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According to PCMag, the D-Link Aquila Pro AI AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Smart Mesh Extender (E30) is a plug-in extender designed to enhance wireless connectivity in areas of your home that your router struggles to reach. Priced at $99.99, this dual-band extender is easy to set up and manage, and it can function as a node in a mesh network when paired with a compatible router.
The E30 is larger than some other extenders, measuring 6.4 by 2.9 by 2.1 inches, but its matte-white and powder-blue finish with rounded edges gives it a softer appearance. It features a two-prong plug positioned to leave room for a second outlet in a two-outlet receptacle, though it does not offer a pass-through outlet.
A small status LED on the front indicates the extender’s connection status, while the left side includes a 1GbE LAN port, a WPS button, and a reset button. The E30 supports Wi-Fi 6 technologies such as MU-MIMO data streaming, OFDMA, beamforming, 160MHz channel bandwidth, and WPA3 encryption. It can reach speeds of up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 2,403Mbps on the 5GHz band.
The E30 can be managed using a web console or the Aquila Pro AI mobile app, which provides a network map and basic settings for the extender. The app allows you to view device information, change the password, turn off the LED, and restart the device. Additional features include voice control integration with Alexa or Google and a bedtime schedule to block internet access at specific times.
In performance tests, the E30 delivered competitive throughput scores. It achieved 99Mbps in the 2.4GHz close-range test and 69Mbps in the 20-foot test, outperforming some competitors but falling short of the TP-Link RE715X. In the 5GHz tests, the E30 scored 403Mbps (close range), 260Mbps (20 feet), and 158Mbps (40 feet), showing strong performance but not quite matching the TP-Link RE715X.
Signal strength tests using an Ekahau Sidekick 2 Wi-Fi diagnostic device showed that the E30 delivered a strong 5GHz signal to target areas but had a less robust 2.4GHz signal. Overall, the extender provided good coverage but showed some signal degradation in areas furthest from the device.
The D-Link Aquila Pro AI AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Smart Mesh Extender (E30) is a cost-effective solution for improving Wi-Fi 6 coverage in your home. However, for around $20 more, the TP-Link RE715X offers better overall performance in a slightly smaller package.
For the full review, including detailed speed tests and coverage analysis, check out PCMag’s complete evaluation.
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