Huawei WiFi Q2 mesh router multi-unit networking system is here

Huawei is getting into the mesh router business, unveiling the Huawei WiFi Q2, a multi-unit networking system that combines wireless and powerline backhaul.

First announced at CES 2018, the WiFi Q2 has an eye on the Internet of Things (IoT), promising a dedicated channel that will automatically shift connected device and smart home traffic into its own, separate lane.

It’s not, in fact, Huawei‘s first ride of the mesh networking horse. Before this new system came the Huawei WiFi Q1 in mid-2016, though the company only offered it in China. In contrast, the WiFi Q2 is now sold in Mzansi.

Here, Huawei has opted for two types of router. The core of the system is the larger base station, which has three gigabit ethernet ports. The smaller satellites have a single ethernet port, and are designed to plug straight into an outlet.

You can have up to sixteen different routers working in a single configuration. What sets Huawei’s approach apart from that of, say, Google Wifi is its use of powerline networking.

Huawei is calling it a “Hybrid Home WiFi System,” and it’s basically combining wired and wireless options. On the one hand, there’s a 1,867 Mbps wireless link between each of the units. However, they also get a 1 Gbps PLC powerline backhaul they can use instead. The WiFi Q2 automatically adjusts its use of each, choosing the best connection for each purpose and doing active load balancing to shift traffic between the two.

Huawei says that takes less than 100 ms to do, and is not perceivable to the user. The WiFi Q2 auto-selects the channel to use, but also reserves a second channel that it saves for IoT devices. There’s no manual setup for that, with Huawei promising that its mesh system can automatically spot IoT traffic and route it accordingly.

Powerline networking has another advantage, and that’s in setup. After you’ve configured the first base station, it shares all your settings over the power network with each subsequent unit you plug in. Huawei says that it means each satellite installation takes only around two minutes.

Three boxed systems will be offered, their suitability based on home size and layout. The largest will have three base stations, which Huawei suggests is sufficient for coverage across 5-7 rooms in a multi-floor home. A second set, with a single base station and two satellites, is enough for 4-5 rooms, while a pair of one base station and one satellite will do for 3-4 rooms.

Of course, you’ll also be able to buy them each individually, to expand coverage as required. Pricing for the Huawei WiFi Q2 Pro three-pack hybrid is set at R4,999.

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Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.