Hands-on review: Expand your Wi-Fi network with D-Link’s Covr-2202

Having a big house is great for everything except cleaning and Wi-Fi coverage.

They can't help you with your carpets, but D-Link can improve your Wi-Fi coverage with their Covr-2202 Seamless Wi-Fi System.

Whilst D-LINK says that you'll see up to 560m² of Wi-Fi coverage using the Covr-2202 system, it very much depends on what's between both the Covr access points as well as what's between them and your device.

Unless you are seriously into your home networking, with the Covr-2202, you can completely dispense with the need for a wireless router- plugging one of the devices straight into your modem.

If you need more wired connections, each of the Covr access points have two gigabit RJ-45 sockets.

Whilst the master access point uses one for connecting to the modem/router, the rest can be used for extra devices that require a wired network.

Alternatively, the Covr-2202 can be used to supplement your existing Wi-Fi network access by adding new wireless access points.

In my house, I have the regular wireless network provided by a D-LINK router, which is attached to my ISP's cable modem, in the upstairs office.

There is an extended wireless network, using a D-LINK DAP-1860 with great line-of-sight to the stairs, completing the Wi-Fi coverage upstairs.

The Covr-2202 points each have six internal antennas connected to two 866Mbps 5GHz and one 2.4GHz radios.

The system is compatible with the 802.11ac/n/g/b standards.

With the Covr-2202, I hooked up the master unit (the one with a red "A" sticker on it) to my existing Wi-Fi router, via a downstairs socket house's wired network using the included network cable.

You do need a wired connection to your modem, and as I already had the upstairs sorted for Wi-Fi, it seemed a shame to have one of the Covr's Wi-Fi access points right next to the router.

Activating the Covr-2202 is a piece of cake.

Using the D-Link Wi-Fi app available free from Google Play and the Apple App Store, you scan the QR code on the base of the Covr point.

Once the Covr point blinks orange, you enter your Wi-Fi network access name and password.

You also need another password for accessing the app or web-based setting interface at a later date.

When the device's light switches to white you are all set.

The package comes with two Covr points, but the system is scalable.

With more points, you can extend your wireless coverage even further.

Positioning additional Covr points, including the second one that you have in the package is easy. Just pick a location and plug it into a power socket.

If the light flashes white your connection is weak and you need to relocate the device. If the light is solid white you are good to go.

Connecting devices is easy as well. You can either search in your devices Wi-Fi settings for the Covr network name and Password or just press the WPS button on one of the Covr point and connect automatically.

Through a brick and plasterboard wall, I was able to get a strong signal, without any discernible drop in download speed some 10-15m, horizontally, from the Covr points.

With 15m in-between each point the set-up was covering the length of the house and then some.

The hardware is only half of the story. The D-Link Wi-Fi app is the hub of the system, giving users complete control of wireless access to the home network via the Covr points.

The status of clients and extenders can be viewed at-a-glance.

Parent will be pleased with, but kids not so much, that the app has built-in parental control features allow network access scheduling for individual client devices.

D-Link has packed a lot of kit into the Covr points, so they are fairly tall, but not much bigger than a desktop speaker or an Amazon Echo.

In order to get the best coverage, and the need for a power supply limits the places you can locate them.

Chances are they are going to be on display. Fortunately, they don't look too bad and I found them pretty inconspicuous. Someone with more interior design flair may not feel the same.

The D-Link Covr-2202 Tri-band Seamless Wi-Fi System is easy to set up and does exactly what it should. The D-Link Wi-Fi app is robust and offers complete control over your network.

The expandable design makes the Covr-2202 suitable to provide uninterrupted Wi-Fi coverage for any property large or small.