Given the amount of devices on my network and my subscription to an older grandfathered broadband service from Comcast I typically get anywhere from 27 to 35Mbps of download speeds from my old, no-longer available Luxul 1020 WAP.
Connecting my iOS devices and my MacBook Pro to the XAP-1500’s 2.4GHz band I immediately noticed an increase in speed.
Factoring in my computers and smart devices I would estimate on average between devices my download speed increased by more than 5 percent and my upload speed increased by a couple of percentage points.
I will note my iOS device connectivity skewed the results to average slightly slower times than my computers. Walking around my home, including my deck I also found the XAP-1500 to deliver a stronger, more consistent signal from farther away locations than the 1020 WAP. I’ll also point out the older 1020 is centrally located on my home’s upper floor to maximize its coverage, while the 1500 is located towards one end of my home on the lower level.
Reiterating my earlier results, I found the increased speed on my computer to be easily apparent. It was much more noticeable than on my iPad and iPhone. Switching to the 5GHz band, I did experience the highs and lows of this narrow-band spectrum.
When connectivity was there it blazed. I was stunned to achieve download speeds well over 90Mbps on my MacBook. Conversely, the reach of the 5GHz band was limited throughout my home and distance appeared to be as much as a factor as solid objects such as walls.
Conclusions
From a residential installer’s perspective, Luxul has hit an absolute homerun with the XAP-1500. This single WAP can be used to address any number of home networking applications. With its dual-band capabilities custom installers also have the ability to better manage network traffic and minimize the threat of buffering during streaming events like the latest episode of “House of Cards” by dedicating the 5GHz band specifically for streaming devices like an Apple TV for example.
The XAP-1500 could also save clients money by eliminating the need to spend on multiple WAPs because of its broad wireless network footprint.
In a commercial environment, dealers can also prioritize specific computers or printers to the 5GHz band if it’s available for example. It could also save customers money through its ability to cover more area.
Add in the XAP-1500’s simple installation process and now we can say that Luxul is making networking easier and more affordable for those in the residential and commercial electronics markets. This is a terrific product that is well worth investigation by any residential or commercial technology company.
