Luma Surround WiFi review
The Luma WiFi system is an attractive solution for surrounding homes with wireless AC coverage.
image: cnet.com
For 15 years Dr. Paul Judge and Mike Van Bruinisse created secure networking solutions for large companies around the world. With Luma, a "tailor-made" system for adding wireless connectivity to a home network, they are now entering the general marketplace. It differs from the standard router because there is not a single unit trying to provide wireless coverage throughout the home. The system is also controlled by a mobile device and easily adapts to any environment thanks to the small and elegant design of each unit.
Luma's big selling point is that once Luma's first device is connected to the ISP's modem via Ethernet, customers can expand their coverage by configuring additional units throughout the house. No additional cables are needed, and each additional "node" unit connects wirelessly to the hub "hub" connected to the modem, creating what the company calls "surround" Wi-Fi coverage. This configuration is better than adding additional routers or wireless extensions/repeaters to an existing modem/router configuration.
The mesh difference
For this review, we received the Luma package with three packs. This configuration is good for larger homes with four or more bedrooms, while a single unit would be ideal for a studio. Even if customers buy only a single unit or a group of two packages, the good thing about mesh-based setups is that customers can add extra units to the overall coverage of the "Wi-Fi Envelope" without hassle.
A simple solution with a simple configuration
The setup process requires the use of a smartphone or tablet and the company's Luma app for Android or iOS. Once the application has been downloaded and installed, users create an account and start the installation process. This begins with specifying the application, how many Luma devices the user wants to install, describing the user's home environment, and selecting the default modem location on a single card.
An application to control everyone
The Luma app is divided into four areas: WLAN, security, connections, and filtering. The main screen is set in the Wi-Fi window, which indicates that all Luma devices are online at their combined download and download speeds. Tap on a specific luma unit and a second screen will open to show a short list of details and options to restart or identify the device.
The main window also has a small orange button in the lower right corner that displays a small panel that allows users to prioritize a connected device, pause the Internet, invite users to the network, and add another Luma device. Prioritizing a device means that the Luma network places this device primarily, which is useful when using a laptop for PC games, a console, or a media center to broadcast videos. , Users should simply tap the "prioritize devices" icon and select the device from the list of devices with access to the luma network.
Luma is not intended for network tweakers
The disadvantage of the Luma network is that very few adjustments need to be made, as is the case with a typical router. Users can not connect to a web browser to configure finer details such as specific channels, channel widths, and so on. Instead, the application menu Wi-Fi setup aspect displays a single page with the name, password, and network options for configuring a guest network. There is also an "Advanced" option, which opens another page with some additional options.
Do not worry: Luma has your back
image: bgr.com
As with the other three panels listed in the main window, the Security section contains a brief report indicating the number of scanned events and alerts. Tapping the report area opens a second page where users can toggle security mode between three options: Disable, Detect, and Block. The Discovery feature alerts users to suspicious activity so they can act manually, while the Block Auto option blocks suspicious activity.
Delivery?
Technically, the Luma AC1300 router is a class that provides speeds of up to 867 megabits per second in the 5 GHz band and up to 450 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. Each unit is powered by a quad-core, although the company is not keen to provide the actual details. The way Luma units work together to create an "enveloping" Wi-Fi connection is also a mystery. However, units are Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth component, WPA and WPA2 low power and the voice NAT, DHCP and VPN support.
A smartphone Samsung Galaxy S6 edge plus laptop Alienware 17 R4 and laptop Lenovo Ideapad Microsoft Windows 10 with N built-in wireless single band and a USB dongle Wireless N dual-band continues. For Android, we used an app called Wi-Fi SweetSpots that enabled a live broadcast of the router's speed between it and the connected device.
Note that the Luma network automatically selects the best connection for the device, so if a device is compatible with the 5 GHz band, Luma uses it automatically. However, when searching for a luma-based connection, users do not see two separate luma names representing two separate bands in the list. This makes connectivity easy for the end user, but difficult to test with dual-band devices.
For the Lenovo notebook, we first tested its Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless N Internal N component and introduced Trendnet's dual-band Wireless N USB Key. Like the wireless AC devices, the Luma network switched to a standard mode in the 5 GHz band when using the USB flash drive, so the 2.4 GHz speed test forced us to remove the USB stick Trendnet adapter,
Because users can not change the channel or channel width of the tape, the devices may have a bottleneck. We saw something similar with Starry Station because the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels were blocked at 20MHz, and that's what happens here. In the 2.4 GHz wireless N band, the Lenovo notebook can reach 300 megabits per second, now it's 72 megabits per second.
As for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, the smartphone has managed to manage up to 650 megabits per second, which is not so bad. Looking back, the phone with Starry Station looked up to 581 megabits per second, so the Luma network delivered slightly higher speeds in our tests. However, since Luma does not provide the ability to manually change the channel and channel widths, wireless N devices may be limited. In this test, Luma devices selected Channel 1 for the 2.4 GHz band and Channel 161 for the 5 GHz band.
The modem provided by the service provider has built-in Wi-Fi and may cause interference. Neighboring networks can also affect luma performance, requiring customers to access channels and channel widths. But the company has opted for simplicity with the Luma Mesh network design, so customers generally can quickly install and easily manage a Wi-Fi network.
Customers wishing to wirelessly cover their existing network should consider the Luma system. It is easy to install, easy to maintain and expand. It is aimed at the general customer who wants to quickly build a secure network environment and go online immediately. But the competition in this segment has suddenly narrowed and the luma is not noticeable. We believe that most users want to go to Almond 3 and Portal first, and then consider whether these options do not meet their needs.
Editor's Recommendations:
. What is MU-MiMO
. Sony E3 2018 Recap: The Last of Us 2, Spider-Man
. The 3 Rumors Google Pixel
For 15 years Dr. Paul Judge and Mike Van Bruinisse created secure networking solutions for large companies around the world. With Luma, a "tailor-made" system for adding wireless connectivity to a home network, they are now entering the general marketplace. It differs from the standard router because there is not a single unit trying to provide wireless coverage throughout the home. The system is also controlled by a mobile device and easily adapts to any environment thanks to the small and elegant design of each unit.
Luma's big selling point is that once Luma's first device is connected to the ISP's modem via Ethernet, customers can expand their coverage by configuring additional units throughout the house. No additional cables are needed, and each additional "node" unit connects wirelessly to the hub "hub" connected to the modem, creating what the company calls "surround" Wi-Fi coverage. This configuration is better than adding additional routers or wireless extensions/repeaters to an existing modem/router configuration.
The mesh difference
For this review, we received the Luma package with three packs. This configuration is good for larger homes with four or more bedrooms, while a single unit would be ideal for a studio. Even if customers buy only a single unit or a group of two packages, the good thing about mesh-based setups is that customers can add extra units to the overall coverage of the "Wi-Fi Envelope" without hassle.
A simple solution with a simple configuration
The setup process requires the use of a smartphone or tablet and the company's Luma app for Android or iOS. Once the application has been downloaded and installed, users create an account and start the installation process. This begins with specifying the application, how many Luma devices the user wants to install, describing the user's home environment, and selecting the default modem location on a single card.
An application to control everyone
The Luma app is divided into four areas: WLAN, security, connections, and filtering. The main screen is set in the Wi-Fi window, which indicates that all Luma devices are online at their combined download and download speeds. Tap on a specific luma unit and a second screen will open to show a short list of details and options to restart or identify the device.
The main window also has a small orange button in the lower right corner that displays a small panel that allows users to prioritize a connected device, pause the Internet, invite users to the network, and add another Luma device. Prioritizing a device means that the Luma network places this device primarily, which is useful when using a laptop for PC games, a console, or a media center to broadcast videos. , Users should simply tap the "prioritize devices" icon and select the device from the list of devices with access to the luma network.
Luma is not intended for network tweakers
The disadvantage of the Luma network is that very few adjustments need to be made, as is the case with a typical router. Users can not connect to a web browser to configure finer details such as specific channels, channel widths, and so on. Instead, the application menu Wi-Fi setup aspect displays a single page with the name, password, and network options for configuring a guest network. There is also an "Advanced" option, which opens another page with some additional options.
Do not worry: Luma has your back
As with the other three panels listed in the main window, the Security section contains a brief report indicating the number of scanned events and alerts. Tapping the report area opens a second page where users can toggle security mode between three options: Disable, Detect, and Block. The Discovery feature alerts users to suspicious activity so they can act manually, while the Block Auto option blocks suspicious activity.
Delivery?
Technically, the Luma AC1300 router is a class that provides speeds of up to 867 megabits per second in the 5 GHz band and up to 450 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. Each unit is powered by a quad-core, although the company is not keen to provide the actual details. The way Luma units work together to create an "enveloping" Wi-Fi connection is also a mystery. However, units are Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth component, WPA and WPA2 low power and the voice NAT, DHCP and VPN support.
A smartphone Samsung Galaxy S6 edge plus laptop Alienware 17 R4 and laptop Lenovo Ideapad Microsoft Windows 10 with N built-in wireless single band and a USB dongle Wireless N dual-band continues. For Android, we used an app called Wi-Fi SweetSpots that enabled a live broadcast of the router's speed between it and the connected device.
| Device: | Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus | Alienware 17 R4 Laptop | Lenovo Ideapad Laptop Internal Wireless N | Lenovo Ideapad Laptop External Wireless N |
| 5GHz Default Max: | 867Mbps | 867Mbps | 450Mbps | 450Mbps |
| 2.4GHz Default Max: | 450Mbps | 450Mbps | 300Mbps | 300Mbps |
| 2.4 GHz Speeds: | Up to 650Mbps | N/A | Up to 72Mbps | N/A |
| 5GHz Speeds: | Up to 650Mbps | Up to 866.7Mbps | N/A | Up to 433Mbps |
Note that the Luma network automatically selects the best connection for the device, so if a device is compatible with the 5 GHz band, Luma uses it automatically. However, when searching for a luma-based connection, users do not see two separate luma names representing two separate bands in the list. This makes connectivity easy for the end user, but difficult to test with dual-band devices.
For the Lenovo notebook, we first tested its Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless N Internal N component and introduced Trendnet's dual-band Wireless N USB Key. Like the wireless AC devices, the Luma network switched to a standard mode in the 5 GHz band when using the USB flash drive, so the 2.4 GHz speed test forced us to remove the USB stick Trendnet adapter,
Because users can not change the channel or channel width of the tape, the devices may have a bottleneck. We saw something similar with Starry Station because the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels were blocked at 20MHz, and that's what happens here. In the 2.4 GHz wireless N band, the Lenovo notebook can reach 300 megabits per second, now it's 72 megabits per second.
As for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, the smartphone has managed to manage up to 650 megabits per second, which is not so bad. Looking back, the phone with Starry Station looked up to 581 megabits per second, so the Luma network delivered slightly higher speeds in our tests. However, since Luma does not provide the ability to manually change the channel and channel widths, wireless N devices may be limited. In this test, Luma devices selected Channel 1 for the 2.4 GHz band and Channel 161 for the 5 GHz band.
The modem provided by the service provider has built-in Wi-Fi and may cause interference. Neighboring networks can also affect luma performance, requiring customers to access channels and channel widths. But the company has opted for simplicity with the Luma Mesh network design, so customers generally can quickly install and easily manage a Wi-Fi network.
Customers wishing to wirelessly cover their existing network should consider the Luma system. It is easy to install, easy to maintain and expand. It is aimed at the general customer who wants to quickly build a secure network environment and go online immediately. But the competition in this segment has suddenly narrowed and the luma is not noticeable. We believe that most users want to go to Almond 3 and Portal first, and then consider whether these options do not meet their needs.
Editor's Recommendations:
. What is MU-MiMO
. Sony E3 2018 Recap: The Last of Us 2, Spider-Man
. The 3 Rumors Google Pixel
About tech device reviews
No comments