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Motorola Q11 evaluate | Tom’s Information
Motorola Q11: Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: AX3000
Variety of Antennas/Detachable: 2/No
Ports: Router and satellites– 2 Ethernet
Processor/Reminiscence/Storage: quad-core 1.5GHz/128MB/256MB
Wi-Fi chip: Broadcom BCM6756
Peak 802.11ax efficiency: 1.146Gbps (at 15 toes)
Vary: 95-feet
Dimension: 5.0 x 5.0 x 2.6 inches
Estimated Annual Electrical energy Value: $29
Straightforward to arrange and configure, the Motorola Q11 will not be solely one of many most cost-effective Wi-Fi 6 mesh router kits accessible nevertheless it does nicely at quick vary and contains safety software program that others cost for. Sadly, it has simply two Ethernet ports on every unit and no USB connection for network-wide knowledge storage.
The excellent news is that the Q11 is the uncommon networking system that has a direct chat hyperlink to the corporate’s assist workers in its app. The dangerous information is that the assistance desk will not be staffed 24/7, so that you may need to attend to get your reply.
At half the price of different gadgets on our checklist of the finest mesh routers — just like the Eero Professional 6 or Netgear Orbi RBK 852 — the Q11 is for penny-pinchers who don’t want all-out efficiency. Our Motorola Q11 evaluate will allow you to decide if this budget-friendly mesh router is the correct alternative in your house or enterprise.
Motorola Q11 evaluate: Pricing and availability
Obtainable beginning in July of 2022, the Motorola Q11 is a twin band mesh equipment that may be ordered as a single unit for $129 or in a 3 pack for $329. That ought to be loads for as much as a 5,000-square foot house.
Against this, Motorola’s Q14 mesh equipment provides transmissions within the 6GHz band for an improved close-range efficiency and Wi-Fi 6E compatibility. It’s rated as an AXE5400 community and sells for $650 for 3.
Motorola Q11 evaluate: Design
Manufactured by Minim below license by Motorola, the Q11 mesh equipment consists of white, barely conical plastic cylinders that measure 5.0 x 5.0 x 2.6 inches. That makes them practically 20 % bigger than the Eero Professional 6 mesh items however tiny in comparison with the likes of Netgear’s Orbi merchandise.
Every unit has the Motorola emblem on prime and a single LED up entrance. When it is white, every part is OK and related whereas pink means one thing’s gone fallacious. In contrast to with mesh merchandise from Eero, Orbi and different corporations, the sunshine can’t be turned off.
Underneath its barely rounded lid, the Q11 has small air flow slots to permit sizzling air to flee. It topped out at 97 levels Fahrenheit, a lot cooler than the Eero Professional 6’s 124 levels.
With comfortable rubber toes, the Q11 gadgets ought to do fantastic on a shelf or kitchen countertop, however they lack inset holes for wall mounting; neither Motorola nor third events promote {hardware} to assist grasp them on a wall both. They’re mild sufficient to make use of Velcro tape to connect them nearly wherever although.
Underneath their white exterior, every Q11 is powered by a Broadcom BCM6756 Wi-Fi chip. It has a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage for holding the system’s firmware and settings. In contrast to the Eero Professional 6 sequence, the Q11 lacks Bluetooth and Zigbee assist.
Nonetheless, it has all the correct stuff for an 802.11AX router with MU-MIMO, beamforming and the power to make use of large 160MHz knowledge channels for avid gamers or knowledge hogs at house. Within the again is a WAN broadband connection in addition to a downstream wired Ethernet jack. Each networking ports are rated to deal with 1Gbps streams, not the sooner 2.5Gbps hyperlink opponents now embrace. There’s additionally no USB port for including a storage system to your house community.
The Q11 makes use of a pair of dual-band antennas inside to maneuver 4 streams of knowledge and it maxes out at 3Gbps. Like Eero and others, Motorola makes use of a dynamic backhaul system that regularly adjusts the circulate to route the info over the least congested elements of the community. Against this, Netgear dedicates a 5GHz band to communications from the nodes to the host router.
Underneath its barely rounded lid, the Q11 has small air flow slots to permit sizzling air to flee. It topped out at 97 levels Fahrenheit, a lot cooler than the Eero Professional 6’s 124 levels.
Motorola additionally provides built-in safety software program that may assist hold your community clear and freed from malware. This features a malware scanner that regularly seems for threats which may compromise your community. There’s additionally an advert blocker and content material filter however the bundle lacks the computer-based antivirus software program that Netgear contains with its Armor add-on for $100 a yr. That mentioned, Motorola doesn’t cost for its safety software program.
Motorola Q11 evaluate: Efficiency
Utilizing Ixia’s IxChariot networking benchmark software program, we created a busy Wi-Fi community in my 100-year-old, 3,500-square-foot house. Utilizing a Samsung Galaxy E-book Professional because the receiving system and setting the software program to simulate 10 data-hungry shoppers, the Q11 scored an preliminary win with wonderful throughput up shut however then lagged behind greater performing programs at longer distances.
At 15-feet, it moved 1.146 Gbps of knowledge which is twice the throughput of Eero Professional 6’s 436.1Mbps or Linksys Velop AX4200’s 507.7Mbps and nicely forward of Netgear Orbi RBR850’s 833.6Mbps. The truth is, it’s near the efficiency of the finest WiFi-6E routers that benefit from the 6GHz knowledge band.
| Motorola Q11 | Eero Professional 6 | Linksys Velop AX4200 | |
| 15 toes | 1.146Gbps | 436.1Mbps | 507.7Mbps |
| 50 toes | 169.6Mbps | 239.9Mbps | 201.3Mbps |
| 75 toes | 120.2Mbps | 208.9Mbps | 139.6Mbps |
| 90 toes | 15.9Mbps | 29.5Mbps | — |
This wonderful close-up efficiency turned disappointing after I moved the receiving system 50 toes from the router. The bandwidth dropped precipitously to 169.6Mbps, about one-third lower than the Eero Professional 6’s 239.9Mbps. The Linksys Velop AX4200 was in between at a throughput rating of 201.3Mbps.
With 75 toes between the router and take a look at system, the Q11 moved 120.2Mbps, which was second finest to the Eero Professional 6 (at 208.9Mbps), though simply behind the Velox AX4200 (139.6Mbps). With a variety of 95 toes, the Q11 was nonetheless capable of transfer 15.9Mbps at 90 toes whereas the Eero Professional 6 delivered 29.5Mbps and misplaced contact at 105 toes. The Velop AX4200 was out of vary and offline.
The Q11 redeemed itself with a throughput rating of 982.3Mbps when the info sign was despatched throughout a 25-foot room and thru a wall to the receiving take a look at system. That is greater than double the 375.6Mbps that the Eero Professional 6 mustered below the identical circumstances and nonetheless forward of the Orbi RBR850 router’s 782.9Mbps. The Velop AX4200 might transfer 525.7Mbps.
With the primary satellite tv for pc arrange instantly above the host router and the take a look at system 40 toes down a hallway, the system moved 257.2Mbps. This was disappointing contemplating the Eero Professional 6’s 430.9Mbps and the Velop AX4200’s 437.5Mbps efficiency on this take a look at. With the second satellite tv for pc downstairs and the receiving system 40 toes away, the outcomes have been even much less satisfying with a really low throughput of 55.8Mbps. This factors to the Q11 doing higher with the host router arrange in a basement, pushing its knowledge sign up into the remainder of the home.
After practically two weeks of every day use, the Q11 proved to be reliable, though I did must restart its nodes as soon as after they couldn’t discover a robust sign from the router; it’s simple to do that remotely. I arrange a ThinkPad T470 to play YouTube, a Macbook Air to take heed to the BBC World Information, and an HP Elitebook Folio to play Spotify. With this happening, I moved knowledge onto and off a networked RAID storage system. Throughout this take a look at, the audio and video got here by with no glitch or downside, passing our casual saturation take a look at.
Whereas in operation, every Q11 system used 7.8 watts of energy. Should you pay the nationwide common of 14 cents per kilowatt hour of electrical energy, the Q11 three pack ought to value about $29 a yr to make use of, making it barely cheaper than the Eero Professional 6’s $30.75 a yr in estimated prices.
Motorola Q11 evaluate: Setup
The Motorola Q11 can solely be arrange utilizing the Motosync app. Created by Minim, it’s accessible for iOS and Android gadgets and makes use of QR codes printed on the underside of the Q11 gadgets. It took 14 minutes and 30 seconds to arrange all three gadgets.
After getting and loading the app on my Samsung Galaxy Observe 20, it was simple to create an account with Motorola and plug within the Q11 unit I needed to make use of because the host router. When it was operating, I snapped the unit’s QR code with the cellphone’s digital camera and watched the unit’s LED blink blue to point out it was prepared. As soon as its automated configuration was accomplished, I repeated the method for every of the satellites, one upstairs and one downstairs.
With the community created, I wanted to enter the kind of home I had (single occupant house) and permit the community to optimize itself.
Lastly, I added a community identify and password. All of it labored on the primary attempt.
Motorola Q11 evaluate: Configuration
As is the case with many mesh kits, configuration adjustments can solely be accomplished by the app. The Motosync app makes it easy to check the web velocity and test on the safety software program nevertheless it comes up quick on configuration choices. The interface’s important display screen not solely advised me that my community was “terrific,” “magnificent” or “distinctive” however confirmed the related nodes.
Under, the app confirmed a number of helpful info, like what number of gadgets are on-line. Faucet on any to get extra info, like their names or the satellite tv for pc’s sign energy. There’s additionally an choice to reboot the satellites.
Additional down the principle display screen within the Motosync app is the Safety middle the place you possibly can see what the safety software program is scanning, outcomes of latest scans, variety of intrusions and any vulnerabilities discovered.
In the meantime, the House Filter can block adverts and malicious web sites in addition to filter out grownup web sites. Every consumer can have their very own profile for conserving monitor of web use and filtering parameters.
Whereas others present the uncooked web velocity accessible, the Motosync app takes issues a step additional by including checkmarks for numerous on-line actions to point out if the present connection helps them.
For these with a month-to-month knowledge restrict, the Motosync app can monitor knowledge use on a family or particular person foundation. There are methods to see it by the hour, day or week.
They vary from net and music to gaming and 4K movies. On the draw back, the Q11 lacks the power to tweak its settings by altering its CTS/RTS threshold or the printed preamble. The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 permits each changes.
For these with a month-to-month knowledge restrict, the Motosync app can monitor knowledge use on a family or particular person foundation. There are methods to see it by the hour, day or week.
On the backside is a headset emblem that results in a direct chat hyperlink to the corporate’s assist workers — it’s top-of-the-line elements of the app.
The Settings hyperlink is likely one of the strongest in Motosync, with the power to show the content material filtering on or off in addition to add customers. At any time, a brand new node may be added and the app’s Superior community settings enables you to handle port forwarding.
It’s additionally the place you possibly can replace the WiFi Optimization for the kind of dwelling you reside in. It’s surprisingly vital as a result of the usage of 160MHz knowledge channels is reserved to be used with the Townhouse and Condominium setting. This efficiency method can’t be used with the Single occupant house choice.
Sadly, there’s no printable Q11 guide. As a substitute, there’s a sequence of on-line subjects to discover which vary from including an extender to resetting the items.
Whereas the app has a direct chat hyperlink to Minim’s assist workers, the assistance line will not be staffed 24/7. There are individuals accessible to help you from 8:30AM to 10PM ET.
The assist lasts for the lifetime of the gear, in contrast to Netgear’s 90-days of free assist. Motorola’s two-year guarantee additionally goes past Netgear and Eero’s one-year of protection.
Motorola Q11 evaluate: Verdict
If worth and ease rely for lots in your quest for a home-wide mesh system, look no additional than the Motorola Q11. At half what different mesh kits value, it’s easy to arrange, simple to configure and contains an additional layer of safety software program that others cost for. If an issue comes up, its app has a built-in hyperlink to speak to Motorola’s assist workers. Nonetheless, the Q11 solely has two LAN ports and no strategy to join a storage system for network-wide entry.
Nonetheless, it’s capable of fill a small to mid-sized house with knowledge for lots lower than the competitors, with adequate efficiency to make the Q11 a winner for the cheapskates amongst us.
