TP-Link - Deco BE25

the deco x25 is a decent basic mesh router, if you are a general user, it will suffice. generally for 2200sqft, u will need 2 units of x25 and be sure to link them by lan wire, linking them wirelessly give subpar performances. general tips is to place these nodes on an open area, not in a tv console or shoe cabinet, it should be high up and centralize of the area that you want the wifi to reach. and these x25 does not give u a lot of flexibility to get wire connection to other devices since they only have 2 ports on them.

Correct and I went with BE25 exactly for this reason. Feels great 👍

If you will wire the nodes then TP Link BE25 is your friend.

I have BE65 (primarily for wired backhaul ports) as my main unit and a few BE25 (all with wired backhaul) as satellites. I don’t see any difference in performance for my use.

riprendo questo thread ....sperando che qualcuno mi aiuti a fare luce .....oppure a decidere se buttare o restituire i BE25.. scusate se non sono precisissimo nei termini ma non sono proprio un esperto. premessa: ho una connessione WindTre ini fibra che al router viaggia attorno ad 1G. ho collegato un deco tramite cavo ethernet in dotazione da tp-link all'hub Windtre (Zyxel EX5601) e se collego un portatile alla porta ethernet del DECO ho la stessa velocità che ottengo a collegare il portatile direttamente sul router (circa 900M)... in wifi collegato alla rete del DECO ....a 1metro dal deco ottengo con lo stesso PC al massino 250/330M) con un cellulare samsung s22 una velocità attorno ai 500M.... è possibile che ci sia una riduzione cosi drastica? c'è un modo per imgliorare? con questa situazione ....aggiungendo un deco in una stanza con due pareti in mezzo ....arrivo a 80M di velocità...mi sembra poco....tenendo conto che con un extenderee (semmpre tp-link) da 20 euro collegato sulla rete del router ottengo praticamente la stessa velocità.... Grazie a chi avrà la pazienza di spiegarmi /aiutarmi

Thank you for the information. Since the XE75 is not available in India, I have chosen the BE25 instead of x60.

I currently have a wireless backhaul setup, and before adding the BE25 in the low-connectivity area, I was getting around 50 Mbps. However, after installing the BE25, my speeds have improved significantly, reaching over 120 Mbps. So far, I haven't encountered any connectivity issues, and everything is running smoothly. My overall internet plan provides 300 Mbps, so to maximize performance and ensure stable speeds across my network, I am now planning to switch to a wired backhaul by connecting all the Deco units via Ethernet. Additionally, the system allows me to set up separate networks for guests and IoT devices, which is highly useful for security and managing network traffic. Also With a single unified network, I can seamlessly roam anywhere in the house without losing connectivity.

Coming from a nest wifi pro, this I have a 3 mesh be25. So far, the range proves to be faster and wider. I'm still getting the rest of my iot devices up to see stability. The reason I was on nest wifi pro (gave up asus zenmax wifi) because the nest wifi is super stable with all my cast devices as I love having speakers everywhere, plus the lights stability. So far the be25 is holding up with the exception of some devices I need to wake up to register them on this new router. I have 2 wifi 7 clients, and placed them on MLO network. Pretty stable and fast going room by room. Maybe the only thing I'm missing from the nest wifi pro is how snappy all my devices are in Google Home, especially the nest doorbells and cameras. Overall, it's great. Again this is coming from a nest wifi pro which is also dual band but only 6e vs wifi7 on the be25.

I had exact same issue, 75yr old house plaster walls, only one floor plus attic. From advice found here on Reddit I bypassed my Fios router and did the following: 1) My Office is where the Fios comes in from the street: Plugged the coax into the ONT -> 2 feed Amphenol splitter -> one coax feed went to Screenbeam MoCa adapter, second coax went to feed the BR and LR, that coax runs into my attic. \-The Screenbeam Moca adapter in office is connected to TP Link 5 port Switch. I have my computer, Ring, Hue etc all connected to that office switch via ethernet. Instead of Fios router, I have a TP Link DecoX25 Mesh system, 3 pieces. The first one is in my office connected to the WAN in the ONT and that turns it into the new main router that replaces the Fios one. It is also connected to the office switch by ethernet cable. 2) In my attic, the coax that came from the office feed splits once more to go to LR and BR where the coax of both go into the other two Screenbeams. They in turn are connected via ethernet cables to their own 5 port switches. The switches in each of those rooms have TVs etc connected AND the other two Deco X25 mesh units which provide the wifi to those rooms. Before this setup we had 50-60mbps down in BR, now with setup above we have 670 mbps+ It works SO well.  Notes: \-CAT6 would be better than coax but terminating Cat cables is a bitch and a half, whereas terminating coax is really easy. You could run the coax through closet ceilings and you won’t see it, then drill through closet wall to each room. \-If you do go this way be sure to buy quality coax and try to run it as short a run as is possible. Buy quality splitters, Amphenol has great splitters, be sure they're MoCA ready and have the speed rating above 1G. Be sure your coax is seated properly when you terminate, lots of YT on how to. Be sure your switches are high enough speed to handle the 1G \-Do not underestimate doing it yourself! It sounds complicated but if you draw out your plan and search other MoCa diagrams you will get it. I always tell myself, if I fuck it up I can always call in a pro :-). \-My Fios installer suggested EERO mesh which I hear is excellent, I’ve had no issues with Deco Mesh.  Best of Luck!

I recently upgraded to TP-Link Deco BE25 WiFi 7, and it has been great. Three units covering the 3 story house, yard and two garages. I get great speed and it is very stable.

I have the Deco BE5000 and it works flawlessly

I had 3 of these. Solid product. Upgraded to BE25s WiFi 7 last month.

The 2.4Ghz band is for smart home devices. 5ghz for phones. Home is around 3K sqft. I've a Plex server and NAS for which I need the bandwidth. Internet is JioFiber 500Mbps. Is overkill. No drops in speed or range so far. https://amzn.in/d/ftcHGJ3

I use a mesh system. Used to have 3x TP link Deco M4s. Now upgraded to TP link Deco 25 WiFi 7. Be used to have multiple extenders which were plugged into the wall and basically worked as repeaters but it was finicky. Go for a mesh system

I have 4 Be25 all Wired backhaul and it worked great. I don't see the need for the 6ghz band at all. If you are capable of doing Wired backhaul, your wifi speed would be awesome. I'm getting really good speed off my 2 gb internet, My home is a 2 stories 4500 sq ft home and this four pucks covers all including the back yard.

At the current price of the BE25, I would add another single BE25 instead of the older Deco M4 unit.

I got the puck version of the BE 63. which is the BE25, going with the 2 gig spectrum internet. These pucks are incredible with the speed. I got 1.6 wifi standing a few feet to the main puck router. My wired is currently only get 1.7 out of 2.0 due to provisioning issue at my area.

I went in the direction of the advice here, returned my original router, and got the three pack Deco BE25 Dual-Band BE5000 WiFi 7. So far it’s been excellent. I get 400-500 mbps in most of the house and about 250 in the back part (where I was getting 50). Very happy with it so far.

I got the BE25. I'm quite happy with it. It's boosted the signal in this corner and I can connect a NAS up to one of the ethernet ports and it works, I don't need to connect it to the main router.

I just updated from using the bgw320 with an old airlink extender to the tp-link 3 x be25 mesh. It's fine. I have wired backhaul.

An old thread, I know, but often people stumble on these things by searching online. I bought a three pack of BE25 mesh units. I set them us with wired backhaul and now have blanket coverage everywhere in my house. I have a FTTP EE Broadband 900 product. Sitting in the same room at one of the units on my Google Pixel 9 Pro I am getting 940 Mbps download and 104 Mbps upload - which is the same as the speeds I get with a wired connection to my computer. I'm not doing anything special and I am not using MLO. I couldn't be more pleased!

Initially I plugged one of the Deco BE25 units directly into the Openreach PON and set it up to do the PPPoE negotiating. As I said in my post above I got excellent WiFi speeds. I did notice, however, that one or two things were not that great. I wasn't able to access a headless Windows computer as WOL (wake up on LAN) didn't work. Also general LAN access was poor - like accessing Nextcloud on my NAS. It took an age to connect and do anything. I decided to switch the BE25 system to access mode (bridged) and use a TP-Link ER605 between the PON and the first BE25 unit. Now I have very snappy LAN access and can use WOL to wake up my headless Windows machine, I never use the broadband supplier's equipment unless you have to (like with Virgin Media). The EE router is OK, but only if WiFi is switched off - so in that scenario I'd switch WiFi off on the EE router and use the Deco BE25 in access mode - but there really is no need to use it at all.

Hello everyone, This review is for anyone finding it and is stuck choosing between these three Deco models I was in the same spot recently. So i bought all three and did some testing. --- ## Background I’ve been running the **Deco M5** for 8 years ish. Recently I turned a spare room in my garden into an office and realized my M5 wasn’t cutting it anymore. Signal strength was non existent. A temporary Wi-Fi extender gave me **10–20 Mbps**, usable but bad for daily work. Time for an upgrade. My house is old, so no wired backhaul available, only WiFi backhaul. I started thinking of pulling wires but was hoping to avoid that mess so you could say wired was my plan C if all else failed. Found the **BE22** on a good deal, but it’s not “true” Wi-Fi 7 (no 6 GHz band). The **BE25** was pricier, and the **XE75 Pro** was well outside my planned budget. Long story short: - Bought the **BE22**, tested, returned. - Bought the **BE25**, tested, returned. - Bought the **XE75 Pro**, which arrived 3 days ago. Note: The **XE75** and **XE75 Pro** are the same hardware, the Pro just adds a **2.5 Gbps Ethernet port**. Thats it. Signal strength is the same. --- ## Setup - **Internet:** 1 Gbps fiber - **House:** Large, light to medium thick walls and combined with the layout makes it absolute torture test for mesh systems. - **Ethernet port:** Only one, at the entrance - **Goal:** Stable Wi-Fi in the new garden office My mesh layout: 1. **Main node** — at the entrance (where the fiber modem is) 2. **Second node** — upstairs (for bedroom coverage) 3. **Third node** — as close as possible to the garden office, still within range of the main. I used **3-pack kits** for each test and set them up as **new networks** each time. I added one of my old **Deco M5 units** in the office as a fourth node. --- ## Test Results | Router | Main Node | 2nd & 3rd Nodes | Office | |------------|------------|----------------|---------| | **M5** | 600 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 0 Mbps (20 Mbps w/ extender) | | **BE22** | 900 Mbps | 300–500 Mbps | 50–150 Mbps | | **BE25** | 900 Mbps | ~500 Mbps | 50–150 Mbps | | **XE75 Pro** | 900 Mbps | ~800 Mbps | ~250 Mbps | **Error margin: ± 50 Mbps** --- ## Summary ### **BE22** - Impressive main-node performance: **900+ Mbps** consistently. - Secondary node: **300–500 Mbps**, depending on placement. 2nd floor node gave stable 500 Mbps while the far node near garden struggled, averaging **~300 Mbps**. - M5 in the office: **70–150 Mbps**. - Good but not enough improvement to justify keeping. I want to utilize my 1 gbps as much as i could. ### **BE25** - Practically identical performance to BE22. - Held onto it for about a month, but didn’t justify the price bump. - Might as well return to BE22 if im keeping, or start pulling some wires. ### **XE75 Pro** - Costs almost double the BE22 but the performance jump is real. - Main node: **900–950 Mbps**. - Secondary nodes: **800–900 Mbps**. - Range and stability were shockingly better. - Office connection (no node): fluctuated **10–250 Mbps**, unstable so added M5 node there. - With M5 as satellite: **150–350 Mbps** solid. Not very happy but not very sad either. Ill have to do something about this but it works for now. --- ## TL;DR - **BE22:** Great value, solid speeds, limited range. - **BE25:** Same. Not enough to justify higher cost if range is the goal. - **XE75 Pro:** Superior range and backhaul stability. Worth the extra cost if you rely on wireless backhaul. --- - **Wired backhaul:** Any of them will do. No big difference except future proofing. If house size is not an issue then easily BE25. You get the 6 Ghz wifi 7 and still to a reasonable price. - **Wireless backhaul:** **XE75 Pro** is the clear winner and by far. The larger tower design of the XE75 seems to give it better antennas, better range, faster and more consistent speeds. I still need to do something about the 250 mbps in the office but I will definitely keep the XE75 for now.

Hello everyone, This review is for anyone finding it and is stuck choosing between these three Deco models I was in the same spot recently. So i bought all three and did some testing. --- ## Background I’ve been running the **Deco M5** for 8 years ish. Recently I turned a spare room in my garden into an office and realized my M5 wasn’t cutting it anymore. Signal strength was non existent. A temporary Wi-Fi extender gave me **10–20 Mbps**, usable but bad for daily work. Time for an upgrade. My house is old, so no wired backhaul available, only WiFi backhaul. I started thinking of pulling wires but was hoping to avoid that mess so you could say wired was my plan C if all else failed. Found the **BE22** on a good deal, but it’s not “true” Wi-Fi 7 (no 6 GHz band). The **BE25** was pricier, and the **XE75 Pro** was well outside my planned budget. Long story short: - Bought the **BE22**, tested, returned. - Bought the **BE25**, tested, returned. - Bought the **XE75 Pro**, which arrived 3 days ago. Note: The **XE75** and **XE75 Pro** are the same hardware, the Pro just adds a **2.5 Gbps Ethernet port**. Thats it. Signal strength is the same. --- ## Setup - **Internet:** 1 Gbps fiber - **House:** Large, light to medium thick walls and combined with the layout makes it absolute torture test for mesh systems. - **Ethernet port:** Only one, at the entrance - **Goal:** Stable Wi-Fi in the new garden office My mesh layout: 1. **Main node** — at the entrance (where the fiber modem is) 2. **Second node** — upstairs (for bedroom coverage) 3. **Third node** — as close as possible to the garden office, still within range of the main. I used **3-pack kits** for each test and set them up as **new networks** each time. I added one of my old **Deco M5 units** in the office as a fourth node. --- ## Test Results | Router | Main Node | 2nd & 3rd Nodes | Office | |------------|------------|----------------|---------| | **M5** | 600 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 0 Mbps (20 Mbps w/ extender) | | **BE22** | 900 Mbps | 300–500 Mbps | 50–150 Mbps | | **BE25** | 900 Mbps | ~500 Mbps | 50–150 Mbps | | **XE75 Pro** | 900 Mbps | ~800 Mbps | ~250 Mbps | **Error margin: ± 50 Mbps** --- ## Summary ### **BE22** - Impressive main-node performance: **900+ Mbps** consistently. - Secondary node: **300–500 Mbps**, depending on placement. 2nd floor node gave stable 500 Mbps while the far node near garden struggled, averaging **~300 Mbps**. - M5 in the office: **70–150 Mbps**. - Good but not enough improvement to justify keeping. I want to utilize my 1 gbps as much as i could. ### **BE25** - Practically identical performance to BE22. - Held onto it for about a month, but didn’t justify the price bump. - Might as well return to BE22 if im keeping, or start pulling some wires. ### **XE75 Pro** - Costs almost double the BE22 but the performance jump is real. - Main node: **900–950 Mbps**. - Secondary nodes: **800–900 Mbps**. - Range and stability were shockingly better. - Office connection (no node): fluctuated **10–250 Mbps**, unstable so added M5 node there. - With M5 as satellite: **150–350 Mbps** solid. Not very happy but not very sad either. Ill have to do something about this but it works for now. --- ## TL;DR - **BE22:** Great value, solid speeds, limited range. - **BE25:** Same. Not enough to justify higher cost if range is the goal. - **XE75 Pro:** Superior range and backhaul stability. Worth the extra cost if you rely on wireless backhaul. --- - **Wired backhaul:** Any of them will do. No big difference except future proofing. If house size is not an issue then easily BE25. You get the 6 Ghz wifi 7 and still to a reasonable price. - **Wireless backhaul:** **XE75 Pro** is the clear winner and by far. The larger tower design of the XE75 seems to give it better antennas, better range, faster and more consistent speeds. I still need to do something about the 250 mbps in the office but I will definitely keep the XE75 for now.

I have the BE25 3 pack in the UK and they have been absolutely brilliant. All the issues I was having with my previous system have gone. I feel I’m future-proofed for a couple of years and that’s fine for me. Theres always gonna be something newer and faster and some will pay to have that, which is great. For an average household like mine, with all the devices and streaming services that come with it, the BE25 is ideal. Just waiting on the BE25-outdoor now.

For me the problem with XE75 pro is that I have now Fiber at 2,5Gbps and if I buy a XE75pro I know already that on the ethernet in the future I will not be able to connect via ethernet any 2.5 device. At least with BE25 i have this possibility and I spend even less.

I've discovered that some BE25 have total output of 3600Mbps (called also BE3600) and some are 5000Mbps...XE75 is 5000Mbps...I think BE25 for me is out of equation...I'm not in a rush, but if I find good offer on XE75Pro or BE65 I go for one of those 2

I recently picked up a 3 pack as well with 1 on each floor in my home using a backhaul set up with a tl sg108s M2 switch. To be honest it is better then my second gen Google mesh set up I had. No drops or deadzones now.  I'm getting 400mbps download and 49 Mbps on upload with a wifi speed test, have not done a mired speed test yet. Not too bad I guess, my home internet package is 1.5gbps though.

I too have the BE25 and it's more than capable for my family and work needs, easy to set up, solid connection, kinda set up and forget. I'm getting nearly all my broadband speed to my devices, which is way more than I'll ever need, so I highly recommend them from my experience so far.

I got the Deco Wi-Fi 7 mesh and usually see 800+ on my devices except for devices that are only using the wireless backhaul. I’ve been very happy with it. Believe it is app only admin though. In my head, the wireless back haul is only done on 2.4 GHz so it would be limited throughput regardless of vendor. I think Unify is probably the leader for this , Orbi is probably a close second. Unless you want to get slightly complicated and use Fortinet.

just fyi - I tried new Deco wifi 7, HP Instant On and then Firewalla AP7. Very Happy with the AP7 from Firewalla and got full coverage with 3 units (needed 4 or 5 for the others as I couldn't put them on ceiling).

I think WiFi 6 is enough for an average user. I recently got the WiFi 7 mesh and ended up not even using MLO (WiFi 7 feature). People said it drain their device's battery even faster when it connects to multiple bands.

First question that should be asked, which speed are you subscribed to? Also when did you switch? If you're on the Gig you should be running wifi-7 and that router is free. If you're on 500mbps you should have the newer wifi-6e router and modem. With my ISP (not spectrum) I'm running the deco home mesh system which is wifi-7 because my ISP equipment is 3 generations behind. You can get them from Walmart, best buy, or amazon

They are incredible and simple. I’ve had a setup with the WiFi 6e ones, and now have one with WiFi 7 ones. Literally stellar performance. Do you have first hand experience?

Agree with this. Go with mesh routers (TP Link Deco is a good option). I was able to cover a 3 level house using two units (one of the ground floor and second mounted near the roof of second floor near the stairs. This covers all 3 floors completely. If you can still do it, I highly recommend installing a CAT6 Ethernet cable from the point where you will keep the primary router (most probably somewhere in ground floor) to a central point in second floor to act as a wired backhaul. This will give you a better consistent connection from the second floor/ third units. And yes you can install this by the yourself without any networking knowledge.

TPLink Deco Mesh user here with no issues.

I’d try a mesh router system first something like the Eero 7 Plus or the TP Link Deco and see how that works before deciding to run cat6. That should be able to adequately cover 2600sqft no problem. If that isn’t enough then I’d go down the cat6 rabbit hole.

That other end of that line runs outside to the phone nid but you need it to go to your router, so you'll need to fish 2 walls. Not saying it's impossible but it would be much more complicated than you're thinking. I'd go with a mesh system like the Eero 7 Plus or the TPLink Deco, it would be much easier to get up and running.

The deco units are fine for general usage but in our case we want to game on the wifi and the ping was atrocious

Same here

My TPLink Deco, 3 unit mesh system does not rely on cloud (to function or manage) after it's initial set up. It would depend on cloud connectivity if I turned on it's advanced security features but I do as much as I can myself vs. having it inspect all my traffic. I did originally have to create an account for TPLink but my management URL for the system points to the local IP of the primary unit. It would still be talking out to TPLink at some point as it knows when updates are available but according to my PiHole and Ntopng, it's one of the quietest devices I own. Maybe not perfect for your described need but I'm happy enough with it. It also does surprisingly fine on mesh without backhaul. Even switching between APs is mostly smooth as I move around the house. Also, I'd certainly prefer to backhaul (wired connectivity back to primary router vs. one unit wirelessly feeding another.) However, my new to me house has Cat5 everywhere but the electrician only terminated 1 pair for phone at each jack. (GRRRR!) I plan on re-terminating everything but have other priorities to fix first as wireless is working surprisingly well. Mind you, I'm pretty rural so my Internet is only 50/10 anyways (500/50 after today hopefully,) so it's not exactly stressed. I miss my Gig service for hosting......

Yep all absolutely true. I ended up trying to downsize and optimize picks but the lag and need for content reboots remained. Switched over to Decos and never looked back. Incredibly fast solid coverage throughout and no downtime. Light years better.

Works fine. Not a single issue

I have a deco, nothing but trouble. Read the tp link subreddit about dropped connections. If you work from home this is not for you

Deco. Asus has done me dirty too many times to EVER buy something from them again. Don't warranty me twice. Get out of my house.

this needs so many more upvotes! I have having a nightmare with my networked PC's, some plugged into the ISP router and some on the wifi. They weren't showing up under worked PC's in windows and once i switched the Deco's to AccessPt Mode... everything fixed. I can connect to either the Deco AP mesh, or directly to the ISP router and all pc's can now see each other! Finally a good explanation on the matter :)

It’s a good system…..until your modem looses internet and the whole LAN side of your network stops functioning. It’s a known issue with many still waiting on a fix. For whatever reason, TP Link decided not to designate one of the Ethernet ports as “WAN” and instead relies on auto sensing. When the internet goes down, Deco gets confused and the general response is that the LAN also goes down until internet is restored. I ended up just running these as APs and put in a different router.

Re-iterating what others have stated. They work great when you hardware each unit. I am not a fan of wireless backhaul. In theory it should work, but in reality I find them lacking. I have recently done a Deco install and an Eero install, hardwiring all units for both. It is sometimes cheaper to do it this way than buying APs to wire in. Just remember to have the "Main" mesh unit first in the chain. I usually go Internet Modem -> First Mesh Unit -> switch -> satellites.

I've tried Orbi and Deco... Deco at least has more options but I had a lot of issues walking around the house and the switching between nodes taking a long time or unable to get a full Internet access once reconnected.

I have one of their combined routers and modems. I still run 3 decos across the house broadcasting is own signal. No issues.

I did. I have one house with 3 decos and spectrum and another house with 5 decos on optimum and no issues on either. I named both ssids on the decos the same so every device connects in both houses.

It works pretty well. I think bridge or pass through mode is a better way. But if you can’t change the settings, then this way works

Exact same setup and results (TP-Link Deco). We couldn't be happier - including multiple family member Internet power users. Life is good.

No. This is a piece of hardware that requires other pieces to work. UniFi sells business and enterprise networking equipment. It requires a management system to be in place. A cloud key or Dream Machine is needed to configure this. Think, professional use only where professional knowledge is necessary. Return this to where you purchased it. If you want to use Mesh, pickup a TP-Link Deco system, Eero, or a Google Nest WiFi system for a ***proper*** functional system that won’t make things worse. Don’t buy garbage called “range extenders” or “WiFi boosters”.

Upgrade to Wifi 6E. It's quite the jump. Not just in speeds, but how the connections are handled. You want 2x2 MIMO at least on the router side for that many devices. The Deco line works well and is easy to set and forget. You can pay huge premium for Wifi7 and enjoy that, or just realize that 200-400mbps real world speed over wifi 6 or 500-750 on wifi6e will be just fine.

Skip extenders and go mesh Error, Deco or nest will cover all 3 floors reliable. Keep the motorola as modem turn off it's WiFi and let the mesh handle everything.

More customization helps though. My TP-Link Deco units don't allow you to change the network channel, instead they have an "algorithm" that always picks the most congested channels.

\+1 for deco, I have 3 of them at home (one on each floor) and it works great!

I have an e7 and another wifi7 AP that I don’t care to remember its name, and I went back to using my old orbi mesh system. It was nothing but headaches with the ubiquity WiFi. If I were you I’d try a decent Deco mesh system. Ive set a few of those up at clients and they are very nice and super long range. If it don’t work good you can always return it :)

Initially, I had an issue where DNS resolution was failing on only some web sites, so they were just not loading and if TM reset things on their end, it seemed to work for a day or two but problem returned. Long story, short… factory reset on their end Deco fixed the problem. I think the AI didn’t like me changing to TM. No problems since.

I've had great luck with TP-Link Deco systems

We had an older Google WiFi system we just replaced with a Deco system. Night and day difference in terms of reliability.

Both should work, no issues at all. Etisalat tech lied to you. All their hardware is bargain bin stuff. You can get Deco or get multiple tp link routers with Easy mesh ethernet backhaul - the latter is cheaper and what I'm using these days.

I don't think it would honestly. The XE70 pro is a freaking beast still, you will not be disappointed. Just make sure to get a solid modem. I recommend the Netgear CM2000, or CM3000 if you want to future proof for multi gig plans down the road. I tried a combination of arris modems, top recommended routers with Merlin firmware... so much trial and error. The CM3000 and deco mesh just worked right off the bat - blazing speeds and zero issues. I 100% recommend deco

I’ve always had Asus routers with my recent being the AXE 16000. As a result it seemed logical for me if I wanted a mesh system to go the AImesh route. I purchased an extra couple of ASUS routers and to be honest found the speeds to be disappointing and found that the extra routers were often disconnecting. As a result I moved to a TP link Deco system and have been incredibly impressed particularly with maintaining my internets full gigabit speeds between nodes. I know some people go on about how managing the system is app only but personally I actually find that more convenient, but then maybe I don’t tinker enough with the system to require more access than that, apart from changing a few DNS settings.

Mesh will have a potentially hard time with the concrete, wifi simply doesn't penetrate - so mesh will be problematic - placement would be key, the satellites need to have a good signal from the base to work well. You might get away with it by placing them near doorways etc. Many people use ethernet along the base of the walls, over doorway frames etc. and wire access points. Mesh systems do have the advantage of a central controller for the access points, so if you can wire them, your wifi experience would be a lot better. I am not a fan of Netgear, TP-Link Deco is popular in this sub, as is Eero (but there's the fact that it's Amazon and has a semi-subscription model. If you want to be a little more spendy, Ubiquiti UniFi has a great interface and good quality that should last. The UniFi Express models have a built in AP and can be meshed. The Cloud Gateway Ultras would be ideal with multiple access points placed around. (I am a UniFi fan) Asus is also mostly well thought of. I think the TP-Link Deco line would be the most affordable choice.

Deco works really well with extending range. Actually better than a range extender, as Mesh systems are designed from the ground up to work with each other in the system. I had a Ge800 tied to a be550 and a WiFi 7 range extender. Super good stuff right? But it's half ass "patched up" jerky jerky mesh was no match to a Deco. Deco was snappier, more reliable, and longer range.

Can confirm. Have Deco. Am miserable.

To echo what plenty of others are saying, but also provide links to specific items to Do-It-Yourself and save money but still get good finished product. Assuming you have roof/attic access above the rooms and can run power to the attic: * buy bulk CAT6 cable, shielded twisted pair, not CCA (CCA stands for copper coated aluminum). [Get good shielded copper wire, like this](https://a.co/d/ijNWYa0). * buy a [crimper toolkit like this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7GRX9DW) * watch a few youtubes on terminating Cat6 cable. * buy a mesh wifi system like Amazon Eero, tp-Link Deco, Asus Zen Wi-Fi, etc. [Here's a good article / review of mesh systems and what to look for](https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/best-mesh-wifi-routers/) **NOTE:** mesh wifi is the consumer grade solution. If you can afford it, you're better off getting Wifi Access Points (APs) - the business grade solution - Ubiquiti is the best known of the AP options. Connection works similarly, with one key difference -- APs require power over ethernet (POE) instead of an electrical outlet / power supply. There are pros and cons of installing either Mesh or APs. * buy at least one [Unmanaged Ethernet Switch like this](https://a.co/d/88WLwNn) - this one is 8 port (1 connection in, 7 out). * You'll run an ethernet cable from your Comcast box to your wifi mesh router. Then you'll run a **long** ethernet cable down toward your L-corner dead zone. You'll plug that long ethernet cable to the Unmanaged Ethernet Switch. Then you'll run another ethernet cable from the Unmanaged Ethernet Switch to one of your mesh wifi satellites. BAM! Good internet within reach of that mesh satellite. You'll need to estimate/experiment with how many satellites the system needs (get multiple people to watch netflix on iPads, and spread them along rooms close to the mesh satellite -- see how many people / how many rooms you can cover before you need to add another mesh wifi satellite). I did a low-key simplified version of this at my house. Reply here if you have questions / need help. # You can do this yourself.

TP Link Deco. You won’t regret it. Of course the best case scenario is to have wired backhaul between the nodes, but real life is another thing. I’m sure you’ll be happy with the Deco solution. It’s very user friendly, easy maintenance, decent support and upgrades, and you can remotely manage them. If you decide to put some wires between them later, awesome! But you can start leveraging the benefits from day one.

Same setup here, 3 TP-Link decos along with a Ubiquiti Access Point that broadcasts into an open farm field with allows me to get WiFi 300+ ft away.

For the less network savvy, it's worth mentioning that many of the fancy features the deco router offers through the app will not work in AP mode. I consider that a good thing, but YMMV. I 'upgraded' to a deco system months ago, unaware that this is meant for the average user and advanced features are crippled, e.g. browser config is minimal as they want you to use the app. No luck querying the DHCP reservations from a script. I'm now moving to a separate OpenWRT wired router behind my cable modem and switching the deco to AP mode. This gives a lot more control. Another upside is that upgrading the WiFi system is then possible without losing all the painstakingly configured DHCP reservations and port forwarding rules.

Tp link deco. Just a no fuss system. Plug in, download the app, set ssid and don't worry about it anymore for years. Mine has been stable and working for years. There are better systems out there for sure, but at the price point, it's good value

Strange, I use vlan tagging on my deco system. It has allowed me to replace my ISP modem.

Mesh networks are the way forward. Extenders often create a new network. You can also use powerline adapters, but from my experience, you can get better speeds with a mesh network, do some research, I personally use the tp link Deco devices.

That's what made me buy my decos, I had an eero provided by talktalk which I sent back when I swapped to plusnet who use the bt hub 2 and honestly after using a single eero it was noticeable how bad the Hub 2 was so I brought the decos.

My TP-Link Deco (with all nodes connected via Ethernet backhaul) has been superb for me, easy to setup, zero black spots, seamless transition between nodes, decent and pretty consistent speeds throughout the house.

Hello!! I also use Deco Mesh and Homekit, i noticed a BIG improvement once i conected all my decos via ethernet. I hate cables but it was a game changer, i use smart products from different brands and now i don't have any issues with disconections!!  Some meross plugs disconected all the time before wiring my decos, now they work flawless! Hope you can find a solution that fits your needs! 🙌🏻

I would get Ethernet drops for access points, you could also use a mesh system like deco but make sure you are hard wired at each satellite, don’t depend on wireless connectivity between wireless points unless you absolutely have to.

I am pretty happy with my Deco system. All these systems are typically discounted on prime day if you have surrendered your soul to Darth Bezos and if you can wait until then. I know the standard advice on this sub is to do hardwired APs. But without enterprise grade system with controller, devices (I am looking at you fruit-phone) tend to cling to APs. I think the mesh systems are somewhat better at making the devices hop since the stations can “talk” to each other. Read about 802.11 k/v/r if interested. Also, most mesh systems offer wired backhaul that will always make things better.

Don't they are an Archer You want a Deco Mesh System EasyMesh, OneMesh and Deco Mesh are not compatible with each other [https://www.tp-link.com/au/home-networking/deco/](https://www.tp-link.com/au/home-networking/deco/) Choose carefully and use 'Ethernet Backhaul' where you can to improve communication between Deco's I have 4 Deco's for a large apartment and I have strong signal everywhere. You may need more Deco's but start with 4 Also take note you do not need to buy Wi-Fi7 right now. Most of your devices can't use it fully, and, they may be more unstable using BE & MLO I would suggest Wi-Fi 6E tbh, cheaper and much more reliable (without upgrading every single piece of technology in your house)

I would say to stay one step behind the 'best in class' maybe the XE200, depending on the interference in your home you may need 3-4 Deco's but start with 3, its extremely easy to just add them 1 by 1. $200 isn't a lot so you're not going to get the best performing system........remember tech is like cars........you get what you pay for..........if you want your home network to perform like a piece of sh\*t spend $200 but I assure you with your internet plan.........you will regret it later. This won't be a case where you can call your internet provider and scream at them when your home router is worse than theirs

Never used Google Mesh tbh I've always used TP-Link, both Archer and Deco and have been impressed all the way. I mean sure like computers routers need an occasional restart but twice in 1 year, that's not exactly a problem

Same 552 days and not one restart :) Even when the internet goes down it knows when to immediately reconnect

TP-Link Deco is working well for me

I've got two deco units due to my previous apartment having solid brick walls. They've been amazing for my use case. Easy setup with advanced options for what I needed. Works with TPG and now Aussie broadband. Only issue I had while with TPG and the dexo unit was not having a setting to change the packet size. With my works VPN on Microsoft teams would have a packet size just slightly over what TPG's system accepted so my teams would just stop working. Switching to Aussie fixed the issue as it was too hard to explain to IT that they need to change some backend operating system settings.

Deco is generally fine except that it handles iphones really badly. I think related to the handoff - very frequently moving from one end of the house to the other I have to switch wifi on and off again to find the network. This seems to be a common complaint on the support forum. If I weren't already $600 in on nodes I'd probably switch to an omada setup.

Don't do this if you have a home network and semi-regular internet outages. I just discovered that Decos and TP-Link's gaming routers require a modem connection to route traffic for physically connected devices. This is probably no big deal for a lot of folks, but for those of us with a NAS, or PCs that require a physical connection, it's obnoxious. The Deco unit ports are WAN/LAN ports, and they default to WAN until a modem is detected (same for their gaming routers). During an internet outage, most modern modems go into a reboot cycle, and every time they do a full power cycle, the Deco no longer detects them, and flips all of its ports back to WAN. This results in your physically connected devices getting disconnected from your network every 15 minutes or so while the modem reboots, effectively rendering your home network useless.

im a fan of tplink deco. for the best speeds get wifi 6/7 capable, and buy a few nodes to increase their range.

best solution is to use ethernet cable, or coax with moca adapters and backhaul the AP. next best is wifi mesh.. eg tplink deco

better than mesh is to use ethernet cable with AP. mesh wise tplink deco are easy and quick to setup.

unifi is good, but ive had good results from tplink deco

I just set up a new deco connected to my ISP-supplied router (I did not put it in bridge or IP passthrough mode). The Deco set up did not prompt me with anything like the choice to put the Deco in "Access Point" mode, and prompted me to add a network name. Does this mean it's in router mode?

Thank you. I did later find the setting and switched the Deco to access point mode. I found it confusing because, starting the setup assuming the Deco is in router mode means that I specified an SSID name (I used the same name as I used for the wifi from the ISP's router) and later when I switched the Deco to access point mode, that 2nd duplicated SSID hung around for a bit looking like another wifi network with the same name.

Now I understand that both the router and the Deco access point have their own SSID. I have now turned off the wifi coming out of the ISP's modem+router, while leaving the main Deco in access mode.

Totalky agree, Orbs is garbage. I switched to Deco and I've never looked back.

I’d stay away from the nest pros. I “upgraded” from these and have Ethernet backhaul and was having issues all the time with drops and lagging. Since I got them from Costco was able to return them (after over a year) and switched to the deco system. With the way these systems are setup now it seems you need points in every room because signal can drop so much with the environment. Example- my kid had a Stanley water battle near the point on their desk and the cut down the signal strength by half while only standing 2 feet away.

Was happy I remembered I bought my set from Costco and returned them after about 15 months for a refund. Had the same issue and ran through so many hoops trying to get them to work properly even on wired backhul. Switched to decos and seem to be working well but may need to add a few more WiFi points.

I have this setup,no issues whatsoever.

I like your idea; however, I suggest buying a mesh system that supports AP mode and Ethernet backhaul. Then... 1. Move the AT&T gateway to the basement and disable the wireless radio. Use it as a router/firewall only. Run the mesh system in AP mode. 2. Run CAT5e or CAT6 (not older CAT5) where you can, but also to the first floor where a mesh node will be located. This will function like a wired AP for the first floor, and should leave only the second floor with a wireless mesh node. A good mesh system like TP-Link Deco will support both wireless and Ethernet backhaul nodes in the same installation. NOTE: When you are ready, find a pathway for getting Ethernet from the basement to the attic (assuming you have access) then down into second-floor wall(s) from there. This is how I wired two houses, one build circa 1905.

A mesh probably wouldn’t help with interference much. The only benefit they have is an ‘optimise’ feature where they move to different channels based on which has the lowest interference. I would keep your existing router in place, but disable wireless and operate it in modem mode. Mesh devices aren’t great running as a router. This also means you keep Ethernet ports and reduce the need for a switch. If you have an existing wired connecting from your router to your office you can use it as a wired backhaul from mesh to mesh. I’ve used the TP-Link deco system, it works fine and was significantly better than my ISP router alone, but I’m now looking at installing wired access points around my house and moving away from a mesh.

Deco has been good to us as well. I have no complaints. 5+ years

No, it will be fine. I like the tplink Deco range

I have 2 separate ISPs with one on deco and one on google. the only issue I have seen so far with Google is 1 mesh device will randomly go down and the doorbell feed never shows when someone rings the bell

So, coming from Apple airport extremes to TP link’s Wifi 7 devices I’ve found I could not remove the airport extremes due to the poor quality of the TP link devices. Features they say they support are half supported. The TP links randomly drop connections. They also have 3 product lines that can’t mesh with each other. It’s really hard to find the info you need before you buy. I bought the deco’s and had to return them, the kit arrived with one unit dead on arrival. The tplink’s I bought say they support mesh but once setup as a mesh they lose features. So the mesh isn’t worth using.

Yes, I added Omada since they are priced all similarly where I am. I have 2 of the BE550 pro v2 routers. The mesh setup is a half baked. You can’t use all the wifi features when setup as a mesh. Everything is hard wired (backplane). I wish I had gone with something else.

I recommend TP-Link Deco or Omada systems.

I’ve got arlo cameras on my deco mesh setup. Never a problem. And my network has a lot going on all the time.

I have a TP link Deco with all nodes hardwired it works brilliantly. Anything wireless is not going to perform it’s best especially as most people put mesh nodes in the wrong place

I’ve had good luck with TP-Link Deco. I have a combined 5ghz and 2.4ghz main network, but I also have a separate IoT network that is 2.4ghz only. It’s worked well for a SwitchBot Hub Mini and a Lifx bulb. Another thing to consider is not using WiFi devices. Devices that use Thread or their own hubs are going to be more reliable. Zigbee devices are rock solid.

Another vote for Deco! I have a set of three that worked really well in a two story rental house and a two story townhome. They’re a little weaker now that we’re in a 2300sqft SFH, but I just may need to adjust placement or add another unit.

Yep! I have three TP-Link Decos. They worked really well in a 1200sqft two-story house and a 1500sqft two-story townhome. They’re also working fairly well in our 2300sqft California split we just moved into, but I think we’ll need to add a fourth unit in the longterm. I’ve never hardwired them as that hasn’t been an option so far. I’m looking into MoCA since my house has coax throughout, but I’m going to hold out for a bit and decide between that and saving up for whole home Ethernet.

I have a mix of these and a deco mesh. Some of my stuff is old and doesn’t take WiFi

I recommend TP link Deco, there is s nice user friendly app and it’s an easy setup. However as someone else wrote, mesh can be difficult on different floors without some cabeling in between floors. I have set it up at one location with an outdoor deco x50 as the main point and then 8 indoor units to cover 8 apartments in two floors and that works good, so that’s an alternative solution for you to consider.

Deco was OK until they started putting features behind a paywall. Things like "screen time" etc were all moved to be on their subscription service.

I tried this on our living room. The main deco's range is really small. The ISP's router reaches farther like up to our neighbor next door. Should I wall mount the main deco to increase its range? It is just set on the center table. This is why I didn't turn off the WiFi from the ISP's router. My other decos are in the 2nd floor and the 3rd floor. 3rd floor has really good range since there are lesser walls. 

Works great.  Been using it a year now. Everything connected seamlessly 

The main network is T-Mobile, my decos are connected to that,but the,decos are named a separate network. I can connect to the T-Mobile main or my deco All decos are one network name. I don’t know how to describe it but it works and I have signal all over the house.

Having 10GbE ports and actually being able to provide 10gbps throughput are very different things. I refuse to recommend TP-Link Deco. The system relies on TP-Link servers for management, has a dumbed-down admin interface with only basic config options, frequently fails to deliver advertised features or function reliably, and overstates their performance capabilities (of course the latter isn't unusual in the market). I have no experience with Netgear Orbi, but note they have only a single 10GbE port, so you can't do wireless backhaul at 10gbps across nodes or to wired devices (don't expect above 3-4gbps via WiFi). Asus has the BE996U meshable router with a pair of 10GBE ports and BE19000 support, so could support 10gbps wired backhaul and (with a 10GbE switch) wired devices. I'd rank Asus above TP-Link Deco but nowhere near a system like UniFi. Do you really want 10gbps or even 5gbps throughput? Do you even have any devices that could support 10GbE, or even 2.5GbE? Run lots of CAT6A cable and get a UniFi UCG-Fiber (5gbps), UDM-Pro-Max (5gbps), or EFG (12.5gbps), or a Firewalla Gold Pro (10gbps), or a TP-Link Omada ER8411 (5gbps) router and add a 10GbE switch. Use UniFi U7-Pro-XG or TP-Link Omada EAP773 access points connected via 10GbE to the switch. I could design you a network that, on paper, would be expected to provide up to 10gbps across the wire and probably around 3-4gbps via WiFi (to devices that support WiFi 7 and 6GHz). But you'll have to spend around $5K in equipment, at least $2K for professional cable installation, and my time to do the up-front site assessment and planing for a project this size wouldn't be free. And even then, at the end of the project you'll be able to run speed tests and smile at your network throughput, but it will make very little difference in your day-to-day experience vs 1gbps.

Love my TP-Link Deco mesh setup. We have 8 satellites spread throughout the house (long ranch) and two outdoor buildings. Some are wired backhaul and others are wireless. Works great.

Don’t have a recommendation as I’m using 2 Decos with wireless back haul now. While you’re still with it, and waiting on your next router just a recommendation if you haven’t already done it. I have mine configured and rarely ever have devices disconnect or go offline. I’m sure there are much better routers, but I’m actually considering expanding my Deco network because I’ve had so few issues with it and actually find the app to be helpful. Although I wish I could see network traffic and that’ll be the main consideration if I switch. I have 3 networks set up with different names: - Main: 2.4, 5, 6ghz bands - Laptops, Consoles, Apple TVs, HomePods - IOT: 2.4, 5ghz bands - Smart appliances and devices: lights, switches, tvs, monitors, cameras, locks, etc (set connection preference in the app to 2.4ghz and turn off mesh on devices that only support 2.4 (super important and what stopped the offline issue)) - MLO - iPhones

TP-Link Déco is cheap and simple to install. Other brands got more features, I don't need.

I don’t know if it would suit your needs, it’s kinda barebones, but I’m using TPlink Deco line for this. I have one of their outdoor units outside in Minnesota, and it sees up to 100 F in the summer and -20 F as extremes. It’s lasted fine for two years now. I have it attached PoE outdoor Ethernet I ran along my fence.

Mesh systems are great but you still aren’t going to get your full internet speeds via WiFi unless you only subscribe to sub 500mb service. Maybe if you’re standing in the exact right spot compared to the wireless routers. Depends on the capabilities of the d vices you’re connecting to WiFi as well as distance, height and interference. I run tp-link after finally ditching my slow ass eero mesh setup but WiFi is WiFi and it’s never as good as connecting directly to an Ethernet port.

I would get a deco mesh WiFi system and use a switch off of the main router for all of your wired needs(gaming, large file transfers internally, etc). The deco routers each have two Ethernet ports. The one that you designate as the main router will have both used(1 incoming from your cable or fiber modem/terminal and the other one out to a switch to feed Ethernet devices. You can run Ethernet from your switch to each of the other mesh devices as a faster backhaul or connect them wirelessly if there’s a strong signal. You will get some speed loss here, no doubt, but without a lot of interference or great distance the speed loss won’t be terrible. If you do run Ethernet to each one as a backhaul then you can use the other port on those mesh devices to connect a device via Ethernet as well. I have one sitting in my living room anyway that’s connected to the others via WiFi with a strong signal but my tv has a crappy WiFi card in it so it doesn’t always have the best connection so I just plugged the Ethernet port on my tv into my mesh device and it works like a champ. You may not even need to use a switch very much if you strategically place your mesh devices and backhaul then with Ethernet. You can attach two Ethernet devices to each one (other than the main one) if they’re open because you didn’t use any for backhaul if and chose WiFi as your backhaul instead

Another vote for deco, just works.

I went from Deco’s that had devices drop off regularly to Eeros supplied by my ISP. It’s like night and day. Eeros are rock solid and work perfectly with my Apple Home setup. I intended to go down the Unifi route until I realised just how reliable and well performing the Eero’s were. They are ‘plug and play’ and you can’t change much, but are pretty much ‘set up and forget’. Just my own experience and it may be different for someone else.

Nonesense. My simple TP-Link Deco setup works flawlessly with 4K 60hz streaming at 100mbps. Host is wired and client is wired or wireless depending on whether I use the TV. I can go fully wireless, but then I need to reduce the bitrate to sin 50 mpbs.

Yes, my large TP-Link Deco system performs well, but realistically I'm fairly low bandwidth on the wireless side. I do have a bunch of WiFi telemetry devices over a broad area and they seem happier since I put it in.

I concur that you need a mesh Network. There's a lot of options out there and for your building you could probably do it for under $1,000 easily. I myself have a deco and we have four modules through a long rambly ranch house and we have nearly 300 MB per second everywhere because we have about 1 GB per second fiber to the house.

Definitely get a mesh Network and you can actually make it use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and you can't tell the difference. I have The Deco and it works super well in this old thick plastered house

Can voich for Decos. I have a Deco Mesh(3 decos) running from the last 365 days. Non-stop. Not even a second.

I’ve been using TP-Link Deco for a couple of years and it’s been great.

I moved recently, and in my current situation, my PS5 is nowhere near my router and there is no way to plug an ethernet into it. This made it impossible for me to use my portal via the PS5 (it would not even connect), it would only work via streaming. Of course, this frustrated me a lot. This prompted me to go on a journey to upgrade my home network. I previously never even thought about improving my network setup, I just always used whatever router the internet company provided or a cheap / normal one. The first thing I tried was using powerline adapters. I read that this is hit or miss depending on your electrical wiring. It sucked a lot for me, so I returned them. The next step I took, and what worked for me, was buying a high end modem and building a mesh network using tp-link deco. I was expecting the wifi coverage at my home to improve, after all that is the goal of the mesh network. What I was not expecting and am blown away by is just how much faster my internet is overall. Probably because I’m using a good modem and good router vs what I had before. I just never knew the impact would be so high. I use two decos, a main and a satelite, and my PS5 is connected via the ethernet on the satelite. My Portal now connects and works amazing. Fast connection, zero lag. Just wanted to share this because I know a lot of people have connection issues - when connecting directly to your main router isn’t an option, a mesh might be just as good.

Have 2 as a easy mesh. Nice and fast, would buy again

You can also not use VLANs and use OPNSense as it was meant to be used, as a router, and route traffic at the IP layer. You'd be able to use your existing Deco WiFi in its own separate network. In fact, this is what I do. with my Deco.

Same. Plus all Decos are compatible with all other Decos, which makes upgrades easy.

More support for the deco mesh system, much better than other extenders I’ve used

Deco mesh works great in my old home

Tp-Link all he way. Either Deco (if you want ease of installation) or Omada (if you want configurability). You can run the Omada Controller locally as a HA Add-On and also there is an Omada Integration giving you control over all your Omada gear, including control over PoE management on switches.

I’ve had Deco for over 6 years now and it’s going strong I did have an issue about a year ago, I contacted tplink directly and they replaced the unit without any cost, awesome customer service I couldn’t contact the seller because I bought it on Amazon and they still did my replacement.

I got a Deco router and two mesh network extenders. My home is a 650 square foot shotgun

Take the Spectrum modem, get a TP-Link Deco Mesh system (don't listen to the nonsense about them being banned in the US). My house is about 2500 sq ft, I have over 60 devices connected to it, and have ZERO issues.

No love for TP-Link Deco? I swapped out from eero felt it had better parental controls. After that my wifi speed increased from wifi6 to 7. Obviously it was updated but runs so seamless.

Use Deco, a much better solution

I’d avoid the TP-Link deco, it’s horribly unreliable. It doesn’t last, I’d recommend spending more $ for a solution that will last

eero and tp link DECO units are gonna be the best options. i can’t believe no one has said this but orbi has very good options. i have tried tp links one mesh and it has a lot of problems. if your a gamer i wouldn’t buy one tp link router and then have wall access points. get a actual mesh set up as if you want best overall speeds EVERYWHERE then get mesh. deco have very nice, cheap and reliable options, eero is more expensive but has a lot more extensive security settings and parental controls which i do believe is included with the piece if you add there subscription. the biggest thing eero has is, SQM which basically takes network debloating and latency and somehow it fixes it. which is very good for wireless connectivity between mesh devices as if you connected to one satellite mesh network you’ll see a upload latency increase. i think in general the best bang for your buck is tp link. and best overall is orbi. the reason i love orbi is my parents bought the rbr750 or something but it was 6 years ago and it’s still giving the speeds they paid for and still is getting firmware updates. eero is the in between because there a little less than most of the orbi systems i would suggest but have just any the same amount of features. so to sum it up eero is middle ground, orbi is the best, tp link is best bang for buck. hope this helps!

I dunno about them but the tp link deco mesh system really works. My Internet is 12x faster than before having it. 

My day to day is installing Ethernet wiring in finished homes. I’m often addressing issues like poor wifi coverage, old cat5 cabling throttling fiber speeds, or modems installed in places other than where the existing Ethernet wiring is. Every job I’m hardwiring mesh nodes for backhaul, workstations, gaming consoles, or streaming TVs. My skill set is adding wiring to finished homes without cutting sheetrock or needing a painter. This skill comes in handy when a home doesn’t have a crawlspace, or needs wiring between multiple floors (2stories, 3stories, finished basements, and townhomes). I like tplink because of the performance, simple but informative app, and the nodes come with additional Ethernet ports(2 extra after doing hardwired backhaul). Also you can mix the different models seamlessly without having to upgrade the entire system (Google nest). Anyways I just wanted to share how I resolve common network issues and hate tplink gets a bad rep. I also install Unifi and the occasional Eero pro, but tplink just works and their switches have built in QOS for audio/video traffic. So if you are having network issues I recommend buying a pack of your favorite mesh gear, install them where heavy usage devices are, then hardwire them, and hardwire any nearby pc, tv, or game console. If planned correctly you will have the perfect network. Also I recommend mesh over in-ceiling access points because you get more for the Ethernet run, not just a cable for wifi, but a cable that can run a switch, mesh node, and more!

I hardwired a pc before I add wifi coverage. I don’t like to see a workstation on a dock using wifi 🥴🥴

I think you mixed in their enterprise stuff (Omada). Also they work 2x better hardwired, and I think you only have mesh issues if you set them up as access points or create multiple networks accidentally by plugging them into different routers. They have to have a main and the rest be satellites. Basically the topology for all mesh systems has to be hardwired, on the same network, and only one acting as the router. I guess I have had good luck with them and you got bad luck. What did you end up using instead?

The tapos are nibackhand. just work. I have them everywhere as well. Make sure you run ethernet to all the decos.. They are terrible without a hardwired backhaul.

After having the same issues I ended up doing the same. 0 issue since using my old Asus router with the Decos as APs.

Agreed, Deco changed my life! Well worth the outlay

Decos work

I own a bunch of Ubiquiti gear (but not any of their APs) and while it works great you do need to be a lot more comfortable managing your network than you do with consumer-oriented gear like Asus. I'd suggest looking at mesh Wi-Fi systems where you get multiple APs and can place them as needed for best performance/coverage. I bought a 3 AP TP-Link Deco mesh system for my wife's house (old row house full of brick and plaster+lathe, tons of neighbors' WiFi networks competing for airtime) and it has worked like a champ. I just looked and TP-Link is both the Wirecutter's budget pick (Deco S4) *and* upgrade pick (Deco BE63), but not their top pick, which is the Eero 7. Related: I'm still using an old Asus RT-AC68U in AP mode for WiFi, it covers all 2700 sq ft of my house from the roof to the basement and a huge chunk of my yard. It's connected to a Ubiquiti EdgeRouterX for actual routing.

I agree completely but I do have a tiny bit of experience with Deco systems and Asus XT8 systems. (I was happy with Deco systems for many years but decided to develop familiarity with another similar brand in case of any supply chain disruption when I needed to get my hands on a system.) I like both but the Deco app is nicer than Asus’. Otherwise I’ve been satisfied with both after having deployed a handful of each in the past few years.

Eventually will switch to unifi (when i have the money) however im very happy with my current deco system! Bought my current deco to replace a nighthawk mesh(stay away) and its been rock solid since the initial set up

I had these and they worked great, both for WiFi and wired. Not sure why others are saying the WiFi was rubbish. I even used one in my parents house on an extension lead to put WiFi in their rental cottage next door. The reason I have upgraded to Deco mesh is because each powerline creates its own WiFi hotspot, which is fine if you are connecting a stationary desktop/TV etc (although in which case ethernet cable to the TP Link is better), but I had 3 in the house and the original router, which means the WiFi connection on your phone/tablet wants to keep switching to a different source when you move from room to room, and dropping out every time, which was enormously annoying.

I’ve got the same setup. Works great, just make sure you set it up in access point mode instead of router mode, or you’ll get double NAT.

+1 for the Deco Mesh system. Very good WiFi throughout the house and better than a powerline connected to a WiFi extender in access point mode

You have both advertising the same ssid? Wifi devices transition fine between the 2 routers? I'm thinking of doing this. Tired of crappy mesh. First Nest mesh started getting jittery, then switched to tplink deco's and after 1 year, there was latency and packet drops all over the place. I might as well just get 2 nighthawks routers and do what you did.

Same. Moved to Deco instead.

Look at TP-Link Deco or Eero. Both are solid mesh options. With 2 floors and a basement, a mesh system with wired backhaul (if you can run Ethernet) will give you the best performance. You can always start wirelessly and run cables later if needed. Just make sure whatever you get supports Wi-Fi 6. It'll handle gaming, streaming, and working better than anything else.

It takes 3 decos to cover 5500 sq ft. That’s what I have. Took about 5 of the crappy Linksys ones. Got rid of those. Deco is so much faster setup and stronger signal

I've had my hands on a fist full of different mesh solutions. Cost to performance the Decos are winning for now. However given the issues your describing, I don't think a mesh solution is right for you. Look into a more traditional wireless access point solution. Downside is you need to run CAT5e or CAT6 from your router to the APs. My go to right now is the TP-Link EAP670 or the Mikrotik cAP ax. You can use the supplied POE bricks and just hook them directly to your ISPs router. (there are better ways to do this, but its the simplest/cheapest)

Depends on construction materials but assuming wood and drywall your issue won’t be area per floor it’s getting the signal between floors. Wired data to Wi-Fi per floor is best but if that’s not available a tp-link deco mesh system on floors 1-3 ought to do you may need a 4th node on the fourth floor it’s just hard to say. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to set up. TP Link is getting a lot of news right now so you’ll see some opinions on it. All I can tell you is that if you’re looking for ease of set up and solid operation at a good price its a good fit.

The cheapest will be TP-Link but everyone will tell you to stay away from them because they're under fire by the US Government right now and might be banned from being sold in the US. I'm personally riding my Deco system out until that time comes though.

I’m using the deco system across 6 acres and 3 buildings. Works great! 1-2 indoor nodes per building and one outdoor node In the middle of the property. I do have a wired back all between the two furthest buildings, just ran an outdoor cat 6 in a wooded area. Cheers

Deco here as well and never have any Sonos issues, 160square metre house so I have 3 decos to cover it.

I'm using the unify mesh backhaul. It's not great / weaker then the tp link deco meshing setup i was using before. Lower connection speed and more frequent disconnects. Maybe with the dedicated meshing AP it works better, I'm just using i7 Lite Models.

"EastMesh" and Deco "AIMesh" seem to use different mesh platforms and likely won't be compatible. You need another "EastMesh" device if you want it to do what I assume you want it to do, be one house wide WiFi signal with fast roaming as you move around.

no worries, there's also one mesh but that only works with routers to extenders and is absolutely trash and I would not recommend it

If you want cheap and easy to set up mesh WiFi check out TP-Link. Get a decent router then a couple of their mesh wall plugs. It’s easy and reliable. But many love to bash on TP-Link for both good and bad reasons. I’ve used them a few times and they have been great.

You'll need one [OneMesh compatible router](https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/?filterby=AND%7C5876), then you'll get however many [range extenders](https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/range-extender/?filterby=AND%7C5876) you need to cover the area you need. But remember, less is more in this situation. You don't want to flood your home with these devices. Only get as many as you actually need. Start with just the router and figure out your dead zones, then buy the extenders or start with two extenders and buy them from somewhere you can easily return and refund one or both if you don't need them. This is all really easy to set up in my experience, and it just works. You can also skip the actual extenders and just use another OneMesh-compatible router. That may also work for your setup. Sometimes this is better since the routers normally have a stronger signal and longer range. The Deco series from TP-Link is also quite good in my experience.

You'll need one [OneMesh compatible router](https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/?filterby=AND%7C5876), then you'll get however many [range extenders](https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/range-extender/?filterby=AND%7C5876) you need to cover the area you need. But remember, less is more in this situation. You don't want to flood your home with these devices. Only get as many as you actually need. Start with just the router and figure out your dead zones, then buy the extenders or start with two extenders and buy them from somewhere you can easily return and refund one or both if you don't need them. This is all really easy to set up in my experience, and it just works. You can also skip the actual extenders and just use another OneMesh-compatible router. That may also work for your setup. Sometimes this is better since the routers normally have a stronger signal and longer range. The Deco series from TP-Link is also quite good in my experience.

I have a 2 pack TP Link Deco mesh system and it works great for me.

I have a 1gb connection and about 100 feet from the main unit through a brick wall I can get 25 megabits a second down.

if you want speed, you definitely need deco in each room. if you just want coverage, whatever I guess. get the one you can afford, just make sure that the deco your buying is gigabit capable, at least the main deco that is going to connect to your ISP provided CPE ONT, tapos you can go cheap with the satelite/slave devices to widen the coverage.

Agree, Deco mesh is very good, took a bit of adjusting in my flat - the walls seemed to be lined with lead.

7,299 right now on Amazon for 3 unit TP link deco.

I use a deco. I had disconnection problems when I was using the fast band and I saw someone recommended that Google home prioritize consistency over speed and that I should switch over to 2.4hz. I did that and my Google home has never had a disconnect since.

From a cost/quality/ease of setup TP Link Deco’s are definitely in the running. I have 3 in a 2600 sq/ft 1 floor house with no problems. Granted mine are all hardwired in AP mode but I imagine they would still work well in mesh.

I have tp link Delco each has ethernet back haul works great.

Eero (Amazon), tp link Deco, and Asus ZenWifi are all well-reviewed and perform well. If you've got to go mesh, look for a tri-band system with a dedicated backhaul channel (Eero, Deco, and ZenWifi all have models). Eero and Deco are a little more "plug and play". ZenWifi is also easy to set up, and some models give a few more config options/control than Eero or deco. The tricky part is that you don't know how well mesh will perform until you set it up in your place. Two nodes might be enough, but you might need three (or four). A 6 ghz backhaul channel might work, but, if the walls and floors in your place cause a lot of interference, you might see better perf with a 5 ghz backhaul. So buy from a place you can return it, maybe start with three nodes, test how coverage and speeds look, go from there. All three have 2.5 Gbps ports. 3 gig is a *lot* of bandwidth for a residential setup. Unless you're regularly downloading gigantic files (video, game updates), you probably won't exceed ~300-500 Mbps, and WiFi will de facto limit the perf on any device to ~200-600 Mbps. For most homes, 200 Mbps is plenty. If the 3 gig price isn't much different than ~300 Mbps (if you're in the US, it's hard to find service under ~300 Mbps), go for it, but if you're paying a premium for 3 gig, you can save some coin and you almost certainly won't notice a difference in performance. If you're in Europe, you rule!, fiber away because you're prob only paying like €40 for 3 gig.

TP Link Deco Mesh are great. Rarely stop working and can be monitored with the app. In the farthest corner of a new extension room, signal boosted significantly.

Wifi extender would reduce the speed considerably. Best option : Mesh network. You'll need two minimum and add on would be 2.5K per mesh router. TP link Deco is what I am use. Second best : buy another wifi router and connect it with the original through ethernet cable. You'll have a different wifi name for the network from the second router so you'll have to switch between connections.

Second for deco devices

Saw that too. I have TP Link Deco in my home. It’s been amazing but may look for another mesh alternative.

I'm using TP Link Deco's. Wish I'd gone for UniFi (which I've just installed at work - my word it's good)

Sadly, hard disagree. I literally have had 2 Deco units for a week now and its been a horrible experience, with performance worse than when I was just using a router. I really don't get it. It doesn't disconnect, through put just randomly drops to 1kbps. It's driving me nuts.

I was using decos until last week. Never been happy with them, random disconnects, rubbish app that won't let you change settings 9 times out of 10. Stuck with it since lockdown. Finally got fed up last week, ran some cat 5 cable from my router to an old router set up as an extender, more cat 5 from that to the next old router and now I have 4 daisy chained around the house and workshop. Rock solid wifi everywhere, and as a bonus, plenty of ethernet ports everywhere for pc's and tvs

A mid budget version is TP Link Deco, works fine for us.  Depends what your use case is. 

I had powerline adapters and recently changed to the deco Wi-Fi mesh system which have powerline backbone connectivity so they can bridge gaps and provide a unified Wi-Fi across the house Really good kit

Seriously, set it up at my parents too a couple of years ago. So easy to use and good price point and the security concerns are actually wildly overblown I find.

Lmao, I knew the minute I saw this that it was going to be someone with a tp-link deco. Same headaches here. I just manually restart them occasionally. One day I’ll switch to a different brand, just waiting on WiFi 7.

I'm with u/eternal_peril here wired is always better regardless of connections however a step down woulkd be mesh, I would stick with TP link deco.

You can get something like a tp link deco and set it up yourself using their app, I’ve done it at my house myself and it works reasonably well compared to our old extender

I'd go mesh, if you have a cable already running to the back use that as wired back haul. I've been happy with my decos

I used to use these and they do work but honestly I'd recommend TP Link Deco Mesh over these, I get 3x the speed as when I used these.

Honestly... If your budget is limited I might just keep running on your Deco's. They're decent units. Unless you have 5+ people streaming/working/gaming at once... You're probably more likely to saturate your uplink. Save you're $ until you can build a good Unifi system or just save it, pay off debt, etc.

TP Link Deco definitely requires an app and an account and although there is a web interface, it can't do much. Nice gear, but not acceptable under your policy. Netgear Orbi may have required me to install an app and get an account to get it setup (I didn't try to get around it.) But the web interface is full fat and I've never opened the app since installing.

I have the tp link Deco system. I get much better coverage and speed with that

I got the tp link deco setup like this. Using 2.5gb back haul. Works like a boss, I've got a fairly large double lot rectangular property and I can get damn near full speed at the water. Haven't had a single issue yet. Honestly not quite sure what the beef is with them.

I am running a tplink deco mesh system. you need to log into the att modem and set it to ip passthrough mode then point it to the main unit. it is pretty easy to do and there are youtube videos on passthrough mode.

Your internet speed (150 vs 600 Mbps) affects how fast stuff downloads/uploads, but not your WiFi signal inside the house. For better wifi coverage, I’d skip the “powerful modem/router” and go with a mesh system, like a TP-Link Deco series which will plug straight into the ONT/Modem depending on your ISP. Super easy to set up and reliable.

Only if you want Wi-Fi 6 and to go down the mesh route, it depends on your devices. With a mesh system like the Deco, you won't need the AC1900 anymore. However, if you really want to keep it, you could just add an access point to increase the wifi coverage. Who is your ISP? I would just look at something like the X50s; you can pick up a 3-pack for cheap, solid units.

With wired backhaul, any cheap mesh setup will work, such as the Decos. Any wifi 6 system will be fine. The expensive mesh nodes are for wireless backhaul as they have extra wifi streams and radios to handle the load. I just want to emphasize that wired backhaul is extremely beneficial in terms of stability and throughput, so it's worth making sure you're utilizing it.

I've had great luck with the TP-Link Deco mesh series at a reasonable cost. What may be more important for you is that if you have internal concrete walls (not just the exterior wall), you'll almost certainly be better off using an Ethernet backhaul to plug your mesh or AP units into.

TPLink Decco is a damn good mesh system and and much cheaper. Nonreason to buy those over priced things. $169 for my 3 Decco System.