Realized Wi-Fi without blind spots for $ 100.Plume SuperPod Mesh Router Review

The idea is to lower the initial cost and pay regularly.

Even in the same house, when you leave the Wi-Fi router, the connection often becomes worse.The smart solution is a Wi-Fi router using a "mesh network" like Google WiFi.But this kind of router was a little expensive for the sense of task we felt.

Therefore, PLUME was the idea of "let's pay the cost every year with a subscription system and lower the initial cost."The image of the initial cost that usually costs 30,000 yen or more is about 10,000 yen.It is still in the United States only, but as long as you look at the reviews of Patrick Lucas Austin in the United States, I feel happy to come to Japan, so please take a look below.

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I've always been frustrated by the internet because the house is bad.The connection was long and the brick walls were in the way, so the connection was not very stable, so I needed to try out various SSID names such as Ethernet cables and antenna extenders.

The solution to this problem is the "mesh network" that loses the blind spot of Wi-Fi by linking multiple routers, but the mesh network compatible Wi-Fi router is higher than the ordinary Wi-Fi router.Normally we recommend that you spend as much money as possible (because we use it every day), but if you already have Wi-Fi, it is quite difficult to spend more money to make it a mesh.I think.

Therefore, PLUME is challenging an unprecedented subscription system to make the high -end mesh network more affordable.I don't really like subscriptions, but I really liked this.

SuperPod Mesh Router

What is plume?: Mesh compatible Wi -Fi router paying for a subscription system

Price: Subscription is $ 60 per year (about 6700 yen), hardware for 1-2LDK (about 4400 yen) for 3-4LDK, $ 200 (about 22,000 yen), 260 for 5LDK or more.Dollar (about 29,000 yen)

Favorite place: Simple enough to set up.With a subscription system, you can start with cheap.Beautiful design

I don't like it: Subscription system is something restless.A troublesome design in a small space

Initial cost is much cheaper

Recent routers can be more than connected to the net.We provide various useful functions according to the application for apps, such as the apps that come with the app, manage devices, and (or the child) device (or the child) device.PLUME links these functions to the subscription program, and if you join it, the hardware will be greatly discounted and you will be guaranteed.By using a subscription system, the initial cost is much easier to the heart than the hardware -selling system.

Because a mesh-compatible Wi-Fi router is really expensive if it is a general sold out.I'm glad that Wi-Fi spreads throughout the house with a mesh, but for example, EERO costs $ 400 (about 44,000 yen).NetGear's Orbi is about $ 270 (about 30,000 yen), which is one of the three packs of RBK23 of the previous generation.LinkSys is even more expensive, and Google WiFi costs about $ 290 (42,120 yen for Japan).

PLUME, on the other hand, costs only $ 40 (about 4400 yen) for 1-2LDK, so you can get one three -band router and two dual band routers (the breakdown will be explained later).In addition, the subscription is $ 60 per year (about 6700 yen) or $ 200 (about 22,000 yen) without a period limit.In the case of subscription, it takes four years for the cumulative payment to reach the initial cost of other manufacturers.

However, many functions that can be used by this subscription are usually included in other companies' routers for free.If you want to use the apps and parental control functions that come with Plume, you must have a subscription.

You might think, "If you stop paying only the initial cost, you will be able to use a mesh network for $ 40?"The first year's subscription is required, so it costs at least $ 100 (about 11,000 yen) to use this system.Nevertheless, the minimum amount is smaller than other mesh network systems, so the "big shopping" so far is possible with "impulse buying".I feel like I can ride this proposal, and I think there are quite a few people who feel the same.The situation that is difficult to connect to Wi-Fi is unpleasant, and it's definitely a nice thing to be able to choose better options without bankruptcy.

Build a simple, fast and stable Wi-Fi environment

After passing through the first complicated subscription part, you can get a fast and connected router.Plume's POD and SuperPod are AC adapter -integrated mesh routers and are used directly into the outlet.It is a palm size, there are several types of colors, and the atmosphere is as if it was made by a fancy design company.

The setting is extremely easy.Just insert the plume pod into an outlet, connect it to the modem with an Ethernet cable, launch the app and follow the instructions.After the initial settings, connect the other routers and follow the instructions of the app (in this process, you need to hold the smartphone in front of the new router), which alone leads to the terminal to the net.

SUPERPOD is a 3 -band router, 2 dual bands.In addition to 4GHz and 5GHz, another 5GHz radio waves are issued to increase the coverage of the room.And when you actually use it, it's really very good.The results of the net connection speed test using the plume app were equivalent to using Google Wifi, but the results were stable anywhere in the house.

According to ARS Technica's detailed tests, the internal network handling was quite good.In other words, while streaming videos on Netflix (or on Plex servers), even if someone else calls on Skype, they will not be unstable.

Design to take space with an outlet

However, this stylish router also has disadvantages.If you know the AC adapter attached to the Nintendo Switch (or Dad's Casio's keyboard), you probably know this troubles.SUPERPOD is an irregular shape and size, so if it is not a general power supply with two outlets, it will be annoying.My house has three or four -line power supply, but that's the two outlets with one SuperPod.Even if the outlet is two power sources, if it is a big one like a smart plug, it may not be inserted with SuperPod.So you have to choose either a smart plug to another place or installed a SUPERPOD in a place you don't want.

And the power supply of the house tends to be located near large furniture and home appliances like bookshelves, sofas and television.It is unrealistic to move the power supply here and there, so it is a problem that the place where the POD is installed depends greatly on the design of the house.You can use something like an extension code, but it looks bad.

With the plume app, you can immediately see which device is connected to which router and how much bandwidth is used.With the parental control function, the connection of the device used by the child can also be blocked.With the device management function, you can set up schedule settings, ban devices, and set up a completely different password by isolation of brothers' laptops into guest networks.However, this function is not limited to Plume and mesh, but also a function that is almost ordinary in general routers.Even such a function is included in the subscription, it is irritated to think that it takes $ 60 per year to change the system or diagnose network problems.

Do you buy plume?

So, is plume worth $ 60 (about 6700 yen) per year?For me, I think it's Jesus for many people.Plume is fast, affordable, and looks good.I don't think there are many people who can pay $ 300, even though there are good services that should be paid regularly.Because PLUME, if you pay $ 100 (about 11,000 yen), you will get a wonderful mesh network, and you don't have to pay extra costs up to one year.This may be the best way to increase mesh network users.

I would be happy if the Wi-Fi of the house became easy to connect, but for those who thought it would be a bit like pouring a lot of money, Plume made a simple entrance.You may be wondering if you can take money regularly with a subscription, but it is still attractive to reduce the initial cost.

summary

・ It is very fast.

・ A subscription -type mesh network luta that can be started affordable.

・ It is really easy to connect.

・ Large but beautiful designs are not flexible aside.

・ The plume app is also nice, but it is rather laughing that it cannot be managed from a personal computer.

・ It is nice to get the hardware cheaply if you can pay the subscription cost.

・ I think it is very difficult to exceed the $ 100 (about 11,000 yen) mesh network.

Source: Plume, Ars Technica