The Actiontec WCB6200Q Wireless Network Extender is a networking unit that uses a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) technology. Through this tech, it brings wired and wireless connectivity in areas around the house that are out of reach from your router’s built-in Wi-Fi signal. It uses a dual-band 802.11ac extender which supports Multi User-Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming. Setup can be done within a few minutes but its range performance is just average when compared to other devices in its class.
Deliver Wireless Connectivity to More Areas Inside Your House With the Actiontec WCB6200Q Wireless Network Extender
The Actiontec WCB6200Q Wireless Network Extender uses Bonded MoCa 2.0 to deliver wired connectivity through your home’s coaxial cable. What is Bonded MoCa 2.0? This technology uses two channels to bring out wired throughput speeds of up to 1Gbps as well as wireless throughput speeds of up to 300Mbps while on the 2.4GHz channel and 1.7Mbps on the 5GHz band.
Typical Wi-Fi range extenders need to be placed within the range of your router’s own wireless signal. This is to allow the signal to be amplified and be extended within wireless dead zones. The WCB6200Q Wireless Network Extender, on the other hand, can be connected anywhere inside your home as it uses wired connection to your router. Still, in order to use the coaxial cabling to receive data transmissions, your router would also have to support MoCA technology. Otherwise, you would have to purchase a router that have this feature already built into the device, or purchase an Ethernet-to-MoCa adapter, in which Actiontec is also offering but at a price.
This wireless network extender from Actiontec can easily beat its closest rivals (such as the Amped Wireless REC33A and the Netgear EX7000) on the 5GHz close-proximity tests. However, when it comes to performance with regards to distance, it only scores an average score.
The Actiontec WCB6200Q Wireless Network Extender still does an excellent job in delivering a stable wired and wireless connection to areas around your home that have previously been unable to get decent Wi-Fi connection. Thanks to MoCa technology, it is able to use an existing coaxial cable so you no longer have to worry about long cable runs. The unit is also very easy to install and configure, especially when you already have a MoCA-enabled router. Even though its distance performance was only mediocre, it can do well within a medium-sized house. Close-proximity and short range throughput is even excellent and can easily beat its competitors in this department.