Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 in the test: triple WLAN with Wifi 6
If you want to improve WiFi coverage within your own four walls, you traditionally use a repeater that forwards the data between the router and devices. An alternative to repeaters are WiFi mesh systems: The sets consist of a router and one or more repeaters that create a uniform WiFi network in the house. With so-called mesh functions, the wireless network always connects devices optimally. The Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 is not only clever, but also has other good arguments with three WiFi radio units and the fast WiFi standard WiFi 6 (WLAN-ax). How does the WiFi mesh system fare in the test?
The best WiFi repeaters
AVM
Details about the test
Per
Fast WiFi
Long range
against
Slightly high power consumption
telecom
Details about the test
Per
Very high speed
Clever mesh features
against
No third WLAN radio unit
AVM
Details about the test
Per
High speed at 5 gigahertz
Clever WLAN optimization
against
Speed at 2.4 gigahertz “only” solid
AVM
Details about the test
Per
Fast WiFi
mesh features
against
Requires dedicated space to set up
AVM
Details about the test
Per
Very fast wifi ac
Clever WiFi functions
against
Only one LAN connection
WLAN-n does not keep up with ac
Netgear
Details about the test
Per
Three frequency ranges
Four LAN ports
against
weaknesses in reception
Very large case
telecom
Details about the test
Per
Clever WLAN functions (incl. Mesh)
Very fast wifi ac
against
Lame WLAN-n
No guest network
TP link
Details about the test
Per
Extremely fast
Easy setup
against
Few clever functions
No wireless guest network
AVM
Details about the test
Per
Good WiFi performance
Easy setup and operation
against
LEDs do not show connection to the router in detail
Only one LAN connection
Complete List: The Best WiFi Repeaters
WiFi Mesh 7 in the test: setup and operation
The Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 consists of two devices, one of which acts as a router and one that acts as a repeater. The router does not have its own modem; Users connect it to an existing modem router or external modem using a LAN cable. The setup is done either via browser menu or smartphone app (“Huawei AI Life”) and is very easy thanks to an assistant. Setting up the repeater is even easier: As soon as it is supplied with power, it automatically recognizes the Huawei router and adopts all settings such as the WLAN name and the WLAN password. If you want to make subsequent configurations, you will find a manageable menu – other manufacturers such as Asus have more fine adjustments to offer here.
Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 in the test: equipment
Three WLAN radio units are supposed to ensure a lot of performance in the Huawei WiFi Mesh 7: a 2.4 gigahertz unit with theoretically up to 574 megabits per second (Mbps) and two 5 gigahertz units with 1,201 Mbps and 4,804 Mbps. The fastest of these is used to connect the Huaweis to each other, the other two are available for devices. Each of the “mesh nodes” has four LAN ports with gigabit speed (1,000 Mbps), one of them on the router is used for the connection to the modem (router). By pressing the “H” button, the mesh system starts the WPS process for quickly registering wireless devices. It’s even faster with NFC: If you place a compatible smartphone on one of the Huaweis, you can access the WLAN in no time at all without having to type in the password.
Practical: Smartphones can be quickly connected via NFC.
Huawei WiFi Mesh 7: WLAN speed in the test
COMPUTER BILD records the WLAN speed for a PC network card with Wifi 6 (TP-Link TX3000E with two antennas) and for a card with the older Wifi 4 and 5 standards (Asus PCE-AC88 with four antennas). There are four measuring points with increasing distance to the test candidate, at which the testers determine the transmission and reception power. The Huaweis also had to bridge a long distance between two test computers in the practical measurement.
In the 5 gigahertz frequency, the Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 delivered impressive speed values: It reached an average of up to 947 Mbps in the night range, and the data rates decreased comparatively little with increasing distance. A strong 284 Mbps was achieved even at the last measuring point. At 5 gigahertz, the Huawei system beat the top repeater AVM FritzRepeater 6000 and was roughly at the level of the fast Telekom system Speed Home WLAN. At 2.4 gigahertz, however, disillusionment followed: Here it was already over at 402 Mbps, across all measurement points the Huaweis clearly had less performance than the devices from AVM and Telekom mentioned. In the practical measurement, however, the WiFi Mesh 7 achieved a good result and reached 305 Mbps when sending and 277 Mbps when receiving. Wifi 6 provided a small boost in speed, especially at 2.4 gigahertz and at close range and over long distances. Devices without Wifi 6 are almost as fast in the Huawei WLAN.
Pressing the “H” button starts the WPS registration process.
Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 in the test: functions
The WiFi Mesh 7 masters mesh functions with which it always connects devices in the fastest frequency (band steering) with the Huawei with the strongest signal (access point steering). If you move around the house with your cell phone, for example, the network passes the device on to another Huawei almost seamlessly if it is closer. Additional functions can be activated and set up in the WiFi Mesh 7 menu – such as a guest WLAN, parental controls and a VPN service for remote access to the network.
Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 in the test: conclusion and alternatives
The Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 has many LAN ports and is easy to set up and use. With its three WLAN radio units, it has a lot of power – at least in the 5 gigahertz frequency. Because while the mesh system overtakes even the best AVM repeater here, it allows for clear weaknesses at 2.4 gigahertz. With Wifi 6, there are only a few advantages for the Huawei, but no disadvantages either. The clever mesh functions are great, but they can also be found in router-repeater combinations from other manufacturers. Anyone who owns a better router from AVM or Telekom with the latest firmware would rather use the AVM FritzRepeater 6000 or Telekom Speed Home WLAN than replacing the router WLAN with the Huawei mesh.
Huawei WiFi Mesh 7: price and release
The Huawei WiFi Mesh 7 is already commercially available. It is currently cheapest directly from the manufacturer: Here, 299 euros for the set of two are wandering over the virtual shop counter (as of March 25, 2022).
