WiFi has become as essential as electricity in many households. It powers everything from streaming services and remote work to online learning and smart home devices.
There are many providers making bold claims about speed and reliability. Therefore, it’s worth taking a closer look at how those promises perform in real-world conditions.
WOW! offers Whole-Home WiFi as an optional service designed to eliminate dead zones and provide consistent connectivity throughout the home. We tested it extensively to see how well it holds up.
But before getting into that, let’s understand how you can test your own WOW! Whole-Home WiFi.
How to Test Your WOW! Internet Speed
Knowing how well your internet performs helps with streaming, gaming, video calls, or just browsing. Here’s how to check it accurately using WOW! ‘s tools:
Use the Right Speed Test
Go to WOW! ‘s own speed test site or access it through your Online Account Manager to test WOW! Whole-Home WiFi.
If you have eero or TP-Link mesh devices, it’s better to use their app for testing. The eero app measures speed from the access point hooked directly to the WOW! network, so it bypasses the limits of your device.
Prepare for Accurate Results
- Use a modem that meets DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1 standards. That matches WOW! ‘s minimum requirements for most plans.
- Make sure your test device (computer, phone, tablet) can handle the speed your plan offers. Older or basic models might not reach full speeds.
- Close other programs or apps that might be using your internet bandwidth. That helps avoid skewed results.
According to WOW!, you should connect your device with an Ethernet cable directly to your modem or gateway for accurate results. WiFi connections, especially fast plans like 1 Gig or higher, can show lower speeds over wireless.
Run the Speed Test
Launch the test on WOW! ‘s site or trigger it from the eero or TP-Link app if using mesh devices.
Read Your Results
- Ping:
20 ms or below is excellent. 20–50 ms is average. Anything above 50 ms might cause noticeable delays during gaming or video calls.
- Jitter:
Aim for 30 ms or lower. Higher jitter may lead to choppy video, interruptions, or poor voice quality.
- Download speed:
Depends on your plan. Higher speeds mean smoother streaming, faster file downloads, and quicker loading.
- Upload speed:
Important for video calls, uploading files, or streaming your screen. Slow upload can drop video quality or cause interruptions.
What Review Sites Say
We took reviews from many popular sites to see how WOW! Whole-Home WiFi or the company’s overall services perform. Here’s what we found:
CNET
CNET gives WOW! an overall score of 7.2/10, with 7.5/10 for speed, 7/10 for value, and 7.2/10 for customer care. The review highlights WOW! ‘s competitive pricing, no contracts, unlimited data, and 30-day money-back guarantee as standout strengths.
On the downside, it’s only available in six states, and some customers may face service interruptions depending on location. CNET notes that while fiber is the better option where available, WOW! ‘s cable internet delivers solid speeds as well.
CompareInternet.com
CompareInternet highlights WOW! for combining low prices with high speeds, making it a competitive option among cable providers. It notes that customers can rent equipment or opt for free self-installation, with Whole Home WiFi available for about $9.99 per month.
The site also points out WOW! ‘s above-average customer satisfaction, citing strong J.D. Power ratings compared to larger ISPs.
CableTV.com
CableTV.com describes WOW! as offering fiber-based plans from 100 Mbps to 5 Gbps, with symmetrical speeds on fiber connections. For larger homes, the site mentions WOW! ‘s Whole Home WiFi add-on using eero mesh units. Overall, WOW! is presented as a solid but region-specific option.
Reviews.org
Reviews.org gives WOW! an overall score of 3.9/5, with 4.0/5 for speed and reliability and 4.5/5 for value. The site highlights WOW! ‘s average download speed of about 125.5 Mbps, which beats several big-name providers in their proprietary tests.
Customers describe the service as consistently stable, noting it stays dependable even during short-lived power outages. The standout feature is value: fast, reliable internet at reasonable prices makes WOW! a strong pick when available. The main drawback is simply that it is limited in availability in some areas.
Updater.com
Updater calls WOW! a budget-friendly provider, with plans ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gig and occasional extras like reward cards or HBO Max. The review emphasizes no contracts, promotional pricing for 12 months, and data caps up to 3 TB (with capped overage fees).
It also highlights strong rankings, such as WOW! tying for second in J.D. Power’s satisfaction study and appearing in PCMag’s Readers’ Choice list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Whole Home WiFi improve upload speeds for video calls?
While Whole Home WiFi itself doesn’t increase the maximum upload speed, it does help keep speeds consistent across the house. Without mesh coverage, areas far from your router may see drops in upload performance. With WOW! ‘s system, even rooms that once struggled with poor connectivity can maintain steady upload speeds, making video calls clearer.
Is WOW! Whole Home WiFi secure?
Yes, WOW! ‘s Whole Home WiFi includes standard encryption and security features to protect your network from outside threats. Because the system uses a single seamless network rather than multiple routers or extenders, it’s easier to monitor and secure. In addition, WOW! frequently updates firmware on its equipment, which helps keep your WiFi protected from evolving online risks.
Does WOW! Whole Home WiFi support WiFi 6?
Yes, WOW! ‘s Whole Home WiFi can support WiFi 6 if your devices are compatible. While the mesh units themselves are designed to maximize coverage and eliminate dead zones, they also work well with newer WiFi 6-enabled devices. This means you’ll get faster speeds, lower latency, and better efficiency when multiple devices are connected.
WOW! Whole Home WiFi is a strong option for households in its limited coverage areas. It combines affordable pricing, no contracts, and unlimited data with enough speed to satisfy most modern needs. If fiber is available where you live, that will usually be the better long-term choice. However, if it isn’t, WOW! delivers solid value as a cable provider.
