A robust mesh-ready Wi-Fi router

By doing Android authority In the test of the Motorola MH7020 router, we can see whether the software capabilities of this mesh-enabled router can compete with models with better speeds or greater range.

• Motorola MH7020: Case 6,999
• Motorola MH7020 (twin pack): Rs. 12,999 / $ 159

The Motorola MH7020 is a mesh-enabled WiFi router that the company sells individually, but also in a two-pack and three-pack configuration for larger households. The tri-band router supports the Wi-Fi-ac standard and has a dedicated backhaul channel for faster routing between multiple satellite routers. In addition, all setup and management can be done through the intuitive Moto Manage app.

Continue reading: The best mesh routers

The Motorola MH7020 router is available from Amazon in both the US and India. Only the two-pack and three-pack configurations are sold in the United States. The router is designed for medium-sized apartments and with a maximum nominal speed of 2,200 Mbit / s should be able to process several 4K streams simultaneously without any problems. After all, some of the software services like advanced parental controls are locked behind a paywall in the US, but that’s not the case in India.

The main concerns when choosing a router are good coverage and network speeds, and the MH7020 will deliver. I tested the router alongside my personal Ubiquiti Amplifi setup to test range and network speeds in a 2,300 square foot apartment. The apartment has several concrete walls, and the router did a great job of testing the coverage both in the same room and on the edge of the apartment.

Due to the sheer size of the router, the MH7020’s built-in radios are large enough to transmit a strong WiFi signal across multiple rooms. In fact, in my tests, the single router outperformed my Ubiquiti mesh router along with two satellite antennas in terms of download speed.

When comparing the router with the Ubiquiti Amplifi prosumer router, the two devices performed similarly in the Internet speed tests on the device. The tests were carried out using a symmetrical 300Mbps broadband internet line. The latest firmware update from Ubiquiti has dramatically slowed WAN throughput, which is reflected in the tests here. However, the MH7020 still managed to hit download speeds of 244 Mbps and upload speeds of 168 Mbps, which is similar to the much more expensive Ubiquiti on most days. Not bad.

This speed dropped drastically on the edge of my apartment, where the download speed was reduced to a still usable 36.49 Mbit / s. Upload speeds were a miserable 3Mbps, however.

To test read and write speeds over the local LAN, I simulated a mixed workload of files ranging from a few kilobytes to a few hundred megabytes, for a total of three gigabytes of test data. This was transferred via the LAN to a NAS connected via Ethernet with a fast SSD in order to remove bottlenecks. At 139 Mbps, the write speeds are good enough to saturate most consumer hard drives if you plan to store a lot of data over the local network, and the read speeds are perfectly fine for high-bit-rate 4K content. These speeds drop over distance, of course, but the reading speeds are still good enough to stream 4K content.

I was also impressed by the range of the Motorola MH7020, which comfortably covered most of my home. However, buying a second unit as a satellite would work wonders for coverage as the router includes a dedicated backhaul channel for strong connectivity between the router and the satellites.

The other interesting aspect of the router is the software. Motorola has partnered with Minim to offer cloud-related extras such as privacy and security protection. From onboarding to the feature set itself, Minim did an excellent job of making high-end software features accessible, and more importantly, as we saw with the Xiaomi Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition, easy to understand for users.

The range of functions includes filtering not only for ads, but also for malware. While Minim does not disclose the filter lists it uses, the company claims it uses multiple sources, including open source ad filter lists that are regularly updated over the air. Users can also block all websites that host adult content with a single swipe – a nifty feature for users with younger children at home. Disabling the filters is also easy. Interestingly, you can use a global filter search list to specifically check which list is blocking certain content. You can also turn off Internet access through your network in case you want downtime.

For more precise control, it is possible to create profiles that one or more devices can have. These profiles have their own individual controls for adware or adult websites. In addition, you can manage device-specific whitelists or blacklists to better control what content you can or cannot view. You can even set schedules or time limits for internet access.

All features work exactly as advertised and for once I expect the average user to use these features. They’re not new features per se – we’ve seen them on other devices. Setting it up, however, can be quite a task that will put off not-as-tech-savvy users, and that’s a hurdle the MH7020 confidently overcomes. A lot has to do with how well the advanced features are designed. From the easy-to-understand links for privacy, security, and malware to the profile onboarding process, even the average user should have no trouble getting started. The ability to set everything up through the app is an added bonus.

There are a few other aspects of the MH7020 that are worth addressing, including a built-in speed test as well as user profiles. Building on the security aspect, the app also offers support for two-factor authentication. The Motorola MH7020’s focus is on the features, but its ease of use sets it apart from the dozen of routers I’ve tried so far.

What’s not so good about the Motorola MH7020?

I’m right here: the Motorola MH7020 is not a good looking router. With a device that can’t be completely hidden, it wouldn’t have hurt if the company had put a little more effort into the design. The processing quality is barebones and marginally cheap. The Motorola logo on the front is pretty bright green and I couldn’t find a way to dim the lights or turn them off completely. Simply put, the router will be an eyesore no matter where you place it.

The router also disappoints when it comes to the port selection. If you’d prefer to keep basics like computers or video game consoles wired, you’ll need to invest in a network switch because the router only has a single Ethernet port on the back in addition to the WAN port for connecting your internet line.

Motorola MH7020 review: should I buy it?

As a user of prosumer networking products, I had limited expectations for the Motorola MH7020. That said, I’ve been pretty impressed with what the company has to offer. The Motorola MH7020 router is inexpensive and does not save on hardware. The speeds are excellent even from a distance, and the network coverage is pretty solid for a medium-sized apartment. Users who want to cover a larger area can of course purchase a second or even third satellite to expand coverage.

However, it is the Minim-based software that really impresses. The range of functions is robust, with useful additions in a consumer-friendly way. If you need more range than speed, the TP-Link Deco E4 comes with two additional satellites in the box, but most users with medium-sized apartments should be perfectly served with the MH7020.

The router competes against full mesh solutions like the TP-Link Deco E4 (Rs. 8599), which includes two satellites at the expense of lower speeds. Meanwhile, options like the TP-Link Archer AX73 ($ 199 / Rs. 10,999) offer drastically higher speeds and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, as well as a wider range of ports for a little more money.