Let me start by saying this little white box saved my sanity when my smart bulbs and security cameras kept dropping connections. The TP-Link TL-WA801N isn't fancy, but it solves specific problems beautifully - if you understand its limitations.

The Good: Setting this up as a dedicated 2.4GHz access point took me under 10 minutes (seriously, the Quick Start guide actually works). The included PoE injector means I could mount it high on a wall where the signal spreads best without worrying about power outlets. For my older smart home devices that refuse to play nice with modern dual-band routers, this has been rock-solid reliable where my expensive mesh system failed.

The Not-So-Good: That "300Mbps" speed claim? Optimistic at best. In real-world testing through two walls, I maxed out at about 85Mbps - fine for IoT devices but frustrating for HD streaming. The web interface feels like it's from 2010 (those JavaScript errors others mentioned? Yep, ran into those in Firefox). And yes, the single Ethernet port is annoying - I had to add a cheap switch behind mine.

Pro Tip: If you're using this to isolate IoT devices like I am, create a separate SSID just for them. The VLAN tagging works surprisingly well for such an affordable device.

Final Verdict: At this price point, it's hard to complain too much. The TL-WA801N won't win any speed tests, but as a dedicated 2.4GHz workhorse for smart homes or extending coverage to dead zones? It delivers where it counts.