D-Link has quite a few announcements at CES today in Las Vegas, which includes a new Whole Home Mesh WiFi Network. The company has unveiled new Covr Mesh WiFi Systems which are available in dual-band and tri-band configurations, and will launch in Q1 and Q2 of this year, respectively. Mesh WiFi Systems seem to be a big trend in the wireless industry right now, as it makes it easier to extend the coverage of your network without degrading the speed of your network.
The dual-band Covr, that one will be available in a 3-pack for $249. It mostly features all of the same features as the tri-band model, which is going to be available in a 2-pack for $319. The main difference here is that the dual-band model uses AC1200, while the tri-band is AC2200 and offers up even faster speeds. But one of the more interesting features, and one that will really set the Covr apart from the others in the industry, is Smart Roaming. With Smart Roaming, you get a seamless connection and Smart Steering which will guide devices to the optimum wireless band. What this means is that if a device is better suited on the 2.4GHz band, then it’ll automatically steer it in that direction versus keeping it on the 5GHz band, giving the user a better experience.
Since everything is adding Alexa compatibility these days, D-Link decided to do the same thing with its new Mesh WiFi System here. So the Covr does have Alexa built-in. This means that your router will act as an Echo, of course without a really good speaker – one does need to be present since Alexa talks back to you, so there’s that. It’s a pretty interesting feature here, but not that surprising since there are thermostats, TV’s, and much more with Alexa built-in already.
On top of Smart Steering and Smart Roaming, Covr does also have a slew of other features included. This includes MU-MIMO technology, which makes it easier for the network to handle a large group of concurrent users. This is important in today’s world of the smart home and the Internet of Things, with more and more gadgets being connected to our WiFi network. D-Link has also given Covr users the ability to easily setup the new system and get things going with the new D-Link app, so that just about anyone can setup Covr without any issues. Of course, with Covr being a “smart” router here, that means you’ll get updates pushed over the air. You will get notifications when updates are available, but they should mostly be done in the background so you won’t notice them. Finally, D-Link offers a three-year warranty on both models of the Covr.
As mentioned already, D-Link is planning to launch the dual-band Covr (COVR-C1203) in a 3-pack beginning in the first quarter for $249. With the tri-band Covr (COVR-C2202) in a 2-pack in the second quarter of the year for $319. No specific dates for availability, nor retailers have been announced. But expect the Covr to be available at most retailers that already sell D-Link’s products. That includes Best Buy, Amazon and many others.
Dual-Band Covr (COVR-C1203)
Tri-Band Covr (COVR-C2202)
