limiting its functionality for users relying on these features. Some users have experienced challenges with automatic band switching, causing disruptions in device connections, and the LG Oled TV compatibility issues have been a source of frustration. Again, I have not had any of these challenges personally.
The eero app, while informative, has been criticized for occasional inefficiencies, including delayed updates and difficulties in real-time monitoring. Users have highlighted the need for more control over channel usage and better visibility into signal strength for each access point. These have not been concerns for me either as I haven’t found the need to go into the eero app very often, outside of the initial setup.
Overall Assessment: Despite some of the drawbacks noted by others, the eero 6+ system has received positive feedback for its overall performance, flexibility and competitive pricing during sales. In summary, the eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi system is a commendable option for those seeking improved Wi-Fi coverage and speeds, especially in those hard-to-reach places, but users should carefully consider potential compatibility issues before making a purchase.
