Costco Members: 3-Pack TP-Link Deco M9 Plus AC2200 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi Router Expired

I have this system for around 6 months. I purchased mine refurbished for $139 from BHPhoto and I have been super delighted with it. I have mine set up with ethernet backhauling and I purchased ceiling brackets to mount them upside down overhead. Those brackets are optional accessories available on Amazon and they are great.

No wire clutter on the floors since my CAT6 cables run-up in the attic. This router can also control some smart devices and you can have the router switch things on and off through Alexa, Google Assistant and the Deco app. YMMV on which smart devices are compatible. But they work with my TP-link Kasa Smart plugs and Philips smart bulbs. It also handles Bluetooth and Zigbee devices.

While it doesn't have as many advanced manual features as many other routers do such has my Synology rt2600ac (my home office router) or my EdgeRouter X. It does have some.

Support for IPv6
Specify your own subnet
IP range
DNS
VLAN
Address Reservation
Port Forwarding
DDNS
UPnP
Connection Alerts to cell phones (I know when someone connects to the network via a notification to my cell phone)
QoS
Parental Controls
Antivirus (TrendMicro)
Intrusion Prevention System
Infected Device Quarantine
Malicious Content Filter
Blacklist
Can operate in Router and AP mode
Smart Actions (A smart device can trigger another) I have this set up with Wyze to trigger a lamp if the Wyze v3 camera detects a person in the backyard and front porch (postal worker & amazon delivery). If I see that lamp on, I look at what triggered it on the Wyze app cam footage.
Both 5Ghz antennas can be used when it senses a need for higher demand according to the marketing material. But I don't know how to verify this claim from TP-Link.
Supports IFTTT
Shows me the real-time UP/DOWN bandwidth usage of every client connected to it.
Produces monthly usage and security reports on the app with graphs, how often a smart device has been triggered or automation routine executed through the router. (those performed inside Alexa and Google Assistant don't show). I like that because my Synology devices do the same.
If the ethernet haul switch goes down, it automatically switches to wifi backhaul


It covers my home end to end (2,234 sqft), a separate garage, driveway, and the rear deck. I have wyze v3 monitoring the driveway and Eufy doorbell cams. This system is also expandable so you can add additional nodes like most other mesh systems. If you need more coverage, just add more deco nodes.

I keep all of my IoT devices, TV and Nvidia Shield Pro 2019x2, approximately 42 devices and growing.

I do keep my home office computers and network printers behind the Synology rt2600ac, separated from all of the other devices. Separate VLan.

Best of all, it's affordable, and few IoT devices make use of 5Ghz, much less WIFI 6. Perhaps my Pixel Phone and Google Nest Hubs use the 5Ghz band. 4K TVs, streaming boxes, and Plex server are connected via ethernet to a gigabit switch.

For me, it's sort of a poor man's version of Ubiquiti APs. Good enough for now until AX routers mature. I would love to upgrade late this year or next to a Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro, but for now, this works and it works pretty well. Very reliable. I wish my Synology was as reliable.

Can't directly comment on the M9, but I have the M5 and it's been rock solid for two years now.

Originally got it because the house I lived in was only 1,100 sqft but 90% cinder block walls so a single wireless router wasn't cutting it. Only wireless backhaul at that point and zero issues.

Current house has ethernet to a couple rooms so have ethernet backhaul to one and wireless to another in the bedroom because I prefer to use the ethernet on the node as it obviously performs better than most wireless devices.

It really depends on your square footage, but the fact that you have the option of ethernet backhaul, I would personally recommend them.

For reference, I run 2 home servers, 2 desktops, and basically all my media and gaming devices wired and usually have about 30 wireless clients connected at any given time. Two 8 port switched on two of the nodes. Mix of iot devices, phones, and laptops, both 2.4G and 5G. The one caveat as a power user is the limited control with the simple config interface, but to be honest it's been nice not having to deal with the networking side to focus on other projects.

Sorry for the wall of text, just honestly very happy with my deco setup.

I have had both. I bought the M9 3-pack at Costco. Loved it. Despite what others say here, range was excellent and so was speed. I have gig internet and could get about 500 down on the M9. Indoors, outdoors, you name it, we had connection.

Then a deal for the X60 showed up at Costco. Did we need WIFI6? No. Would it be nice? Sure, since we have gig internet. Unfortunately, the X60 hasn't delivered on the WIFI6 speeds. A WIFI6 laptop gets 600-700 down. My iPhone 11 Pro Max -- about 450, maybe 500 when standing next to one of the AP's.

So, in hindsight, I'd probably be just as happy with the M9 Plus again, especially at $159. I do use ethernet backhaul for all the AP's, but the M9 is tri-band so even that is not needed.

I have, though, bought a few sets of the M9 from Costco for friends/clients and installed them in their gigantic homes and am pleased with the range and performance. I'm also going to have to price match Costco to get some money back once these go on sale (and maybe pick up another set or two for future installs for friends/clients!).