This eero Pro 6 tri-band is my fourth mesh network, after the first generation Orbi, the TP-Link Deco, and the more recent tri-band Linksys Velop. The eero is superior to all of those, in part because it's the latest generation of home mesh networks (for speed) but also because of better stability and range that the others claimed but couldn't deliver. Of course, you have to pay for that extra performance, but it's worth every cent if you need it and can afford it.
The biggest difference I've noticed is the range between nodes. With the Velop, the system this replaced, I had to have six nodes to cover the same area that three eeros do. I have a large house that's spread over three floors, the lowest of which is partially underground (the house is built on a hill.) I am limited to placing the modem at the far end of the main floor, and I can't place any nodes in the middle of the house. I also need three nodes, including the one connected to the modem, on the main floor because of devices that need to be plugged in directly to a node and placed on a table. I thought no way could three eero Pro 6 units cover everything if they were located on the same floor. I even bought a fourth eero Pro in anticipation of dead areas. I was wrong. With this 3-pack, I have strong network signals across all three floors, on a deck, and on a lower patio. Streaming works as well on the top floor as it does on the main floor. The same applies to the lowest floor, with only two spots where my phone doesn't get full-strength Wi-Fi. Even then, the signal is strong enough for internet browsing.
The stability is fantastic. With all the others, they would occasionally cease communicating with each other, causing frequent reboots. That's partly the fault of my cable/internet service that can drop out for a split second. Still, the eero seems to handle that without all the units rebooting themselves and keeping the network down for 5-10 minutes while they reconnect. Nothing is more frustrating that a blink of an interruption causing a long downtime.
Set-up is easy, but then again, all of the ones I've used have been easy. You do need a smart phone and the eero app. The key is actually reading the instructions (ha!) to connect everything in the correct order. As with most wireless electronics, you'll have to do a firmware update after the initial set-up. The eero Pro 6 has the ability to set up a guest network, enable parental controls, and check upload/download speeds without having to rely on a outside speed checker such as SpeedTest. You can't select a specific band, but at least all my 2.4 GHz devices found their band without my help.
I'm able to get speeds at the top of my ISP plan in most places in the house, with near-top speeds in the weaker signal areas. Obviously, your overall speed depends on what you've purchased from your ISP -- it can't go faster than that. If you have a lower speed plan, there's no reason to spend the money for such a high-end mesh network; however, if you have the speed in your plan, you should use it to the fullest. The eero Pro 6 allows that to happen.
I did a lot of research prior to purchasing the eero Pro 6, and almost all of the sites I respect put it at or near the top, with the ones that placed it lower citing its high price as the reason. That meant that well-informed geeks had already tested the models I was considering and that the eero was a first-rate product. Still, I wasn't prepared for how much I like it. This was an enormous splurge, even on sale, but I'm glad that I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and clicked on the purchase button.
-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann
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