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Extend your Eero mesh Wi-Fi with ease
When Amazon took the covers off of the Eero Poe Gateway, it also revealed a neat new integration for its Eero mesh Wi-Fi systems.
It’s now possible to turn some Echo smart speakers into ‘Eero Built-in Wi-Fi Extenders’, meaning you can expand your Eero coverage without having to buy new Eero routers or access points such as the Eero Max 7, Eero Pro 6E or the Eero 6+.
It’s very easy to set up, using the Eero app, just follow the steps below…
What you’ll need
- An Eero network
- A smartphone with the Eero app
- Echo Pop, 4th or 5th-gen Echo Dot / Dot with Clock, or 4th-gen Amazon Echo
The short version
- Open the Eero app
- Link your Amazon and Eero accounts
- Enable Eero built in
- Choose what Echo devices you want to use
You don’t need to worry about interference or making your Eero coverage worse because the system will automatically disable Wi-Fi extension in an Echo device is in an area that’s already well served by your existing Eero routers and satellites.
See also: How to disable 5GHz on Eero
You can also manually manage which Echo devices are extending your Wi-Fi in the Eero app. Simply tap the Echo speaker in the list of access points and toggle the Wi-Fi extension on or off.
How fast is Eero on Echo speakers?
Eero Built-in allows you to use your Echo speakers as mesh nodes and access points on your Eero’s 5GHz Wi-Fi network, with speeds up to 100Mbps on offer for a maximum of 10 connected devices.
What Echo speakers can be used with Eero?
It works with the new Echo Pop, 4th and 5th-gen Echo Dot / Dot with Clocks and the 4th-gen Amazon Echo.
How much will Echo speakers extend Eero Wi-Fi range?
Each Echo Dot, Pop or 4th-gen Echo that you add as an extender gives you an extra 1,000 sq. ft of Wi-Fi coverage.
What Eero routers work with Echo speakers?
All Eero system except the original work with Echo and the Built-in Eero feature. So that’s the Eero, Eero Pro, Eero 6, Eero Pro 6, Eero 6+, the Eero Pro 6E and the Eero Max 7.
The small print
One thing to remember is that none of these magically makes your Echo speakers dedicated Wi-Fi routers or even satellites.
They do use TrueMesh to give some Eero powers to non-Eero hardware but it’s all just extension of an existing network, there are no extras on offer, or high-end networking features like you’d get by adding a dedicated Eero AP to the mix.
With an Eero Built-in extender, like the Echo Dot, the speaker simply extends your existing router’s range like a regular hotspot extender would do.
So it’s super handy for eliminating black spots in distant corners of your house; but it’s not a competitor to a dedicated mesh network with dedicated access points… not yet, at least.