D-Link’s new AQUILA PRO AI M30 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Systems are available in Australia, in a 2 pack a 3 pack configuration, and I took the opportunity to upgrade and older mesh Wi-Fi system from a different vendor, where one of the nodes was playing up – and the installation was effortlessly easy, and the Wi-Fi speeds I’m getting are faster!

D-Link’s new AQUILA PRO AI M30 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System is available in a 2-Pack model, for AUD $399.95, with the 3-Pack available for a very reasonable $549.95, a jump of just $150 for the third node.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are engineered to address the three most common pain points of Wi-Fi users: coverage, speed, and usability, and they have been available for several years, while doing a far better job of improving the range of your Wi-Fi network, without the pain of traditional Wi-Fi extenders or dealing with separate Wi-Fi networks.

D-Link has improved its Mesh Wi-Fi system by adding in AI technology, so to as to revolutionise the home networking experience for the better, while also winning a prestigious 2023 Good Design Award for their eye-catching design that looks so much nicer than the multi-pronged antenna’d designs from years past that almost looked like a digital face-sucker from those Aliens movies.

Here’s a great intro video to showcase the M30::

D-Link says the design draws inspiration from the Aquila constellation (Latin for eagle), and that the M30’s design concept is a unique evolution of traditional router design.

Each node of the AQUILA PRO AI M30 also offers a handy wall-mountable design which looks sleek and modern, so as to seamlessly blend with any decor.

Rather than the antennas being externally splayed outwards, it has five upgraded internal antennas to provide a wider, more spherical coverage, as seen in the video above, which as D-Link notes, makes the M30 “an ideal centrepiece for any connected home.”

Of course, in our modern world, people want to know whether the materials used in the construction of our devices is responsibly and sustainably made, and D-Link is no exception to this reality.

D-Link has its long-running environmental initiative, called “D-Link Green“, and notes the AQUILA PRO AI M30 closely adheres to green design principles.

The chassis is made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) material, promoting environmental sustainability. The packaging uses 99% natural plant-based Mineral Oil Free (MOF) ink and the gift box design reduces printing ink usage by over 55%. The M30 also leverages the Wi-Fi 6 Target Wake Time (TWT) feature to reduce power consumption and offers a health mode that automatically turns the router into an ultra-low power standby mode during the night ensuring energy efficiency.

Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, users can effortlessly manage their smart home. The AQUILA PRO AI M30 masterfully combines aesthetics and functionality, providing a hassle-free Wi-Fi solution that delivers seamless connectivity, lightning-fast speeds, and high levels of usability across your home network.

So, what was the installation process like?

In setting up the unit for the first time, I opened the packaging, and saw the contents within, which you can see a picture of below. In the two-pack I received with both nodes, plus two power adapters, and an Ethernet cable, as well as some basic documentation.

Here’s a photo of the front and back of both units, either of which can be set as the main unit – both have the same ports at the back, which is important, as some of the other systems I’ve seen don’t include Ethernet ports, which I personally don’t like – each node should allow multiple physical Ethernet connections if desired!

You can also see the wall mounting option each node offers, which is handy if you want to wall mount any of the nodes.

I then downloaded the D-Link app, and got it to scan for the Aquila Pro. This happened very quickly, whereupon I was able to choose which Australian Internet provider I was using, and I was able to set up the Wi-Fi name and password of my choosing.

The app offered to take a screenshot of the settings chosen and to save this to my camera roll, which I did – and which was a nice touch.

Then it was time to set up the second node, which was done by powering it on, and getting the app to detect it, which again happened very quickly,

Once both nodes were set up, that was it – the system was ready to go. It was really fast, and very easy.

Doing Speetest comparisons between my previous Linksys Velop Mesh system and the new D-Link Aquila Pro showed the D-Link consistency getting a few more mbps of speed up and down, at a slightly faster ping speed. Multiple tests fluctuated, but I was able to achieve 88.4Mbps down and 38.8 up with the D-Link, while the Linksys went as fast as 83.8Mbps down and 36.8Mbps up.

Testing at different times of the day saw those figures vary depending on network load, but the D-Link was generally always faster.

In addition, the set up process for the D-Link was easier and faster, too. While the Linksys setup process was similar, it was a bit longer and fiddlier, especially when, in the past, one of the nodes played up and I had to reset the entire system. I did manage to get it working again, and that Linksys system is now 3 or 4 years old, and no doubt their systems have improved too, but I definitely found the D-Link setup process extremely easy.

Finally, even though I had three Linksys Velop nodes set up, the coverage wasn’t as good – with that older system – as the two pack coverage I am getting now in various areas of the house. The bathroom containing the shower is one area where the Linksys struggled to reach, but the D-Link reaches it without issue, and the D-Link node is placed where the Linksys was placed, which is a great benefit when listening to radio or podcasts streams while taking a shower!

Previously I would have to switch to 5G to get a seamless, interruption free connection, but not any more. Again, a modern Linksys system sold in 2024 would probably be a lot better, too, but there are certainly benefits to upgrading an older mesh Wi-Fi network with a new one, especially when the older one is a few years old.

D-Link only had 2-pack units of the Aquila Pro to send to journalists at the time, with the 3-pack having been completely sold out before they even arrived in the country, but since then, single D-Link add-on packs are now available, too.

As D-Link notes, these single units can be used as a standalone high-speed AX3000 Mesh Router or can integrate seamlessly with the recently launched Aquila Pro M30 2-Pack and 3-Pack systems, significantly increasing signal coverage and usability.

In short, this new M30 single unit represents true “Scale-as-you-need Mesh” enabling you to futureproof your network and easily expand your coverage by adding as many AQUILA PRO AI devices as you need to create a whole home Mesh Wi-Fi network to cater for even the very largest of homes.

Single units sell for AUD $279 each, so if you needed four or more Mesh nodes, you’ll be better of buying 2 x two packs, or 2 x 3 packs, but you’d need a really big house to warrant such a purchase. Even so, it’s good to know that you can add as many nodes as you want.

Here’s a video with D-Link’s tutorial on setting up the system – as you’ll see, it’s really very simple.

So, what does D-Link AQUILA PRO AI M30 Wi-Fi 6 say about Twin-Pack Mesh System – which is effectively the same for the 3 pack?

The AQUILA PRO AI M30 Wi-Fi Mesh Systems use a special antenna array designed to extend a stronger Wi-Fi signal, boosting spherical coverage and eliminating dead zones. The 2-Pack M30 Wi-Fi- Mesh System covers a home up to 465 square metres, whilst the 3-Pack M30 Wi-Fi Mesh System covers up to 650 square metres, delivering seamless Wi-Fi connectivity for more devices throughout your home.

Powered by Wi-Fi 6 technology, the AQUILA PRO AI M30 delivers extreme speeds of up to 3Gbps, supporting 160MHz bandwidth, along with a Gigabit Internet WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports supporting wired devices such as smart TVs, gaming consoles, and PCs. As a result, the M30 ensures ultra-fast Wi-Fi or Wired connections, even when the entire family is online.

The AQUILA PRO AI M30 employs innovative AI technology, including an AI Wi-Fi Optimiser, AI Mesh Optimiser and AI Traffic Optimiser to ensure superior Wi-Fi performance for all your devices. The AI Wi-Fi Optimiser selects the optimal channel for each connected device, minimising interference, whilst the AI Mesh Optimiser provides fast and reliable network coverage using auto path selection and self-healing capabilities. AI Traffic Optimiser guarantees uninterrupted 4K/8K video streaming and video calling with AI-based QoS technology, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted experience.

The AQUILA PRO AI M30 complies with the latest WPA3 encryption and IEC 62443-4-1 standards, safeguarding your network against unauthorised access. It also offers parental controls and separate guest networks to ensure the security of all home Wi-Fi devices.

AQUILA PRO AI M30 systems are designed to enable you to effortlessly set up your Wi-Fi network and manage it with the intuitive AQUILA PRO AI App. The AI Assistant monitors network performance and provides weekly reports, even when you are away from home, making it a hassle-free and convenient experience.

M30 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Systems key features:

• Eco-friendly Design: With a housing made from post-consumer recycled materials and delivered in sustainable packaging, the M30 was designed to reduce its environmental impact

• Refined Aesthetics: Boasting an eagle-inspired form and a unique feather-patterned ventilation design, the M30 seamlessly complements any home décor

• Rapid Connectivity: Revel in speeds up to 3Gbps with an extra antenna on the faster 5GHz band, assuring seamless video streaming, video conferencing, and smooth gaming

• Uninterrupted Wi-Fi Everywhere: Enjoy robust 360° spherical coverage courtesy of a sophisticated antenna design and advanced AI technology, ensuring fast and consistent Wi-Fi in every corner of your home

• Scale-as-you-need Mesh: Futureproof your network and easily expand your coverage by adding more AQUILA PRO AI devices to create a whole home Mesh network

• Ultra-Fast Gigabit Wired Connections: 1 × Gigabit WAN port plus 4 × Gigabit LAN ports allow you to make fast and reliable connections to wired devices like smart TVs, gaming PCs and more

• Help Protect Your Home Network: Help keep your family safer online with our premium home network security features like Advanced Parental Controls, ETSI EN 303 645 cybersecurity certification and WPA3 encryption

• Simplified Setup and Management: The intuitive AQUILA PRO AI app helps guide you through setup and monitors your network to help you keep it running at peak performance

The AQUILA PRO AI M30 Wi-Fi Mesh Systems are available in Australia now from www.dlink.com.au as either a 2-Pack (RRP AUD$399.95) or 3-Pack (RRP AUD$549.95), and in New Zealand (2-Pack RRP $499.99 or 3-Pack RRP $649.99) and from all authorised D-Link partners and retailers in both countries. The single add-on path is $279.99.