Unlike the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) and Netgear Orbi RBK852, the Deco X20 is based on a dual-band approach to mesh networking. Its 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks can be combined, but because it operates in two radio bands, it lacks a dedicated second 5GHz backhaul channel for transmitting data from the satellite to the host. the Deco X20’s host router and satellite are connected via Ethernet cable. There are two Gigabit LAN ports on the back of each unit, one for incoming WAN connections and one for network appliances such as storage systems or wired connections to the Deco X20 satellite. However, it does not have the ability to aggregate ports for higher throughput or a USB connection for direct connection to printers or storage devices. Note that there is a reset button below the device to restore the system to factory settings. The X20’s network can be managed via the TP-Link Deco mobile app (for Android and iOS) or a web console, although the latter is limited to firmware upgrades, time zone settings, etc. and lacks many of the configuration options found in the mobile app The app opens to a dashboard. Opening the app brings up the dashboard, which lists all clients online and offline. Tapping on a device displays upload and download speeds, and bandwidth priorities can be set at the touch of a button. Tapping the three dots in the upper right corner brings up a status screen for that client, showing which nodes it is connected to and what bandwidth it is using. Tapping the blacklist button here will prevent that client from accessing the network.
