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Tag: eero

  • Eero Wants to Sell Customers a Cellular Internet Backup Dongle for Its Routers

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    Amazon’s Eero is getting into the cellular hotspot router business… sort of. At IFA 2025, the company announced the Eero Signal, a device that can back up your Eero network with cellular data, kicking in when it detects an internet outage.

    The Eero Signal is an upright little device with a USB-C splitter that plugs into your existing Eero router’s USB-C port, powering both devices. If you’re paying for a $99.99 annual subscription to Eero Plus, you’ll get 10GB of cellular backup data per year. Eero will also roll out a $199.99/year “Eero Plus 100” plan that, you guessed it, gives you 100GB of data to use. Eero spokesperson Connor Rice said the Signal will work with any USB-C Eero router that supports Wi-Fi 6 or higher.

    Eero Plus subscribers already have access to a built-in backup internet feature—called, uh, Eero Internet Backup—that can automatically switch your network over to a nearby hotspot or alternative Wi-Fi network. But if you’d rather not pay separately for another company’s mobile hotspot data and don’t just have another Wi-Fi network lying around to use, you can pick up a 4G LTE version of the Signal for $99.99 early next year. Eero says that later in 2026, it will release another one that uses 5G RedCap, a newer cellular protocol meant to provide low-latency, low-bandwidth service, primarily for things like IoT and wearable devices. The 5G model will set you back $199.99, according to Rice.

    © Eero

    Eero is “working with multiple major cellular carriers to enable backup data if there’s an internet outage,” according to Rice. He said the throughput customers can expect when using the Signal’s cell backup will be up to 150Mbps, while the 5G RedCap version will get up to 220Mbps. He added that those are “theoretical maximums,” and actual speed will depend on several factors, like how close users are to cell towers and what cellular spectrum is available.

    The company also announced the Eero PoE 7, a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 power over ethernet router that works with its existing mesh systems and can get both power and data from a single ethernet cable. This one won’t be available to the general public—instead, it’s intended for “businesses and residential properties that use wired infrastructure and have high-bandwidth needs.” The PoE 7 has specs similar to the Eero Max 7, with the company promising wireless throughput up to 3.9Gbps and wired up to 9.4Gbps. Each device will have two 10GbE ports and can cover up to 2,000 square feet, according to Eero. The PoE 7 will be available in the U.S. and Canada in November for $499.99, from “select internet service providers and professional installers.”

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    Wes Davis

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  • Eero’s Pro 7 Is the Sweet Spot in Its Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Lineup

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    Amazon’s Eero mesh range is tough to beat for folks seeking a set-and-forget mesh Wi-Fi system for their home. Simplicity, with a side of smart home support, makes the Eero Pro 7 a compelling prospect. It strikes a nice balance in Eero’s Wi-Fi 7 lineup, offering the faster 6-GHz band and better all-around performance than the entry-level Eero 7, while costing far less than the top-of-the-line Max 7.

    While I experienced teething troubles with systems like the Max 7 when Wi-Fi 7 was new, my time with the Pro 7 has been plain sailing. Quick to install, easy to use, and reliable, this is an easy mesh to recommend, but there’s plenty of competition. At $700 for a 3-pack, the Eero Pro 7 is not cheap, and you need to shell out for an Eero Plus subscription to unlock all its features.

    Easy Life

    Photograph: Simon Hill

    Eero systems have a well-deserved reputation for being easy to set up and use. Download the Eero app, sign in with your Amazon account, and follow the onscreen instructions to get your network up and running in minutes. The app keeps things simple, with a home page showing your internet connection, mesh routers, and connected devices. You can dig into the full list of devices and review activity, but everything else is hidden in the settings.

    I tested a 3-pack of identical shiny white plastic routers, featuring the same tower design as the Max 7, just slightly smaller. They blend in easily and plug into power via the USB-C port on the back. Each unit sports two 5-Gbps Ethernet ports. The app guides you on placement, and it’s best to think of your mesh as an internet spine for the home, so rather than placing a node in a dead spot, set it up halfway between your main router and the room you’re trying to cover.

    My Eero Pro 7 testing spanned a house move, so I was able to test it in a modern home where two units easily blanketed every corner and in an old Victorian house with much thicker walls, where all three units were required. While speeds using Wi-Fi 7 devices in the same room as the main router were as fast as I’ve recorded, there was a significant drop-off one or two rooms over. This is because the 6-GHz band doesn’t penetrate as well as the 5-GHz or 2.4-GHz bands we are used to.

    Eero Pro 7 Review Smooth Sailing

    Photograph: Simon Hill

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    Simon Hill

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  • The Eero Outdoor 7 Brings Wi-Fi to the Backyard

    The Eero Outdoor 7 Brings Wi-Fi to the Backyard

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    The Eero Outdoor 7 comes with fixings and instructional videos for installation onto stucco, vinyl, wood, or fiber cement walls. You can also attach it to a fence or a wooden post if you prefer. The Eero Outdoor 7 supports PoE (power over Ethernet), meaning you can plug a single Ethernet cable into the 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port to deliver both internet and power, though the other end will have to plug into something like Eero’s PoE Gateway ($400).

    A wired connection will squeeze the best performance from the Eero Outdoor 7, but means running a cable. If you prefer to connect wirelessly, you’ll need the optional outdoor power adapter, which costs an extra $50. It will use the 5-GHz band to connect to an existing mesh wirelessly, reducing the available bandwidth for devices. If you’re wondering about the lack of 6-GHz, often touted as the main advantage of Wi-Fi 7, Eero decided it didn’t make much sense for outdoor Wi-Fi where the range is so vital, and it’s a fair point (6-GHz is relatively short range and requires more power).

    Photograph: Eero

    The Eero Outdoor 7 is compatible with all the existing Eero systems that the company sells, so you can move freely inside and out, and it will pass off the connection seamlessly to your devices, automatically finding the best channels and minimizing interference. Just like Eero’s routers, the Outdoor 7 is smart-home-friendly, with support for Thread, Zigbee, and Matter. That will be handy for devices like security cameras and robot mowers and could be a crucial selling point for the Eero Outdoor 7 compared to other outdoor routers, like the significantly cheaper TP-Link Deco X50 Outdoor ($150).

    The Eero Outdoor 7 costs $350 and is available starting November 13. The bundle with the 30-watt PoE (Power over Ethernet) and outdoor power adapter is $400 and gives you around 18 feet of cable to run to an outdoor outlet. It will also be offered in two-packs and bundled with other Eero systems, like the Max 7. The Eero Outdoor 7 comes with a three-year warranty.

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    Simon Hill

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