Data Backup Digest

Billed as the “world’s first home WiFi system,” Amazon’s Eero router is making headlines all across the IT industry. Not only did they announce two brand new mesh routers earlier in 2022, but they announced a third – the Eero PoE (power-over-Ethernet) 6 – at their fall hardware and services event. But when you dig a little deeper into the PoE 6, you’ll see that it’s much more than a traditional router.

Introducing the Eero PoE 6

To say that the Eero Poe 6 is an innovative device would be an understatement. Firstly, it provides everything you’d expect from a Wi-Fi 6 router – including wireless connectivity up to 1.5Gbps and full support for 160MHz channel width. However, the PoE 6 has another feature that really sets it apart from the competition.

Amazon’s latest mesh router eliminates the power cord by drawing power from the connected Ethernet cable. Not only does this let you eliminate another power cord from underneath your computer desk, but it effectively means you can position your router anywhere in the building – even if there isn’t a traditional power outlet nearby.

If that wasn’t enough, the team with Eero is also unveiling their Eero PoE Gateway. Meant to serve as a hub for any device that draws its power from the Ethernet, it includes a total of 10 Ethernet jacks. The device is capable of accommodating internet speeds as high as 10Gbps and a total energy output as high as 100 watts.

Turning Your Echo Dot into a WiFi Extender

But Amazon’s Eero routers are in the news for another reason, too. Since new versions of Amazon Echo and the Echo Dot have been released, many consumers are left with old, outdated devices. Instead of letting these devices sit on the shelf and collect dust, Amazon recommends putting your devices to good use by turning them into mesh WiFi extenders.

The process is quite simple. After installing your Eero, just ensure that your Amazon account is linked to your home network within the Eero app. From there, your smart speakers – like the Echo and Echo Dot – will be able to rebroadcast the WiFi signal originating from any model of the Eero mesh router.

It’s important to note, however, that this setup will only support speeds up to 100Mbps. As such, it’s not meant as a complete replacement for traditional extenders. As always, dedicated WiFi extenders will always perform better than these makeshift devices. For those who are in a pinch, however, or for those who can’t keep their favorite devices connected from across their home, this handy little conversion is well worth it.

Eero is also introducing Eero Internet Backup, which keeps your smart devices online and connected to your network at all times. It’s set to release through certain internet service providers (ISPs), and it’s compatible with mobile hotspots, 5G hotspots, or a secondary WiFi-enabled network.

The Future of Eero

While some questioned the longevity of Eero as a brand, breakthroughs like this prove that the company is fully committed to their mission. Combine that with the support of Amazon, and we’ll likely be hearing a lot more from Eero in the near future.