No more WiFi dead zones with TP-LINK Range Extenders

TP-LINK TL-WA860RE - 300Mbps Wi-Fi Range Extender with AC Passthrough

I’m a big fan of TP-LINK now – after I fall in love with TP-LINK TL-WR720N 150Mbps Wireless N router which gives you a 650% faster network speed. Though we have a powerful wireless router, there are some places where we face WiFi dead zones, nothing but the place or area where we face WiFi connectivity issues or fewer signals.

Why Range Extenders?

WiFi Dead Zone Issues:

I’m sure many faces the same at some zones either in their small offices or home office (SOHO) – like if the router is placed somewhere at the corner of your computer room, etc. you may face WiFi connectivity issues/problems at your balcony, or bedroom, or facing connectivity for any of your streaming devices like Google Chromecast or Teewe as their wireless receiver hardware is different compared to other devices or for my WiFi enable AC, or at parking places or some relaxing zones in your home like terrace or connectivity issues across rooms due to airtight windows, etc.

That time you may feel very disturbed by the inconvenience caused while you were chatting, or doing video calls or writing some important mails while moving, etc. Due to which you may miss some important communication or miss some fun or lovable moments while talking to someone important to you.

Problems I face due to WiFi Dead Zone:

As I’m a blogger, I do a lot of stuff like – writing while relaxing either in the balcony or at the terrace while having a cup of coffee, I even do a lot of online reading, watching a lot of informational or motivational or fun videos or movies or playing online games either in my smartphone, or tablet or laptop or desktop or on my streaming devices. So I feel the connectivity is very more important for me.

Why Range Extenders:

If you are facing WiFi dead zone issues, or Wireless black spots, or facing lower signal strengths at some areas, or planning to extend your network coverage, etc. then Range extender is the best option to go with.

Range extender is a wireless repeater, which helps to repeat the WiFi signals to expand the WiFi coverage or WiFi connectivity or to improve WiFi signal strengths. Generally this will be installed in the place where you get the less signal strength and helps one to avoid WiFi dead zones. And are also chosen as an alternative for costly routers.

TP-Link Range Extender Introduction Video

Choosing the right WiFi Range Extender:

Started searching for some good WiFi Range Extenders, I’m sure there are many to consider before deciding on some extender with good features, specifications, and within my budget range. Since I have a TP-LINK wireless N router, the decision was easy for me to go for WiFi range extenders from TP-LINK. There are some good sets of Range Extenders available on the TP-LINK site.

With a set of available filters on their site, it was easy for me to select the portable one which is the wall-plug form factor and the other aspect I was looking for is AC Passthrough – so the selection was easier as I left with only one option that is 300Mbps Wi-Fi Range Extender with AC Passthrough TL-WA860RE, which I found to be the best and is the new product which was launched recently in the mid of August 2015 and is in my price range too.

This product is now available on Flipkart and eBay.in

What is AC passthrough?

AC pass-through is nothing but an AC outlet/socket through which one can connect or plug any other electronic item even after this Range Extender is plugged in. Since the Range Extender will be fixed at a particular socket based on the installation compatibility and we will not quite often remove or change the position of the range extender, so TP-LINK made sure that the AC outlet should not go to waste and should be utilized for some other item to the plugin through this AC passthrough.

So I ordered a “300Mbps Wi-Fi Range Extender with AC Pass through TL-WA860RE” and received the product in a week.

Now it’s time for unboxing the product received and the package contains:

TP LINK WiFi TL WA860RE Range Extender
Unboxing TP-LINK – WiFi TL-WA860RE Range Extender
  • 300Mbps WiFi Range Extender with AC Passthrough TL-WA860RE
  • RJ-45 Ethernet Cable
  • Resource CD
  • and the quick installation guide

That’s a pretty small package with fewer resources available in it. It doesn’t contain any charger etc. as it is a portable and wall-plug device.

TP-Link Wi-Fi Range Extender TL-WA860RE

Installing a WiFi Range Extender:

Plug and Play one button connectivity setup, yes you heard it right – it’s really not that complicated to set up and configure the range extender. You can easily extend WiFi coverage at a push of the WPS button on your router followed by the Range Extender button.

Since the Range Extender is from the same TP-LINK family, it was really pretty easy and very quick for me to follow their quick installation guide to configure the device with just a click of WPS/QSS button available in my wireless n router, plug (EU, UK, US) the range extender and then press the Range Extender button to expand the available secure wireless connection.

Once done, observe the first LED, smart signal indicator light from the top which indicates the WiFi signal strengths. If the light is:

  • Not glowing that means there is no connection so check your wireless router whether it is switched on or not.
  • Seeing an half orange light? means the range extender is placed far away for router.
  • Now it is orange? that means the range extender is too close to the router.
  • So place the device where you see the light turns to green, that means the device is plugged in the right place.

That’s all guys, no more installation or configure required :)

This procedure even works for any WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) or QSS (Quick Security Setup) enabled router.

For other types of routers, you can follow the installation or configuration instructions provided or go to http://tplinkrepeater.net and follow the setup steps mentioned.

TP-LINK - Range Extender and Wireless Adapter
TP-LINK – Range Extender and Wireless Adapter

Make sure you have plugged it in the right place to cover your WiFi dead zones. So check the connectivity now, you will be amazed at the signal strengths in your various devices.

Utilizing TP-LINK AC Passthrough
Utilizing TP-LINK Range Extender AC Passthrough

Am I happy with the coverage now?

Yo, I’m totally happy as I can access any device at any corner of my home and no more frustration or dead zones as we can see a good WiFi signal strength after installing this TL-WA860RE 300Mbps Wi-Fi Range Extender.

No doubt, now I’m a great fan of TP-LINK products :) as I have got a good hands-on experience with their wonderful products so far. It was almost a week I tried this range extender, no connectivity issues found so far & I highly recommend you to try their products and I am sure thereafter you will be a big fan of their products too :)

TP-LINK - Ethernet and Wireless Connection
TP-LINK – Ethernet and Wireless Connection using Range Extender

OK now let’s look at the technical features of the TL-WA860RE Wi-Fi Range Extender:

  • Powered with 300Mbps wireless N speeds.
  • Wall-plug and very handy portable device with no extra adapters or chargers etc.
  • Two external antennas to improve the signal strength of your wireless network by giving good coverage of your internet connectivity.
  • AC passthrough, an extra power socket – which means you can still use the same power outlet to connect any other electronic devices over it.
  • Two higher quality antennas to provide very good Wi-Fi coverage with excellent signal strength.
  • Contains one Ethernet port, which functions as a wireless adapter and will help you to connect to the wired devices like Blu-ray® players, gaming consoles, DVRs, and Internet TVs.
  • And is compatible with other 802.11n/g/b devices or products.
  • Contains multiple encryption security Types like 64/128/152-bit WEP and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK
  • Supports Built-in DHCP server

Share your experience:

Are you using the product? or have any questions on this range extender? You are most welcome to share your feedback about the product or shoot me a question to get it answered. Looking forward to hearing from you all, about this TL-WA860RE – 300Mbps Wi-Fi Range Extender with AC Passthrough from TP-LINK.

Below are the specifications for your reference:

HARDWARE FEATURES
Plug TypeEU, UK, US
Standards and ProtocolsIEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b
Interface1 * 10/100Mbps Ethernet Port (RJ45)
ButtonRE (Range Extender) Button, Reset Button
Power ConsumptionAbout 3W
Antenna2 * external
Dimensions ( W x D x H )4.3x 2.6 x 3.0in. (110.0 x 65.8 x 75.2mm)
WIRELESS FEATURES
Frequency2.4~2.4835GHz
Signal Rate11n: Up to 300Mbps (dynamic)
11g: Up to 54Mbps (dynamic)
11b: Up to 11Mbps (dynamic)
Reception Sensitivity270M: -69dBm@10% PER
130M: -69dBm@10% PER
108M: -69dBm@10% PER
54M: -69dBm@10% PER
11M: -86Bm@8% PER
6M: -89dBm@10% PER
1M: -91dBm@8% PER
Transmit Power< 20 dBm (EIRP)
Wireless ModesRange Extender
Wireless FunctionsWMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia)
Wireless MAC Address Filtering
Wireless Statistic
Domain Login Function
Wireless Security64/128/152-bit WEP
WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
OTHERS
CertificationCE, RoHS
Package Contents300Mbps Wi-Fi Range Extender with AC Passthrough TL-WA860RE
RJ-45 Ethernet Cable
Resource CD
Quick Installation Guide
System RequirementsMicrosoft® Windows® 98SE, NT, 2000, XP, Vista or Windows 7, 8, Mac® OS, NetWare®, UNIX® or Linux.
EnvironmentOperating Temperature: 0°C~40°C (32°F~104°F)
Storage Temperature: -40°C~70°C (-40°F~158°F)
Operating Humidity: 10%~90% non-condensing
Storage Humidity: 5%~90% non-condensing
Scroll to Top