Eero's new backup device keeps you online when your ISP fails - here's how it works

Source: ZDNet

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Eero Signal is a new home‑internet backup device for Eero networks, available today with 4G and later this year with 5G.
• It connects to a compatible Eero and automatically switches to a cellular network during an internet outage.
• The device costs $100 and requires an Eero Plus subscription.

If you have a fully integrated smart home, you need a connection at all times to access cameras, lighting, pet‑related tech, and other remote controls. An outage can quickly become a problem.

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The Eero Signal is designed to handle exactly this scenario. It plugs into any USB‑C powered Eero with Wi‑Fi 6 support, and you configure the backup network in the Eero app. When an outage occurs, the Signal automatically connects to the most optimal 4G cellular network, choosing the best available carrier even if other users are congesting the network.

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Using the Eero Signal for backup requires an Eero Plus subscription, which costs $99 per year and includes 10 GB of backup data. Each Eero Signal purchase includes six months of Eero Plus. If you need more data, the Eero Plus 100 tier offers up to 100 GB per month for $200 a year (or $99 for the first year for existing members).

Who is Eero Signal for?

I recently left my dog home alone for a couple of nights while we were out of town. Even without anyone home, he has a smart doggy door, water and food dispensers, and a neighbor who can check on him. I also set up multiple cameras to monitor the house, and they showed that I had accidentally left the kitchen lights on.

When I tried to turn off the lights remotely via my smart home panel, I inadvertently disconnected my main router. Without backup internet, I lost visibility of my dog and remote control of the doggy door and smart home panel. Although my neighbor could check on him, I didn’t want to risk him being locked out of the house.

I couldn’t easily walk my neighbor through installing the EcoFlow app and sharing credentials to restore power. As a result, we had to drive back over six hours to restore connectivity, cutting our trip short.

If an Eero Signal had been set up beforehand, I would have had the backup connectivity needed to access the home panel and switch the circuit back on without returning.

For $100, an Eero Signal offers peace of mind for situations like this as well as everyday outages during work or family movie night. A 5G version is expected later this year at $200.