What is Multi-Link Operation?
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) enables your Wi-Fi 7 devices to simultaneously send or receive data across multiple wifi frequency bands and channels. This is a new feature with the emergence of Wi-Fi 7 and is still being developed and tested across the broad spectrum of all things wifi. As MLO evolves as a standard Wi-Fi 7 feature, we at eero continue to evaluate how the technology fits into our mission of delivering the perfect connectivity experience.
Keep in mind: Not all wifi devices are equal. Each device uses MLO differently and is designed to take advantage of these new features in a way that helps their applications. Some will use MLO to achieve better or more consistent latency, while others are designed to maximize throughput by combining multiple bands. How MLO is used and the overall benefit you experience will depend on the client device. Since MLO is new technology, you are likely to have the best experience when your client devices are updated to their latest software version.
How does MLO Work?
In previous generations, a device could only connect to one wifi band at a time, regardless if that was the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz band. If a device chooses to connect to a lower frequency like the 2.4GHz, this will lower the maximum amount of throughput that device is capable of receiving. To improve this experience, Multi-Link Operation aggregates multiple channels on multiple frequencies at the same time. By utilizing MLO, Wi-Fi 7 can communicate across multiple links between the device and an access point. For Wi-Fi 7 capable devices that support this feature, connecting to the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands simultaneously increases throughput, reduces latency, and improves reliability.
Is MLO right for my network?
In most cases, a device will always select the frequency band that it determines is the most optimal. With MLO, the device is no longer forced to pick one frequency. Instead, it can communicate with the access point on the least busy radio and reduce latency by avoiding congested channels. Keep in mind, MLO will not increase the performance from your ISP, but it can help maximize the potential throughput your upstream is providing the eero.
MLO requires that you have a Wi-Fi 7 router and Wi-Fi 7 device. If the device is not capable of supporting MLO, it will not be able to take advantage of connecting to multiple bands. For devices that do support MLO, it’s important to remember that each device is different. One device may favor latency improvements with MLO, while another might favor throughput improvements. This decision is made by the manufacturer during the development of that device.
MLO is not tied directly to 6GHz, meaning that Wi-Fi 7 routers that only broadcast two frequencies can still benefit from the advantages of using multiple links. However, if the 6GHz is present on the network and MLO is turned on, WPA3 will be turned on by default for all the MLO capable bands. This will impact all other frequencies on the network and your network will utilize the more secure protocol. Devices that do not support WPA3 may have difficulty connecting to the network. What is WPA3?
MLO has a few different modes, the use case of each mode will vary according to the available hardware and technical requirements, but each of these modes can achieve multi-link operation. Some of these modes allow the transmitting and receiving of data across multiple links at the same time. Simultaneous use of wider and more channels may consume more energy. Some mobile devices may connect to fewer frequency bands to save power, which could ultimately limit maximum throughput.
Mesh and MLO: How do they work together?
In a mesh wifi system where the frequency bands aren’t separate, there’s no easy way to pick which band a device connects to. With our TrueMesh Technology, the eero is already looking for the optimal path to negotiate traffic, but at the end of the day the device chooses where it wants to connect. Being able to connect to multiple bands simultaneously means that a device now has the ability to communicate with the router in a variety of ways without losing connectivity or having to roam. The eero can utilize this new option of traffic negotiation when it makes sense.
How do I enable MLO on my network?
To enable MLO on your network, you must meeting the following requirements:
- eero Firmware Version:
- eero Max 7: v7.7.1
- eero Outdoor 7, eero 7, eero Pro 7: v7.7.3
- eero Mobile App Version: 6.50
- Support eero Hardware:
- eero Max 7
- eero Pro 7
- eero 7
- eero Outdoor 7
- A Wi-Fi 7 capable device
- Note: MLO is currently unavailable on eero for Business networks
Enable MLO in the eero app:
- Navigate to the Settings Tab
- Tap Network Settings
- Locate to ‘Wireless’
- Tap ‘Multi-link operation’
- Toggle on
- Click continue on the in app alert screen
- This will reboot your network. It can take about two minutes for a reboot to complete.
Note: Toggling on this feature will result in the entire network rebooting. WPA3 may be automatically enabled on participating bands and some legacy devices may be incompatible with MLO networks. What is WPA3? If you are experiencing issues on legacy devices, navigate to Settings > Network Settings > WPA3 and toggle this function off. To ensure maximum compatibility across all eero products, we recommend disabling MLO if your network uses a mix of Wi-Fi 7 and non-Wi-Fi 7 eero devices.