Suddenly, everybody wants to fix Wi-Fi. It's not because wireless networking turned crappy overnight. It's just that reliable and robust home Wi-Fi is more important than it has ever been.
The proliferation of streaming and connected devices---from TVs to tablets to thermostats to trash cans---is crowding our networks. And with so many entry points, it's also harder to keep your home network secure.
All of that is a bridge too far for traditional routers, so we're seeing a rapid reinvention of networking hardware. There’s Google’s OnHub router, which aims to make everything easier and more efficient. The pricey Eero uses multiple access points and a mesh network to boost your in-home range. The similar Chime mesh devices bake AVG antivirus software right into the router.
Most ambitious of all is Luma, an in-home suite of devices tasked with all that and then some. These are dual-band routers with elements powered by quad-core Qualcomm processors, and they deliver features for days: A wider range with the stability of mesh networking, easy setup, cloud-based security, real-time monitoring, simple diagnostic and management tools, parental controls, and something you really don’t associate with Wi-Fi routers. Actual fun.
“We tried to build something so great, you brag to your friends about it,” says Dr. Paul Judge, Luma’s cofounder. “It gives you a different view of your home network in an engaging way.”
That engagement is driven through the Luma app for iOS and Android. The Luma hardware won't replace your modem: You need to plug one unit into your broadband modem with an Ethernet cable. But any additional Luma units added to your network just need to be plugged in to a wall socket; they communicate with one another via Wi-Fi. The app guides you through the setup process, which involves reporting how many Luma devices you’re installing and whether your home is a multi-level mansion or an interference-prone apartment.
Once setup is done, your Lumas will “find” one another, form a mesh network that optimizes itself against interference from neighboring networks, and pump 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi into all the nooks and crannies of your home. It’ll automatically hand off device connections from access point to access point without interruption, and you can check the app at any time to see who's connected and what your current upload/download speeds are.
The companion app isn't just something you use for setup and troubleshooting. It has unique and helpful features you'll want to use regularly. You can “pause the Internet” to shut down your kids’ access during dinnertime. The app will let you know if devices on your home network are security or privacy threats, as Luma scans everything connected to it for easy-to-crack default passwords and malware. If a device is a threat, Luma quarantines it. Its security software is running and updating in the cloud, which Judge pegs as a vital setup for a growing ecosystem of connected devices.
“You can’t really install antivirus on a smart TV,” Judge explains. “You bring these IoT devices home, there are chips in everything from doorknobs to cameras to toasters, and all you need is a weakest link. All these things are vulnerable. There are examples of people breaking into a security camera or a baby monitor and using it to spy on a home.”
Instead, Luma keeps the spying in-house with its monitoring features. The app lets you know who’s connected to your network and what they’re doing on it. If you have kids, you can see the domain they’re visiting and limit their access to a Luma-curated list of “G,” “PG,” or “PG-13” websites. Adults can “go invisible” so their activity won’t be tracked, and you can give visitors “guest access” without giving up your password. If you have network admin rights in the app, you can get notifications every time your kid requests access to an off-limits site. From there, you can accept or dismiss those requests by swiping right or left, Tinder-style.
If some of those monitoring features seem creepy, rest assured they’re not active by default. You have to enable Luma’s “Instant View” features and create user profiles to use them.
“If you don’t want any user-based policy or reporting, you just don’t add users,” Judge says. “Or you could just put everybody into invisible mode. You can still use it for guests and checking your Wi-Fi speed and cybersecurity, but you just don’t see what people are doing.”
There’s a powerful investor behind Luma, and one that will give the hardware special integration capabilities. Just last month, Amazon invested millions of dollars in Luma, even though the initial discussions between the two companies simply involved using Amazon as a retail channel. After announcing the Luma system last November, the startup has pre-sold $2.5 million worth of units. That piqued Amazon’s interest on a more-involved level, prompting a cash investment. Since the companies are buddy-buddy, Luma will interact with the Amazon Echo.
“You can say ‘Hey Alexa, pause the Internet’ or ‘Hey Alexa, it’s bedtime’ to disable access from your kids’ devices,” Judge says. “If you ask ‘Hey Alexa, how’s the Internet right now?’ it’ll tell you the speed, how many devices are connected, things like that. Moving forward, we want to give you the ability to control the light with the app. You can decide if you want flashing disco lights or a subtle yellow light or nothing at all.”
While Luma isn’t cheap, it’s significantly cheaper than the $500 asking price for the three-packs of Eero and Chime. During the presale period, a package of three Luma units costs $300, while a single unit goes for $150. Judge says the system will ship in June, at which point the price will increase.
