Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsWas great - then bricked by firmware update.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 October 2023
Was really pleased with this when I bought it to replace an older Wavlink one which was a bit temperamental and a pain to keep trying to pair with my router with the WPS.
This TP-Link one not only looks much nicer, with no visible antennae sticking out, but it was easy to pair with the router and set up, without having to fiddle with WPS buttons, and it immediately created its own network with the same name as my main Wifi network, with "_EXT" on the end, as you would expect, meaning that all my smart devices connected to my old one were happy to connect to this one too.
It's good that it has an app, too, which gives useful monitoring and functions of this Wifi extender.
However, a Firmware update a couple of weeks ago bricked it and it would no longer work.
Immediately following the FW update, it lost its '_EXT' network and when trying to re-pair it to my router, it would only create its network with the same name as my main network, without the _EXT suffix. Every time.
I tried re-adding the suffix within the app, which said it had done it but actually hadn't, and I even connected the extender to my computer via ethernet, to use its web-interface (very slow and clunky), and again, it appeared to let me add the _EXT suffix but it was never actually added.
Many multiple attempts to reset (via the app and also with a paperclip in the reset hole) and reconfigure failed to create a network with an _EXT suffix, and it would only use the exact same name as the main Wifi, every time.
More frustratingly, when going through this prodecure, it wants to connect to its new _EXT network to complete the process, but every time, this extended network was unavailable, and watching the Wifi names on another phone, I could see that the _EXT network this device created was only visible for a couple of seconds before disappearing again, meaning that it could never complete the setup, no matter how many times I reset it and tried again.
The Amazon 30-day returns window was closed and it just told me to contact TP-Link to resolve.
An excruciating call to TP-Link was mainly just the operator there telling me that it's up to Amazon to replace or refund it and wouldn't accept that this wasn't possible, without a lot of argument and me emailing her a screenshot of the Amazon page telling me that.
She also kept trying to explain how to do a reset etc, and wouldn't really listen when I tried to explain that I had tried everything many many times with no joy.
After sending her proof-of-purchase and other info she wanted, she eventually agreed to start a returns process.
However, I then managed to call Amazon (not easy!) and explained the problem, and the representative there was very helpful and agreed to do a return/refund despite being outside the 30 days, and she even added a £5 credit to my account for the inconvenience, which was nice.
So, I would say this Wifi Extender device is a very good choice, but if it's working, don't let it do a FW update!!