Google WiFi: at last! a router that just works…

As regular readers will know, I don’t often review products, but I couldn’t resist this: following the launch earlier this week in Spain of Google WiFi, part of the Google Home product family, I went straight out and bought a pack of three units, and I have to say it has provided one of the best experiences ever with a technological product. My house is relatively large, spread out across different floor spaces, and even with repeaters we still have signal problems in some parts of the property. But beyond its main function, which is to extend a WiFi signal through a mesh network, what I really liked was the sensation of having at my fingertips everything a network manager that doesn’t require me to know every detail of the router, which is seem designed to prevent you from configuring.

Sitting in the box, Google WiFi looks like three bottles of moisturizing cream. The three units come with their three transformers, along with a network cable to connect one of the units to your existing router. After connecting that first unit, you download the Google WiFi app, which is an idiot-proof, step-by-step process. You scan the two-dimensional bar code of the unit, it connects immediately, and you then decide where you want to put the other two, with the only requirement that the location has access to a plug socket. You plug it in and the app tells you how to connect them with the principal router and distribute your signal. You couldn’t ask for a more user-friendly experience, and as anybody who has tried installing a router extender, this is often far from the case.

The next step is to connect the new WiFi with all the wireless devices in your home, which given my love of trying out new gizmos, includes light bulbs, the doorbell, the thermostat, a plant watering system, smart plugs, speakers and home assistants, Chromecasts, and of course, multiple computers, smartphones, e-books and tablets… stuff that even a decade ago you would only have found in Bill Gates’ home, but now available to almost anyone :-) Configuring each device is as simple as connecting to a WiFi signal, and Google also provides you with a control panel in the app that displays all connected devices, allowing you to check data consumption, turning them on or off or choosing one as a priority so that it receives more bandwidth during one, two or four hours. In addition, you can test the connection speed for each device, reserve a specific IP address, configure port redirection or cut the WiFi overnight or during mealtimes using the family pause feature, which many children will doubtless complain about…

Criticism? There will always be some, of course. Some analysts complain about the lack of a web interface (quite frankly, I don’t need a web interface when I have an app), MAC filtering (why would I need that when I can see every connected device in the app?) or telnet (never used it in any of my routers before), but to be honest, I see those as the typical problems claimed by old time users who will always wants things to continue working the way they were familiar with.

Using the app for troubleshooting, controlling devices or creating a network for guests is extremely simple and intuitive, which also automatically configures access to the on.here web page, allowing you to share devices with other people: a nice option when you have guests at home. In short, an epic user experience: everything managing a wireless network should be, but wasn’t until now. Highly recommended.

(En espa?ol, aquí)