The Aquila Pro M30 Ai Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 mesh router is available in both 2 and 3-pack options tailored to suit the needs of small-to-medium-sized homes or apartments. With its AI-driven enhancements, this router not only promises improved Wi-Fi reliability but also boasts a sleek and stylish design. The unique winged design not only adds aesthetic appeal but also enhances Wi-Fi coverage from a traditional 2D circle to a dynamic 3D sphere, ensuring better signal strength even across multiple floors in multi-level homes. While it may not boast the fastest speeds on the market (with Wi-Fi 7 BE22000 reaching higher speeds), the Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 offers more than ample performance.
The mesh system consists of identical nodes, with the first unit connected to the Internet taking the role of primary router and subsequent nodes acting as mesh satellites. Utilizing backhaul communication via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, these nodes present a unified SSID and password, facilitating seamless connectivity throughout the network. Optimal placement of the primary router ensures efficient coverage, with satellites positioned approximately 6 meters apart or further if connected via Ethernet.
Featuring a maximum full-duplex speed of 574Mbps (2.4GHz) and 2402Mbps (5GHz), the Aquila Pro M30 caters to typical users with up to 30 devices, ranging from smartphones and computers to TVs and cameras. However, it may not meet the demands of hardcore gamers reliant on wireless connections.
Recognized with the Good Design Award 2023, the Aquila Pro M30 stands out for its innovative and elegant design. The sleek, rounded shape evokes images of a graceful stingray or manta in motion, complemented by a two-tone white and sky blue color scheme. Its wall-mountable design and top-mounted connections add to its understated elegance, with a single colored LED indicator providing status updates. Thanks to its spherical-field effect, the router can even be mounted upside down on the ceiling for optimal satellite placement.
Setting up the Aquila Pro AI M30 is effortless, whether through the router interface or the AQUILA PRO AI mobile app available on both Android and iOS platforms. The intuitive setup process guides users through selecting the router’s operation mode, configuring ISP settings, and enabling features such as Smart Connect for seamless device connectivity across bands. Additionally, the AI Wi-Fi Optimizer enhances network performance by intelligently selecting the optimal channel and providing weekly bandwidth reports.
Other notable features include Guest Zone Wi-Fi for secure guest access, basic parental controls for managing internet usage, and built-in firewall capabilities for network security. The system’s performance is impressive.
To test out the speed, I setup the designated router in the same location as my current Wi-Fi hub, and the satellite unit in the media room, which normally has great signal. By using a pair of locations whose environmental variables are already known, I was able to adjust for any external factors affecting the tests. I also used my mobile as a roaming test-spot. By using a signal-tester app to map out the signal strengths in various common-usage spots around the building – by the microwave in the food area, in my workroom, in the media room, and outside on the deck – I took measurements with just the base unit and with the satellite active. With both units active, I had full signal and max bandwidth in all the key locations with usable coverage extending out to the parking bay 4m away through 2 walls. When I measured again with the satellite turned off, I lost 80% of the signal in two of the key locations, 30% loss in the rest, and 0% workable coverage in the parking bay. Which was, to be fair, through 4 walls and 8m from the base unit – I would have been surprised if there had been even a blink of signal.
Overall, I’m thoroughly impressed with what D-Link has accomplished here. The D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 is available in a 2-pack system offering coverage of up to 465 square meters or a 3-pack system extending to 650 square meters. Priced at $500 for the 2-pack and $650 for the 3-pack, this mesh system offers excellent value for those seeking a hassle-free networking solution. Despite its slightly dated software interface, the D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 remains a top choice for users prioritizing simplicity and reliability in their mesh network setup. Data-heavy users will want to explore other, more dedicated, offerings.
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Posted in partnership with: KIWIreviews.nz
Disclosure Statement: This unit was supplied by D-Link expressly for the purposes of review. No fee was offered or accepted for this impartial review.
Key Features:
• Eco-friendly Design: With a housing made from post-consumer recycled materials and delivered in sustainable packaging, the M30 was designed to reduce its environmental impact
• Rapid Connectivity: Revel in speeds up to 3 Gbps with an extra antenna on the faster 5 GHz band, assuring seamless video streaming, video conferencing, and smooth gaming
• Uninterrupted Wi-Fi Everywhere: Enjoy robust 360-degree spherical coverage courtesy of a sophisticated antenna design and advanced AI technology, ensuring fast and consistent Wi-Fi in every corner of your home
• Scale-as-you-need Mesh: Future proof your network and easily expand your coverage by adding more AQUILA PRO AI devices to create a whole home Mesh network
• Ultra-Fast Gigabit Wired Connection: 1 x Gigabit WAN port + 4 x Gigabit LAN ports (per M30 Router) allow you to make fast and reliable connections to wired devices like smart TVs, gaming PCs and more
• Help Protect Your Home Network: Help keep your family safer online with our premium home network security features like Advanced Parental Controls, ETSI EN 303 645 cybersecurity standards and WPA3 encryption
• Setup and Management Simplified: The intuitive AQUILA PRO AI app helps guide you through setup and monitors your network to help you keep it running at peak performance
You can read the original press release [-here-]