If you’re tired of spotty Wi-Fi coverage, Amped’s latest extender might be just what you need. Even better: it’s easy to set up.
The TAP-EX3 comes equipped with a 4-inch touchscreen display, meaning you don’t need a computer to set it up. Just plug it in, then use the built-in touchscreen to find and connect to your network. Just like that, the device will extend the reach of your Wi-Fi — Amped says you can “boost your Wi-Fi coverage by an additional 12,000 sq ft and at ultra-fast AC1750Wi-Fi speeds.”
Amped states the TAP-EX3 offers speeds of up to 450Mbps at 2.4GHz, and 1,300Mbps at 5GHz.
This isn’t the first Amped Wireless extender to feature a touchscreen, but it is the most powerful. There are 12 amplifiers at work: three 2.4GHz, three 5GHz, and six low-noise. The device is powered by a Qualcomm processor. One detachable high-gain dual-band antenna, along with two internal high-gain antennas, provide the signal boost.
The TAP-EX3 also offers five-gigabit ethernet ports, meaning you’re covered if you need a wired connection for a game console, TV, or a computer that’s far from your router. There’s even a USB 2.0 port for local file sharing.
Weighing 1.8 pounds, with dimensions of 2.13″ x 8.13″ x 6.13″, the device is not going to take up a lot of space. There’s a stand for placing it on a shelf or counter, or you can mount it to the wall. For the best signal possible it should be left out in the open, but that has been made less of a problem because it’s not much of an eyesore — you can even set the display to show a clock, if you’d like to give it another function.
At $200, it’s twice the price of Amped’s less powerful TAP-EX – but that model doesn’t support the 5GHz frequency, has three fewer ethernet ports, and offers 2,000 fewer square feet of coverage. Whether you’ll be willing to pay for the latest model depends on how much these features matter to you.
