How many fit
20 of the 35 models checked meet every need here: “I can run Ethernet between the mesh nodes” and “My wired devices run at 2.5Gbps or 5Gbps”.
20 models fit, out of 35 checkedPicked for one job
Before your desktop, two wired satellites already need three gateway sockets
Top pick
TP-Link Deco BE63 3-pack
Deco BE63 is the pick for a 2.5G network with two directly wired satellites and one local desktop or NAS. Deco X55 can also connect both satellites with no switch, but once those cables and the internet connection are in, its gateway has no socket left.
Why it suits this job
- Three or more gateway sockets, WAN included
- Two LAN links that run at the planned backhaul rate
- The catch
- Very fast NAS or internet links are capped at 2.5Gbps per port, since there is no 10Gbps Ethernet.
- Go with TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack if
- Gigabit links are all you need, and no local device has to use a gateway socket.
More reasons we picked it
- An open gateway socket in case a local device needs one
- Satellite device ports checked on their own
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Look for mesh kits that take both satellite cables straight into the gateway. Count the internet socket, the room branches and the space for a local desktop.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the mesh Wi-Fi systems we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I can run Ethernet between the mesh nodes” and “My wired devices run at 2.5Gbps or 5Gbps”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Deco BE63 3-pack |
|
| |
| TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack |
|
|
|
| NETGEAR Orbi 770 3-pack |
|
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Decision guide
How to choose for this job
In a direct wired star, the gateway needs one connection for each satellite and one for the internet. Every local device adds one more.
Buying a three-pack does not give you a three-node wired star
Plenty of three-packs contain identical units with two ports each. When the main unit uses one for the internet cable, a single socket is left, and without a switch both satellites cannot plug directly into it. A daisy chain is a different topology, and it uses up another satellite port.
Include the WAN socket in your count
The four-port BE63 and the Orbi 770 gateway have room for the internet cable, two room cables and one local device. The three-port X55 spends all its sockets on the internet and the two rooms, though the ports on its satellites remain available for local devices.
Check port speed once the count adds up
Even a gateway with enough sockets can hold fast rooms back when its LAN ports are only gigabit. The rate you want has to carry through the main unit, the room cable termination and the satellite uplink. A two-gigabit plan takes more than a fast WAN socket.
An example with real numbers
The internet, two rooms and one desktop
Four gateway connections are needed in this common layout, and the fourth is easy to miss.
The mathSpare gateway sockets = total ports − 1 WAN − 2 satellite branches
- Router duties are handled by the gateway.
- A cable of its own runs from each satellite to the gateway.
- The setup uses no Ethernet switch.
| Situation | Gateway ports | After WAN and two branches | Local desktop fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deco BE63 | 4 × 2.5G | 1 × 2.5G | Yes |
| Orbi 770 | 1 × 2.5G WAN + 3 × 2.5G LAN | 1 × 2.5G | Yes |
| Deco X55 | 3 × 1G | None | Needs a switch |
| Deco BE23 | 2 × 2.5G | Not enough branch ports | Needs a switch |
What it tells youThe BE63 takes all four connections directly and has more sockets left for devices in the rooms than the Orbi 770. The X55 works if you do not need the local gateway device.
Watch out forOther kits can work with a switch, but then its cost, port speeds and power outlet have to go into the installation plan.
What this page can’t tell you
- The layout modeled in this article is a direct star, on purpose, with no external switch or daisy chain.
- No assumption is made that every product offers the same router features in access point mode.
3 options
The top pick and the alternatives
TP-Link, Deco BE63
Deco BE63 3-pack
Every node in this tri-band BE10000 mesh includes 6 GHz, four 2.5Gbps ports and USB.
Top pick ifMulti-gig Wi-Fi 7 for most homes that are ready
Key facts
- The BE10000 is a tri-band design with 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz radios and MLO.
- A USB 3.0 port and four 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports are on every node.
The catch
Very fast NAS or internet links are capped at 2.5Gbps per port, since there is no 10Gbps Ethernet.
TP-Link, Deco X55
Deco X55 3-Pack
A wired home with a TV and console in the same room gets good use from the three Ethernet sockets on each unit.
Pick this instead ifGigabit links are all you need, and no local device has to use a gateway socket.
Key facts
- Each unit has three Gigabit Ethernet ports, with WAN and LAN roles assigned automatically.
- Wi-Fi 6 is dual-band, and the 5 GHz band supports 160 MHz.
The catch
No wired connection can link faster than 1 Gbps.
NETGEAR, RBE773
Orbi 770 3-pack
An upgraded backhaul link, 6 GHz and 2.5Gbps Ethernet round out this tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh.
Pick this instead ifYou prefer Orbi, and each satellite needs just one local wired device.
Key facts
- Aggregate rating for this tri-band Wi-Fi 7 system is up to 11Gbps.
- NETGEAR's rating for the three-pack is roughly 8,000 square feet and 100 devices.
The catch
Orbi 870 and 970 have a higher wired ceiling than this model's 2.5Gbps.
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Top pick for this job
TP-Link Deco BE63 3-pack
Three or more gateway sockets, WAN included
See price & reviews on AmazonPick this instead if
TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
Gigabit links are all you need, and no local device has to use a gateway socket.
See price & reviews on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money