![]() On a more positive note, the list of features above doesn’t include the fact that ASUS and TP-Link OnHubs can now be configured as Wifi points either with or without Google Wifi. They also point out that, as with any router operated in AP mode, you lose most of the nifty features of the product. Google has made this choice because they feel their target buyer is neither interested nor prepared to deal with the complexity of running a router for routing features and a mesh network for Wi-Fi. If you want to add Wifi points to your network, you have to use NAT mode. It took a few emails and eventually a phone call to nail down that only a single GWifi can be operated as an AP. I was initially as confused as you may be by the Bridge option in the Network Mode screen. ![]() with no routing features and bridged to your router’s LAN. The most significant missing feature is the ability to operate multiple GWifis (or OnHubs) in mesh mode as access points, i.e. Wi-Fi Protected Setup (due to security risk, according to Google).Ability to set LAN IP (fixed to 192.168.86) and DHCP range.Outbound and inbound service and website blocking and other parental controls.Family Wi-Fi Pause (suspend internet access for device and device groups).Home control (Philips Hue bulbs only, requires Hue bridge).Priority device (prioritizes uplink traffic for one device).Port forwarding (static single and port ranges, no triggered ports).Uses Google’s DNS, but falls back to your ISP’s in the unlikely event Google’s fails The screenshot below shows most of what you can do. If you’re a tweaker, you’ll probably spend most of your time in the second and third tabs and their sub-screens.įirst, let’s cover the feature set, most of which are found under Network Settings > Advanced Networking. The three top-level screens are shown below. Setup is done via iOS or Android app (pictured below), which was easy to use. Like other "three-pack" mesh products, GWifi’s feature set skews toward the basics that their target non-techie buyer needs. Instead, let’s focus on GWifi’s features, or lack thereof. The only things I’ll point out are that the app provides easy-to-use guidance for initially placing Wifi points and also for moving them. Other reviewers have covered GWifi’s easy installation and there is this nice installation video, so I won’t be spending much time on setup. The gallery below has some more inside photos and commentary. Note the dedicated monitor radio found in OnHub is not part of GWiFi. Table 1: Component summary and comparison – Skyworks SKY66109-11 2.4 GHz ZigBee front end – Silicon Labs EM3581 ZigBee / Thread SoC – Skyworks SKY85716-11 5 GHz RF front end (x2) – Skyworks SKY85717-11 5 GHz front end (x2) Skyworks RFX8425 2.4 GHz RF front end (x2) – Skyworks SKY8530 2.4 GHz front end (x2) – Infineon STM9615 Trusted Platform Module – Qualcomm IPQ4019 Wave2 2×2 a/b/g/n/ac SoC But eero continues to be the only three-pack mesh product with two 5 GHz radios. It’s pretty obvious why eero needs to keep its price high compared to Luma and Wifi. Google reports that OnHub does have a Trusted Platform Module. Neither of these were found in either OnHub. The other surprise is the STM32F072 32 bit ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller and Infineon STM9615 Trusted Platform Module. ![]() The device with a Qualcomm logo in the right side RF can is most likely the Bluetooth radio, but I couldn’t find any reference to the part number marked on it. But OnHub has supported ZigBee-based Philips Hue bulbs since August and since GWifi also supports Philips Hue bulbs, Google Wifi’s ZigBee radio is also functional. This is the same combo found in the TP-Link and ASUS OnHubs, but it’s not mentioned in any Google Wifi documentation, per se. The upper left RF can holds a surprise – a Silicon Labs EM3581 ZigBee / Thread SoC and Skyworks ZigBee front end. Instead, it has a USB C connector that right now serves only to bring power in. But GWifi doesn’t have the (currently) non-functional USB 2.0 port that eero and Luma sport. ![]() All come in small off-white plastic packages (Google refers to theirs as "Wifi points"), as shown in the group photo below, designed for high WAF.Īll three also come with two Gigabit Ethernet ports and have AC1200 class radios. All three aim at the consumer who wants easy setup, as in plug-it-in-and-it-works. Google Wifi (yes, that’s how Google spells it) takes an approach similar to Luma and eero in form and features. But since GWifi’s key competition, eero and Luma, are much smaller fish, GWifi wouldn’t have to do much to create some serious potholes in their road to long-term viability. Google’s first attempt - OnHub - didn’t put much of a dent in the incumbent consumer Wi-Fi makers’ market share. Google caused a stir in the emerging mesh Wi-Fi universe when it announced in October it too was getting into the game with Google Wifi. ![]()
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