The same BE23 unit can serve as the main router or join a Deco mesh. That makes the single-pack a reasonable starting point for an apartment and a useful building block when a move adds another floor. Each unit has two fast Ethernet sockets.
In depth
TP-Link Deco BE23 review
Published
Best forHouseholds that can start with a single router and add coverage later, particularly where Ethernet runs between rooms.
At a glance
- Wi-Fi generation
- Wi-Fi 7
- Wireless bands / radios
- 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- Ethernet ports
- 2 × 2.5 GbE WAN/LAN per unit
- Mesh support
- Deco mesh
Pros
- Two 2.5 GbE ports per unit.
- The same hardware can be a router, access point or additional Deco node.
Cons
- No 6 GHz radio.
- Long wireless hops can substantially reduce useful speed.
Wi-Fi Specifications
- Wi-Fi 7
- 2.4 and 5 GHz
- BE3600
TP-Link’s class number combines a 2,882 Mbps 5 GHz rating with 688 Mbps for 2.4 GHz. A single device’s link is a different measurement. Moving a node nearer to the room where you actually use a laptop can do more for a call than changing a radio setting.
Wireless Performance
- Wireless or Ethernet backhaul
GearLab measured usable downloads 35 feet from an extension node, then a steep decline at 60 feet in its test environment. Those distances are a reason to test placement in your own home. Walls, furniture and interference change where the link weakens. 1
Connectivity & Management
- Two 2.5 GbE WAN/LAN ports
- Deco app
On the main unit the modem occupies one socket. On a wired satellite the return cable occupies one, leaving a socket for a PC. Router and access-point modes also let a household keep an existing gateway. HomeShield’s basic and paid features should be compared separately from the hardware.
Alternatives
The Orbi 360 includes dedicated router and satellite units, with one LAN socket on each satellite. The BE23’s two-port layout is more convenient in a wired office. If the existing router already covers every room, a small Ethernet switch may solve the only actual shortfall.
Verdict
Start with the number of BE23 units your layout requires. It is particularly useful when you can cable a node to the router and still give a device at that node its own Ethernet connection.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- GearLabTP-Link Deco BE23 BE3600 Review (opens in a new tab)https://www.techgearlab.com/reviews/small-and-home-office/wifi-mesh-system/tp-link-deco-be23-be3600
Measured extension-node downloads at 35 feet and 60 feet in GearLab’s setup.