Loom Wifi Extender Review – Worth to Buy?
In this review, I delve into my personal experience with the Netgear Looms WiFi Extender, a game-changer in the world of outdoor computing. As someone who frequently travels and occasionally works from quaint cafes or parks, maintaining a strong internet connection had always been a challenge.
Enter the Looms extender, designed to magnify my laptop's connection to the vast realms of the web. Not only has it allowed me to seamlessly stay in touch with my colleagues from remote locations, but it's also given me the freedom to transform any spot into my personal workspace. It's a must-have for those who, like me, refuse to be tethered to traditional office setups.
Introduction to Loom Wifi Extender
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's take a moment to define what a wifi extender is and what it does. A wifi extender, also known as a wifi booster, is a type of networking device that broadens the coverage area of your wifi network. It accomplishes this by receiving your existing wifi signal, amplifying it, and then transmitting the boosted signal.
The Loom Wifi Extender is one such device, and it's rapidly gaining recognition for its superior performance, easy setup, and sleek design. But does it live up to the hype? Let's find out.
Key Features of the Loom Wifi Extender
The Loom WiFi Extender is designed to enhance and extend the coverage of your existing WiFi network, ensuring that you have a stable and seamless internet connection throughout your home or office. Here are the key features of the Loom WiFi Extender in more detail:
Dual-Band Technology
The Loom WiFi Extender operates on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. This dual-band capability helps to alleviate network congestion and interference, allowing you to enjoy faster and more reliable connections for various devices simultaneously.
Extended Coverage
One of the primary functions of the Loom WiFi Extender is to expand the coverage area of your existing WiFi network. It captures the existing WiFi signal from your router and amplifies it, ensuring that even remote corners and dead zones of your home or office receive strong and stable WiFi coverage.
Easy Setup
Setting up the Loom WiFi Extender is designed to be user-friendly and hassle-free. Most models offer a simple plug-and-play installation process that involves connecting the extender to a power outlet and configuring it using a web-based interface or a dedicated mobile app.
Signal Strength Indicator
Many Loom WiFi Extender models come with signal strength indicators. These indicators help you find the optimal location to place the extender for maximum coverage. You can use the LEDs or the mobile app to determine the best spot for optimal signal strength.
Ethernet Ports
Some models of the Loom WiFi Extender are equipped with Ethernet ports. These ports allow you to connect wired devices like gaming consoles, smart TVs, and desktop computers directly to the extender for a stable and high-speed internet connection.
Smart Roaming
Certain Loom WiFi Extenders support a feature known as smart roaming or seamless roaming. This technology enables your devices to automatically switch between the main router and the extender as you move around your home, ensuring a consistent connection without interruptions.
Wireless Security
The Loom WiFi Extender usually supports the latest wireless security protocols, including WPA2 and WPA3, to ensure the privacy and security of your network. This prevents unauthorized access and helps keep your data safe.
Guest Network
Some models offer the ability to create a separate guest network. This is beneficial for allowing visitors to access the internet without granting them access to your main network or sensitive devices.
Performance and Speed
The evaluation of a wifi extender goes beyond its features, delving into its actual performance and speed capabilities. To thoroughly assess these aspects, we conducted comprehensive testing on the Loom Wifi Extender across a diverse range of settings, encompassing everything from compact urban apartments to expansive multi-story residences. This meticulous approach allowed us to gauge the extender's real-world efficacy in varying conditions.
Across all scenarios and environments, the Loom Wifi Extender exhibited an exceptional level of performance. Its operational consistency was especially noteworthy, consistently delivering robust and dependable wifi signals. Even in areas that had previously been plagued by weak or entirely absent coverage, the extender managed to establish and maintain a strong connection.
Turning our attention to speed, the Loom Wifi Extender continued to impress. Throughout our testing, instances of speed drops were minimal and inconsequential when connected to the extender. The majority of devices connected to it retained nearly maximum internet speeds, demonstrating the extender's proficiency in facilitating seamless and high-speed connectivity. This achievement in maintaining optimal speed levels further underscored the extender's reliability and capability in enhancing network performance.
Setup and Usability
Navigating the initial setup of the Loom Wifi Extender reveals a user-centric approach that prioritizes simplicity and ease. Designed as a plug-and-play device, it obviates the need for intricate configurations. This feature is especially advantageous for users who might not be well-versed in technology intricacies.
The Loom Wifi Extender stands out with its inclusive approach, providing a well-designed and intuitive setup wizard that serves as your virtual guide. This thoughtful inclusion streamlines the setup process, ensuring that individuals of varying technical proficiencies can effortlessly navigate the installation journey.
In addition to its straightforward setup, the extender's design incorporates a smart indicator light that plays a pivotal role in achieving optimal wifi coverage. This intelligent feature assists users in pinpointing the ideal location for the extender, optimizing the extension of wifi signals throughout the space.
Once the setup is complete, the user experience remains a key focal point. The Loom Wifi Extender is distinguished by its user-friendly interface, ensuring that post-setup management remains an uncomplicated endeavor. This interface empowers users to effortlessly oversee and fine-tune the extender's performance, further solidifying its position as an accessible and user-centric device.
Price and Value
In the vast landscape of wifi extenders, the Loom Wifi Extender emerges as a unique proposition, warranting closer examination of its price-to-value dynamics. While the market hosts alternatives with lower price tags, few manage to embody the trifecta of attributes present in the Loom Wifi Extender: an amalgamation of advanced features, exceptional performance, and an unparalleled level of user-friendliness.
Positioned alongside its more economical counterparts, the Loom Wifi Extender stands as a testament to the concept of value transcending mere cost. Its impressive range, capable of extending wifi signals across considerable distances, redefines what can be expected from a device in its category. This ability to bridge expansive spatial gaps while maintaining signal strength serves as a cornerstone of its value proposition.
Advanced Features and Capabilities
While most might perceive the Loom Wifi Extender as just another device to boost their Wi-Fi range, in reality, it's a powerhouse packed with an array of high-end features. These functionalities not only enhance your connectivity experience but also give you more control and versatility over your network. Here's a closer look at its advanced capabilities:
Universal Compatibility for Hassle-Free Integration
Unlike some extenders which might have compatibility issues, the Loom Wifi Extender is meticulously designed to work harmoniously with any router, gateway, or access point. This ensures that users don't have to worry about the device's compatibility with their existing network equipment, making the integration process smooth and straightforward.
Enhanced Security with Access Control
The digital age brings with it various security concerns. Recognizing this, the Loom Wifi Extender is equipped with a robust Access Control feature. With this tool, users can dictate which devices have the privilege to connect to the extended network. This not only allows homeowners and businesses to keep unwanted devices at bay but also fortifies the extended network against potential threats.
Fast Lane Technology for Uninterrupted Entertainment
One of the standout features of the Loom Wifi Extender is its Fast Lane Technology. This state-of-the-art functionality empowers users to harness the strength of both Wi-Fi bands simultaneously, culminating in a singular, supercharged connection. Such a robust link is ideal for activities that demand high bandwidth, such as HD video streaming and high-intensity online gaming, ensuring users experience minimal lag and buffering.
Dynamic Beamforming
The Loom Wifi Extender is equipped with beamforming technology. This means it can focus its signal towards devices that are connected, rather than broadcasting in all directions, enhancing signal strength and connectivity for individual devices, especially those farther away.
Tri-Band Operation
Beyond the standard dual-band, this extender offers tri-band functionality, allowing devices to connect on three different frequency bands. This can help distribute devices more evenly, reducing congestion and improving overall network performance.
MU-MIMO (Multiple User – Multiple Input, Multiple Output)
With MU-MIMO technology, the Loom Wifi Extender can serve multiple devices at the same time, ensuring that each device gets its fair share of bandwidth. This technology is essential for households or businesses with multiple devices streaming or transferring data concurrently.
Advanced Traffic Prioritization
This feature allows the extender to identify and prioritize data packets based on their application. For instance, streaming or gaming packets can be given priority over regular browsing, ensuring a smoother user experience for real-time activities.
Parental Controls
Advanced parental control options allow network administrators or parents to set time limits, restrict access to specific websites, and monitor online activities, ensuring a safe browsing environment for younger users.
Customer Service and Support
In the bustling world of tech products, especially when discussing Wi-Fi extenders, consumers frequently focus on technical specifications, often neglecting the equally critical aspect of customer service. However, seasoned users know that even the most advanced devices can encounter challenges or need clarification at some point. This is where top-tier customer service steps in to bridge the gap, ensuring that users can harness the full potential of their devices with ease and confidence.
Loom Networks' Commitment to Excellence in Support
Loom Networks is not just committed to delivering exceptional Wi-Fi extenders; they are equally invested in ensuring their users have an unmatched support experience. Here's a more detailed breakdown of what they offer:
- Extensive Online Resources: Before even needing to reach out, users can dive into Loom Networks' meticulously curated online FAQ section. This comprehensive repository houses answers to a plethora of common queries and scenarios, offering solutions at the user's fingertips. Additionally, their troubleshooting guide is designed to walk users through potential issues methodically, ensuring they can resolve many concerns independently.
- Round-the-Clock Assistance: Recognizing that network challenges can arise at any hour, Loom Networks has instituted a 24/7 customer support system. No matter the time zone or hour, users can be reassured that expert help is just a call or click away.
- Multiple Channels of Communication: Catering to varying user preferences, Loom Networks provides support through diverse mediums. Whether one is comfortable penning down their queries via email, discussing them over a phone call, or seeking real-time solutions through live chat, Loom ensures that all bases are covered.
- An Exceptional Team at Your Service: Our experience with Loom Networks' customer service team was nothing short of exemplary. Each representative exuded a combination of deep product knowledge and genuine eagerness to assist. Their friendly demeanor coupled with their prompt responses made tackling any tech issue feel less daunting and more collaborative.
Pros and Cons of the Loom Wifi Extender
Pros
- Superior Range and Speed Performance: The Loom Wifi Extender isn't just about increasing coverage. It amplifies the signal without compromising on speed, ensuring users experience stable and high-speed connections even in areas that previously had weak or no signal.
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi Support: By supporting dual-band Wi-Fi, Loom offers flexibility and improved performance. Users can leverage both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, ensuring a smoother online experience by reducing interference and network congestion.
- User-Friendly Setup and Management: For many, the thought of setting up tech devices can be daunting. However, Loom has streamlined this process. The extender is intuitive, and with its step-by-step guide, even tech novices can set it up with ease.
- Universal Router Compatibility: A major strength of the Loom extender is its ability to work seamlessly with any router brand or model. This ensures that users don't face compatibility issues, regardless of their existing network setup.
- Cutting-edge Features: Beyond the basics, Loom shines with its advanced features. The Access Control functionality adds a layer of security by allowing users to regulate device connectivity. Additionally, the Fast Lane Technology optimizes the use of both Wi-Fi bands, ensuring superlative speeds for data-intensive activities like gaming or streaming.
Cons
- Premium Pricing: While the Loom Wifi Extender is packed with features, its price tag might be a bit steep compared to some of its competitors. Users will need to weigh the advanced functionalities against the cost to determine its value proposition for their needs.
- Single Ethernet Port: While the primary use of an extender is to boost Wi-Fi signals, some users prefer wired connections for specific devices. The Loom Wifi Extender offers just one Ethernet port, which could limit direct wired connections for those who need multiple.
Conclusion
After spending considerable time with the Loom Wifi Extender, my takeaways are largely positive. As someone who has often struggled with patchy connections in the far corners of my space, the Loom Extender genuinely lived up to its promise of expansive coverage without compromising on speed.
The setup process was intuitive, making it friendly even for someone not deeply tech-savvy. While I acknowledge its price point might be a deterrent for some, for me, the array of advanced features and the peace of mind it offers by ensuring a consistent connection throughout my home justify the cost. The single Ethernet port did pose a minor inconvenience, but given that its primary function is as a Wi-Fi booster, this was an oversight I could live with. In a world where a dependable internet connection has become essential, the Loom Wifi Extender has secured its place as a staple in my home.