As is the case with most mesh systems, the MQ20 is easy to install and manage. To get started, you’ll have to download the MotoSync Plus mobile app and create an account. Once the account is verified, you’ll see an installation checklist with a Begin Setup button. Tap the button, scan the QR code on the router node, and follow the instructions to unplug your modem. Connect the router to your modem using the included LAN cable before powering up both the modem and the router node. After a few minutes, the router will be connected, and you’ll be prompted to create a network name and passwords for each band. (You can instead enable band-steering to use one name and password with a single combined band.)
To add a mesh node, go to the Home screen and tap the Mesh Repeater + button. You then scan the QR code when prompted to add the node to your network.
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The MQ20 turned in solid scores on our performance tests. The router node’s score of 920Mbps on the 6GHz close proximity test was pretty much in line with what we saw from the eero Pro 6E (922Mbps) and a bit faster than the TP-Link Deco XE75 (900Mbps). However, it was significantly slower than the Arris Max6E (1,868Mbps), which has the benefit of a 2.5GbE LAN connection.
On the 30-foot 6GHz test, the MQ20 router managed 355Mbps, while the eero Pro 6E scored 375Mbps and the Deco XE75 scored 371Mbps. The Arris Max6E led with a score of 651Mbps. However, all of these pale in comparison with a combined band configuration using a Wi-Fi 7 system. To illustrate the enhanced performance that comes with Wi-Fi 7, consider that the eero Pro 7, which offers multi-gig LAN and was tested using a combined band configuration, scored 2,850Mbps on the close proximity test and 860Mbps on the 30-foot test. We’re not including these results in the charts below.
The MQ20’s score of 925Mbps on the 5GHz close proximity test was identical to that of the eero Pro 6E and faster than both the Arris Max6E (801Mbps) and the Deco XE75 (853Mbps). At 30 feet, the MQ20’s score of 318Mbps trailed the eero Pro 6E (330Mbps), the Deco XE75 (322Mbps), and the Arris Max6E (328Mbps) by small amounts.
The MQ20 satellite node scored 621Mbps on the 6GHz close proximity test and 380Mbps on the 30-foot test. Meanwhile, the eero Pro 6E turned in scores of 601Mbps and 382Mbps, respectively, and the TP-Link Deco XE75 scored 611Mbps and 375Mbps, respectively. Once again, the Arris Max6E garnered the fastest Wi-Fi 6E scores with 901Mbps (close proximity) and 631Mbps (30 feet). The eero Pro 7’s combined scores of 2,293Mbps (close proximity) and 1,118Mbps (30 feet) were significantly higher, again thanks to its support for Wi-Fi 7.
On the 5GHz tests, the MQ20 satellite node scored 801Mbps on the close proximity test and 550Mbps on the 30-foot test. The eero Pro 6E node scored 801Mbps and 512Mbps, respectively, while the Deco XE75 node scored 812Mbps and 565Mbps, and the Arris Max6E node scored 888Mbps and 637Mbps.
To measure wireless signal performance, we use an Ekahau Sidekick 2 diagnostic device and the Ekahau Survey software. (Disclosure: Ekahau is owned by PCMag.com’s parent company, Ziff Davis. For more, read about our ethics policy in the Editorial Mission Statement.) Together, they generate a heat map that displays Wi-Fi signal strength throughout our test home. The circles on the heat map represent the router and node locations, and the colors represent signal strength. Dark green indicates the strongest signal, lighter yellow a weaker one, and gray indicates a very weak or no measurable signal.
(Credit: Ekahau)
As shown on the map, the MQ20 did a good job of delivering a strong combined Wi-Fi signal to all corners of the home.
