From here you can tap a node or router to bring up a sub-menu that has further settings, like the ability to set up a separate SSID on a specific radio, security protocol, guest network, and toggling band steering and router steering. Overview gives a quick look at signal strength between MeshPoints and main router as well as how many clients are connected to the network. The Android app I used here is laid out well and is thus easy to navigate. It seems to have a bit of trouble choosing either 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz radios right away, but I found that as soon as I was doing something heavy it flipped over to the 5 GHz radio, and if I moved too far out of range it flipped me back to the 2.4 GHz radio without me really noticing. The AmpliFi HD uses a single SSID across the router and MeshPoints, so there's no need for your devices to make a switch when you move out of range. However, on a crowded network, I believe this would come in handy. I did some testing with different radios set as the backbone but didn't see any significant changes. It's a shame there's no wired backhaul option and no dedicated band for backhaul, but you can set which radio is primarily used for communication on each MeshPoint. While the main router does have the range to hit the back corner of my basement from the front corner upstairs, adding a node near the middle of the house cranked up the speed far past what I was getting with my old Hitron router. It's clear from these tests that the AmpliFi HD three-pack with the main router and two MeshPoints is best cut out for a home larger than mine. Within the app and in a browser there is also 24/7 live support should you run into any obstacles. If you're looking for a mesh system that's pretty much foolproof, this one will certainly do the trick. Once both were online and recognized in the app, I again took a few minutes to update the firmware, then got busy testing network speeds. Once plugged in, the MeshPoints connect back to the main router automatically, taking about three minutes to set themselves up. Once that's done I updated the router's firmware - which again only took a few minutes - and was then free to plug in MeshPoints around my house. ![]() Once the router is powered on, the app on your phone will detect it and ask you to create a wireless network with a password. I used the Android app for first-time setup, and the entire process took about five minutes. You plug the AmpliFi HD router into your modem with the provided Ethernet cable, plug in the power adapter, and let it do its thing. The app is available for Android and iOS, and there's a browser setup method that can also be used if a mobile device isn't handy. Like most mesh Wi-Fi systems, AmpliFi HD relies heavily on an app to get things set up. For this reason, wired backhaul is not possible, so you'll have to rely on wireless unless you opt for two main routers rather than the router and MeshPoint setup. As for the MeshPoints, there are no ports. On the back is also a USB-A port that doesn't do anything - which is a real sore spot for AmpliFi owners - and a USB-C port that's used for powering the device. There was an issue with full Gigabit speeds only available if the router was in bridge mode, but that seems to have been resolved with a firmware update. The back of the router has a WAN port for connecting back to your modem and four Gigabit LAN ports for connecting other wired devices. If you're not able to hide them behind something, they're going to look a bit out of place. The MeshPoints have the same soft-touch paint on them, and they are aesthetically pleasing, but they're a bit bulky to have hanging off your wall. The bottom piece plugs into a wall socket, and the top piece acts as an antenna which can be pointed in the general direction of the main router or, say, the desk in your office. They're made up of two parts with a magnetic joint in the middle. The AmpliFi HD has a unique design, setup is a snap, and it offers excellent performance and range.
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