Devolo Repeater 5400 WiFi 6 review: simplicity above all

2023-04-30 12:00:00

The Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is a wifi repeater that wants to be a real access point in addition to an aging internet box. However, it can be used as a classic repeater positioned halfway between your box and the area you want to cover in wifi.

With its all-purpose design, the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 will blend into your interior.

Digital

In tower format, the WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 sits on a piece of furniture and shows discretion with its white dress. Its measurements are also contained (115 x 37 x 140 mm), but it will be necessary to count on the transformer which could have been matched.

In order to be held in position, the Repeater 5400 has small retractable feet.

Digital

Just like the WiFi 6 Repeater 3000 that we tested a few months ago, Devolo’s key word remains simplicity. You will therefore not be lost in the buttons, here two in number: an ADD which allows you to add a device without a password (or to integrate it into an existing configuration without entering its identifiers), and another for delivery zero concealed on the back.

We discover on the rear face two RJ45 sockets to the Gigabit standard. They can be used either to connect a device or to establish a wired connection to your internet box.

Finally, on the front of the repeater sits an indicator light in the shape of a wifi acronym, informing of the status of the device and the strength of the signal. Practical for positioning it in the best possible way in your home.

With two Gigabit ports, the WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is more of an access bridge than a repeater in the strict sense.

Digital

The Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 supports WiFi 6 802.11ax on the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. The cumulative bandwidth is 5400 Mb/s distributed as follows: 574 Mb/s on the 2.4 GHz frequency band, 4800 Mb/s on that of 5 GHz.

archyde news, your content continues below

Advertisement

Ergonomics

The installation of the Repeater 5400 is strictly identical to that of the model stamped 3000. You have three choices: pairing via the ADD button (WPS), the Devolo Home Network application or the repeater’s web interface.

In repeater mode, handling is the simplest and quickest. Simply press the WPS button on your internet box, then the ADD button on the previously connected repeater. The repeater will then duplicate the wifi network of the box with its SSID (name of the wifi network) and the password to this. You can then move the repeater according to the reception indicated by the indicator light and make some adjustments via the application.

Installation with the latter can be useful if the WPS configuration fails or if you want to configure the extender in access point mode. In this case, you must connect to the open wifi, created by the repeater, then follow the instructions on the screen.

Installation is very simple.

Digital

Finally, to select the frequency band to repeat or customize the SSID and password of the Repeater 5400, the web administration interface offers the most configuration possibilities. Access is at the default address 10.0.0.1. The interface is always open, as well as its password: be careful if you have to lend your wifi network.

Devolo’s Home Network application has hardly changed since our test of the Repeater 3000. The settings offered are limited to the minimum with the possibility of viewing the connected devices or changing the wifi source, but that’s it. The rest of the parameters concern the administration of the repeater itself: update of the internal software, restart, extinction of the LED.

The settings are very poor.

Digital

The web interface is a little more provided with the possibility of managing the behavior of the repeater in wifi. It is thus possible to separate the wifi bands with two SSIDs and to choose which source frequency band will feed the device. Flat, the repeater is quite fussy, and if you make a mistake in the settings, it will have to be reinstalled.

There is also no need to look for a possible parental control or interface to adjust access times, the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 having none.

Editor's Rating: 3 out of 5

Debits

To evaluate the performance of the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400, we repeated the 2.4 and 5 GHz signals from a Netgear RAX200 router, to which we connected a laptop PC via an adapter to the 2.5 Gb/s socket. In order to measure the speeds, we transferred a file (a disk image) of 4.73 GB from the first laptop to a second equipped with an Intel AX210 6E wifi chip, but also to a fixed desktop PC upstairs. , connected with a PCIe Gigabyte GC-WBAX200 card. The latter was also equipped with the Intel AX210 chip, but with an external antenna.

The router is positioned at an angle of the housing, the repeater plugged almost in the middle of the latter on a socket 15 cm from the ground. We perform a first measurement with the repeater close to the router (point 1), another 1 m from the repeater placed in the middle of the dwelling (point 2), a measurement in a room about 5 m from the repeater with a load-bearing wall at opposite the router (point 3), another on the fixed PC upstairs through a concrete floor (point 4), then a last one upstairs too, but above the first bedroom where the Router speeds are the lowest (point 5).

Rates recorded on the 5 GHz frequency band.

Digital

The Repeater 5400 allows close to reach download and upload speeds on its 5 GHz band of around 600 Mb/s. These generous speeds will allow you to exchange files on the local network or download games quickly. .

At the farthest point from our home, the speed is halved, but allows you to take full advantage of the Internet or SVoD platforms with a level of around 300 Mb/s.

Rates recorded on the 2.4 GHz frequency band.

Digital

On the 2.4 GHz frequency band, just like its little brother, the Repeater 5400 struggles. In the best case, we noted 88 Mb / s, far from the theoretical 574 Mb / s claimed by Devolo. No need to further overwhelm the 2.4 GHz band, which will only be there for communication with your connected objects.

Editor's Rating: 4 out of 5

Consumption

In terms of consumption, the Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is particularly sober with 6 W at rest and 8 W in charge. Without being the champion of sobriety, it is placed in the low range of the products tested.

Too bad the charger does not match the repeater.

Digital

With its access point format, the Repeater 5400 is equipped with a separate 18 W charger. This gives you more freedom in positioning the device.

archyde news, your content continues below

Advertisement

Points forts

  • Simple to use.

  • Port Gigabit.

  • Speeds on the 5 GHz band.

Weak points

  • Few settings.

  • Low speeds in 2.4 GHz.

Conclusion

Global mark

Editor's Rating: 3 out of 5

How does grading work?

The Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 offers easy installation and decent performance on the 5 GHz band. Don’t count on the velocity of the 2.4 GHz band, however. Informed users will go their way with this model devoid of sharp settings.

1682856955
#Devolo #Repeater #WiFi #review #simplicity

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.