Not to be confused with last year's Covr AC3900 Whole Home Wi-Fi System, which is actually a traditional router and range-extender system, D-Link's new Covr Dual Band Whole Home Wi-Fi System ($249.99) is a mesh network that uses stylish nodes to bring Wi-Fi to all the corners of your home. It performs admirably in our throughput tests and is a snap to install. But it's missing some of the features that you get with our top pick for mesh Wi-Fi systems, the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus, including robust parental controls and protection from viruses and other malware.
Low-Key, Still Stylish
Designed for homes of up to 5,000 square feet, the Covr system consists of three triangular nodes with rounded edges that look identical, but are configured as a main router and two satellite nodes (the node marked A is the main router node). At 2.0 by 4.6 by 4.2 inches (HWD) the matte white nodes are relatively small with a low profile and are designed to be placed out in the open. The top cover plate contains a backlit Covr logo that blinks orange during setup and solid white when the node is online. You can remove the plate and replace it with a metallic blue or light copper plate (both are included) to match your room decor.
Each node is an AC1200 router containing three internal antennas and 802.11ac circuitry that delivers data rates of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 866Mbps on the 5GHz band. They use automatic band steering, which selects the best radio band to use optimal performance.
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The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands cannot be separated and managed individually. The Covr also supports MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming and direct-to-client beamforming. Around back are two gigabit LAN ports which support wired backhaul to the main router, a power port, a WPS button, and a button that releases the cover plate. There's a reset button on the base.
The system uses a mobile app (iOS and Android) which offers a smattering of management settings, but you'll have to use the web console to configure things like QoS, Port Forwarding, Website filtering, and Dynamic DNS settings. Parental controls are limited to website filters and access scheduling and lack the user-friendly, age-appropriate presets that you get with systems like the Gryphon Smart Wi-Fi and the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus. The Covr also lacks the built-in anti-malware protection that the Gryphon, the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus, and the Asus Lyra Trio systems provide.
The app opens to a Home screen that tells you how many Covr devices are online, how many clients are connected, and if you are connected to the internet. Tapping the Covr Devices icon lets you see MAC address and software version information for each node, while tapping the Clients icon shows you the name of each client, their MAC and IP addresses, and their Schedule (online, blocked, or custom). Back at the Home screen, a gear icon in the upper right corner opens a dashboard with buttons for Wizard, Wi-Fi, Internet, Guest Wi-Fi, Clients, Schedule, and Management.
The Wizard is used for initial setup and to add new nodes, and Wi-Fi settings are limited to editing the Wi-Fi name and password and enabling an access schedule. Here you can create a schedule using the time/day grid. Internet settings show the connection type (DHCP, Static) and the Primary DNS Server (if applicable), and Guest Wi-Fi is where you go to enable guest networking, create a network name and password, and limit access to just the internet. You don't get many Management settings other than editing the system name and the Administrator password, changing the time zone, disabling the LED lights, and rebooting the system.
Respectable Performance
The system can be installed using the web console or the mobile app. Both methods are quick and easy. I downloaded the mobile app, tapped Install New Device, and scanned the QR code in the Setup Guide. I selected the Covr C1203, tapped Next, and followed the on-screen instructions to connect the node labeled A to my modem and power it up. After about 90 seconds, the LED began blinking orange, so I tapped Next and connected my phone to the node using my Wi-Fi settings and the included configuration card.
I returned to the app, tapped Next, and gave the new network a name and password. I clicked Next and waited several seconds for my settings to be saved, and proceeded to install the two satellite nodes. I placed one in my living room and one in my basement, powered them up, and when their LEDs began blinking orange, I tapped Next. Within 30 seconds they were both identified and added to the network, and their LEDs turned solid white.
See How We Test Wireless Routers
The Covr system is a solid performer. Its main router score of 546Mbps on our SU-MIMO close-proximity (same-room) throughput test was identical to the score we got from our Editors' Choice, the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus, and was faster than the Linksys Velop Dual-Band router ($99.99 at Amazon) . The Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi System router led with a score of 553Mbps. At 30 feet, the Covr router's score of 108Mbps was slightly faster than the Linksys Velop and the SmartThings routers, but the TP-Link Deco was faster by 122Mbps.
The Covr satellite node impressed with a score of 285Mbps on the SU-MIMO close-proximity test, besting the Linksys Velop and the SmartThings satellite nodes, but not the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus node. At 30 feet, the Covr node garnered 250Mbps, once again beating the Linksys Velop and the SmartThings nodes, but not the TP-Link Deco node.
To test MU-MIMO performance, we use three identical Acer Aspire R13 laptops equipped with Qualcomm's QCA61x4A MU-MIMO circuitry. The Covr router's score of 132Mbps on the close-proximity test was enough to beat the SmartThings router and the TP-Link Deco router, but not the Linksys Velop. On the 30-foot MU-MIMO test, the Covr router was faster than the Linksys Velop and the SmartThings routers, but couldn't match the TP-Link Deco.
The Covr satellite node's score of 63Mbps on the MU-MIMO close-proximity test was faster than the SmartThings node, but trailed the Linksys Velop and the TP-Link Deco. Results were similar on the 30-foot test: the Covr node scored higher than the SmartThings node, but came in behind the TP-Link Deco.
A Solid Choice to Enter the Mesh-Networking Realm
The D-Link Covr Dual-Band Whole Home Wi-Fi System is a good choice if you're looking to make the move to mesh technology to eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones. It's very easy to install and delivered impressive results on our throughput performance tests, and it supports MU-MIMO data streaming and automatic band steering. That said, its parental controls are limited to scheduling and website filtering, and you don't get any built-in anti-malware protection. The system offers QoS and advanced settings, but you'll have to switch over to the web console to access them, as they are missing from the mobile app.
If you're looking for easy-to-use parental controls with age-defined presets that block access to adult content, gambling, and social media sites, the Editors' Choice TP-Link Deco M9 Plus is your best bet. It costs $50 more, but it's a top performer that comes with built-in security protection, and it doubles as a home automation hub that will control smart devices such as lights, door locks, thermostats, and more.
D-Link's Covr Dual Band Whole Home Wi-Fi System is stylish, simple to install, and delivers solid throughput speeds.
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