Measuring Wi-Fi performance is tricky. So much depends on the client devices you are using, the RF environment, and the distance you are from the router. There are tons of things that can affect performance, and it’s hard to control for them all. For my casual testing, I compared the Wavlink G2 to the router that Verizon provided me with (AC1750), and a TP-Link Archer C5400X (AC5400). I tested from a few feet away as a “best case” scenario and my kitchen table as a “typical” scenario. The kitchen is about 30 feet and two walls away from where the routers were. I have symmetrical gigabit FiOS for testing internet throughput, and an iPerf server on my LAN for testing raw throughput. I mainly tested with an iPhone 11 Pro (2x2 Wi-Fi 6) and my desktop, which has an Intel AC 7265 (2x2 Wi-Fi 5).

Let me begin by saying, the 100 Mbps Ethernet ports are the worst part about the Wavlink. The Wi-Fi radios performed like almost any other AC1200 device I’ve encountered. On 5 GHz, when close enough to get a high RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) and good SNR (signal-to-noise), I had no problems getting 300-400 Mbps of real world throughput. When at my kitchen table, the 5 GHz signal was much weaker than the 2.4 GHz. My devices roamed onto 2.4 GHz, which trades maximum throughput for range. In my kitchen, speeds were much lower, typically in the 50-75 Mbps range. The Archer C5400X and Verizon AC1750 both gave better speeds, averaging 400-500 Mbps when close, and 100 Mbps from the kitchen.

More important to real world performance is some things you can’t tell from just a speed test. The Wavlink handled roaming from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz well, and it was smart enough to go between them as I walked around. You have the option to separate the two bands into two separate networks, but I prefer to keep them on the same SSID and let the clients and access point figure out what’s best. The Wavlink refers to combining the 2.4 and 5 GHz networks as “Smart Connect”, and in my testing it performed as expected.

You do have the option to pick channels and channel widths, but I left it on the default 20 MHz wide/auto for 2.4, and 80 MHz wide/auto for 5 GHz. Unless you have a good reason to, those are usually the best options for a home network. Wider channels run into more issues, and most devices don’t support 160 MHz wide channels, anyway. Using 40 MHz wide on 2.4 GHz can improve single client speeds, but also makes it more likely to run into interference, as it requires 2 continuous channels (1+6, or 6+11) to be free rather than just one. Friends don’t let friends use 40 MHz wide channels on 2.4 GHz.

Amazon Reviews and Q&A

I had so much fun reading through these reviews. Let’s look at the most helpful review on the page:

*Second Update* 10 days after my 30 days return window closed - guess what? It stops working. More specifically the 5G (the fastest signal) stops working. Ugh. I looked at the other 1 star reviews and they also stopped after a month. I was really hoping the other reviewers were just random chances but it happened to me too. Now i'm out $30 bucks and have to buy something else. #ShouldHaveKnown #StickToBrandsYouKnow



*Third Update* I found an incredible buy, called Medialink AC 1200R Wireless Gigabit Router, you'll want to buy this because normally there's a speed limit on your wired cables to your computer which is up to 100 Gigs. The Medialink AC1200 R is upto 1000 Gigs! I did a speed test and I went from 91.8 Mbps to 321.49 Mbps!!! My surfing speeds are crazy now! So in a way, i'm glad this stupid Wavlink failed, because I have something a million times better.



Original Review: So I was hesitant to purchase this because 1.) the price seemed too good, and 2.) the score was too good (Even checked to see if they were verified purchases). At $29 bucks, I figured "why not?" and i bought one. It's now been several weeks, and I'm very happy with this purchase. The 5 Mtz frequency is the fastest signal (vs the 2.4) so everything that needs to stream or whatever is on the 5, and the rest (like Google home, etc.) is on the 2. I've noticed a big difference in speed, and had no problems with lag, dropped signals, or anything wifi related. Even though I've never heard of this brand, it's holding its own against other wifi routers that are 5X the cost. Setup was relatively easy too. Should I encounter any issues with this 6 months, to years down the road, i'll update my review here, but for now - it's working as it should, at the speeds advertised. Well done. :)

I… Don’t even know where to begin. So many things about this are wrong. 100 Gigs! 1000 Gigs! 5 Mtz! I don’t want to poke fun at this person, but as a network engineer, please take the reviews you see on Amazon with a grain of salt.

The Q&A is also filled with gold:

Q: Does it work without power? A: No, it requires a power source to work

Q: How many devices can be used with this router at one time? A: I have three tv’s and fiber internet

﻿Will this work with blazing hog internet? Don't know

How is it for major gaming ? Multiplayer Sorry I don't use my router for than, so I'm unable to answer your question.

﻿Do u pay like every month for the internet? yes

Lan ports are 10/100 or 100/1000 ? Yes



Please. Do not use Amazon reviews or Q&A for your research.

Conclusion