Accepted Manual Signal Source Selection on Deco
Background:
Some users might notice that all satellite Deco units are connected to the main Deco, instead of the nearest satellite Deco.
Typical Layout:
Why does the satellite Deco still keep selecting the main Deco as a signal source instead of the nearest satellite Deco?
Deco will choose the best signal source by itself. The selection does not depend absolutely on the signal strength, but also on the connection rate. Sometimes satellite Deco units may get slower speed due to half-duplex mode and interferences caused by connected devices like phones, or other devices. To ensure the satellite Deco gets reliable speed, the main Deco stays selected by Satellite Deco after comparative analysis.
Some users tested that after moving one of the satellites far enough and not being able to reach the main Deco, they finally get the desired connection map:
However, the speed of the satellite becomes slower than what it could get when connecting to the main Deco directly. Due to the working pattern and protocol/regulation of Wi-Fi technology, the more wireless hops, the slower the speed would be. This rule applies to any kind of mesh or extender system. So it is not always good to connect to the nearest Deco unit.
Solutions
Deco Firmware Updates Adding Signal Selection and VPN for Multiple Models
Related FAQ:
How can I find a suitable spot for my Deco?
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WTF ? When are you going to release this update for manual selection for M4 ?! It's a shame ! You just do false advertising ! It has been more than one year since you told me the functionnality was coming SOON ... Poor dev team and communication team ... you are loosers ...
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@Yoann Just got that in my email from @TP-Link it is hilarious:
"Just because an option is being analyzed, this does not mean that will 100% get implemented in our line of products. For obvious reasons, we cannot implement any request from any user – this is valid also for any other company
You are requesting a function that is not advertised on product page, product installation guide, datasheet or any other official source.
Even on the website it shows how both Deco satellites connect to the main Deco, not to each other. Please explain how the information on the website is misleading, in order to ask for a complete verification.
We do not consider that an 10 eur router will give you the same performance, ability to connect 100 devices, a mesh technology, and any other features of Deco. If it were the same features, you would have chosen that option instead."
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What a poor customer service ...
What is the point of advertising a mesh technology if it doesn't act like a mesh system ?
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@Yoann Exactly, I don't think Decos are Mesh at all. There are just TP-Link N300 with a cut-off, fancy UI and nice plastics outside.
I made a topic about that: https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/528536?page=1
Update an e-mail from now: "We are sorry that you are not happy with your product. If Deco did not meet your expectations, you should have chosen another product. We did not claim that Deco is the best option for your network topology."
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This answer from a customer service of a big company like TP-Link is a shame !
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@TP-Link thanks for saying what most users already knew about mesh connections. This isn't just a tp-link thing. All mesh systems operate similarly. And most cost a lot more
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@TP-Link last update: I am getting out of this game. Just returned the Decos to Costco and bought Netgear instead. To be fair, the Netgear RBK753 doesn't allow source selection either. But at least it doesn't cut the speed when I add more routers to the mesh WiFi network.
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@magician it's probably easier for me because I've only got 80 mbps service. But I get 65 to 70 mbps at all my satellites so I'm happy. If you are going higher speed you should probably have top of the line tri band with wired backhaul. Probably shouldn't expect as much from tp-link because it isn't high end.
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@Zorki48 I bought Deco x5700, which is one of TP link's most expensive triband mesh model retailed at around $400. After numerous troubleshooting with Comcast engineers, the main router was only able to deliver a WiFi speed of 500 mbps out of a 1 gigabyte plan. At $400, I would expect a better performance.
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Hi, @magician
Thanks for the update.
Besides of moderating our own community, I am also a regular visitor of other communities.
Frankly speaking, the Deco is quite competitive both in price and network performance. I always believe Deco is a very preferable choice of mesh routers at the same level.
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