@Bruno74 

 

It appears you have general understanding of how WiFi mesh works and what options you have with Deco mesh confiuration. I'll add a bit more info to that.

 

Satellite Deco can deliver at most 50% of Main Deco speed. Each additional hop decreases speed by another 50%. This is not Deco mesh issue, this is limitation of WiFi mesh technology.

 

Some coverage overlap is necessary, because mobile device moving through the house should be able to switch from one WiFi mesh node to another, without losing connection. This can only be achieved with coverage overlap.

From the other hand, too many Deco nodes will cause WiFi signal interference. I think you have found it by yourself, with adding more Satellites.

 

I would recommend to use not more than 2 Deco units per floor, meaning up to four. In case like yours I'll try to optimize first floor setup and then try different placement and connectivity on the second floor.

 

Which means, before dealing with Satellites one must get the most from Main Deco.

Before I drill down further, and to avoid making this post too long, let's focus on Main Deco and on first floor for now. As I said, Satellite Deco will deliver half of Main Deco speed or less - so getting the most of Main Deco is the must.

 

Based on that, questions:

 

1. What is the speed of your Internet link? Just to make sure, because if it is indeed 1.5 gigabit I'll have follow up questions on it.

2. What device are you using to run speed tests?

3. For Satellite 1, check what level of Signal it reports to Main Deco. You can find that in Deco app in Satellite 1 info page. Example:

 

 

in this example, signal level is Fair.

 

4. In Deco app, find Main Network settings, keep only 5GHz band and run speed tests with Main Deco again:

 

 

after you are done with speed tests, you can restore original dual band setting.

 

4. If it comes to that, will you be able to return X1500 set of 6 and buy different Deco model? If yes, I'll keep that in mind in my recommendations.

 

5. Do you have coaxial (TV) cable between two floors? If yes, it may be possible to use it to deliver Ethernet and provide Ethernet backhaul from first floor to second floor.

  @Alexandre. 

 

Thank you for the insightful feedback Alexandre!!!

 

To your questions...

 

1. What is the speed of your Internet link?

 

Internet is 1500mbps.  But that is wired.  From my provider’s router, I get +650mbps wifi using Speedtest.net.  I get very similar speed from Main Deco, which sits right next to the router anyhow.  So no loss.

 

 

2. What device are you using to run speed tests?

 

iPhone 15 Pro Max.  

Software is Speedtest.net. I try several times and always go airplane mode first standing near the node I’m testing.  In rooms, I just check that it is the Deco Wifi.  I have not turned off my router Wifi off.

 

 

3. For Satellite 1, check what level of Signal it reports to Main Deco. You can find that in Deco app in Satellite 1 info page. Example:

 

Strong.  All Sats are strong.  I attached screenshots.

 

 

4. In Deco app, find Main Network settings, keep only 5GHz band and run speed tests again:

 

Switched to 5GHz only, rebooted whole system, this is over multiple readings taking max.  It fluctuates a lot.  Each time switching Wifi off/on on iPhone, standing next to sat, cannot be sure which sat it is actually using, as they all overlap, including Main.  Tested again with dual band, same process.

• Main - 5GHz only @ max 730 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 690 mbps
• Sat 1 - 5GHz only @ max 310 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 280 mbps
• Sat 2 - 5GHz only @ max 150 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 150 mbps
• Sat 3 - 5GHz only @ max 125 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 125 mbps

Wondering about the test, would the iPhone not use Wifi 5GHz when available, so is test indicative?

 

 

5. Do you have coaxial (TV) cable between two floors? If yes, it may be possible to use it to deliver Ethernet and provide Ethernet backhaul from first floor to second floor.

 

I do and I did check out the MoCA adapters.  Thought they were expensive.  It would reduce number of Deco units to 3, since Sat 1 is only to shorten link for the two floors, so i could return my other Deco 3-set.  However I am not sure how the coax cabling network works?  Is coax in living room (next to router) connected to all other rooms?  Or do they each connect individually to a ‘central’?  AI says they connect to a central but are still in a network, so the MoCA adapters should work fine.  Maybe need to try.  Would you know?  

 

What are Advanced Setting, i do not understand their explanations?  All disabled by default.  Any could be helpful?

- Fast Roaming

- Beamforming 

- OFDMA/MU-MIMO

 

Can i hope to get 300mbps in rooms, or am i wasting my time?  Current set up is 100mbps in rooms.

 

Thank you

  @Bruno74 

 

If you got 1500Mbps Internet link from your ISP, the router they supplied you with must support WiFi6 at least. With iPhone 15 Pro Max you should be able to get gigabit WiFi speeds from ISP router, or even more.

600-700Mbps is too low for WiFi6, and it is somewhat strange you are getting that same WiFi speed from both ISP Router and Deco. 

 

If you are happy with 600-700Mbps, we can continue discussing how to optimize your Deco mesh layout, considering its current 700Mbps speed on Main Deco.

 

From the other hand, if you want to figure why you are not getting gigabit+ WiFi speed from ISP Router (and that might help to improve Deco speed if root case is found) I can give you basic steps to try in regard to WiFi connection to ISP Router and if they are not helping you may wish to talk to ISP Tech Support. After all, they sold you 1.5gigabit and your smartphone is capable of these speeds.

 

Let me know how would you like to proceed from that point.

  @Alexandre. 
I just had Vodafone in recently. background... my home has been fine with just the one router + 1 extender Huawi, until about a month ago, which is why I called them in. Router was fine. Seems there was damage on the fiber cable outside the house, which they replaced. But they said extender had weak signal. Speed from router they said was normal 700 Mbps for WiFi. They wanted to sell me satellites, which is when I opted for the Deco home mesh. 

I will definitely chase and ask for clarification. Surely if I can get initial speed up, it will benefit rest of my home mesh. 
 

will revert back promptly. 

  @Bruno74 

 

Good. Let's focus on Vodafone router. 

 

From what you told me alredy, the slow speed you are getting might be from either speed testing device ("You are not testing it right") or from Internet link itself not delivering promised speed to your house.

You might get brushed off by ISP Tech Support initially, because they'll question how you do test WiFi speed. I am going to give you extra talking points to deal with that.

 

Below, everything is done with iPhone connected to Vodafone router WiFi. I suggest you also bookmark this for the future, if you ever have to troubleshoot your home network/ISP router again.

 

1. ISP Router internal speed test tool.

 

Some ISP Routers do have internal speed test tool user can run (like mine from Technicolor), some do not. Check router documentation, if it offers speed test tool - run it and that will give you the decisive answer on the speed of your Internet link. 

 

2. Speed test from wired device.

 

If you have device with gigabit Ethernet port, bring it to Vodafone router, wire it to the router and run speed test on it. You will obviously be limited by gigabit speed of Ethernet port, but if you are not getting even close to 900Mbps, if this speed test returns 600-700Mbps, something is definitely wrong with Internet link.

 

3. Check WiFi link speed you are getting on iPhone.

 

This FAQ article is a bit dated, but it'll give you an idea where to look: https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/faq/2265/

Tx rate should be in excess of gigabit for WiFi 6 connection. If there is separate Rx (Receive) rate, should be over gigabit, too.

This is ideal speed, an actual speed you could get is about 80% or less. Which means, if TX rate is 1200Mbps for example, you should be confidently getting almost 900Mbps in speed testing on smartphone.

4. Use multiple speed test services.

 

I suggest the following two web sites: speedtest.net and fast.com

Also, download and install on smartphone OOkla speedtest app, it is available in app store. 

 

You may not get exact same results from all three, it is OK for them to be in the range of up to 20% each way. If more, something is not right with speed testing tools or their servers.

 

This will address concern from ISP Tech Support that single speed test tool you use might not give the right results.

 

-------------------------------

 

In conversation with ISP Tech Support don't even mention Deco mesh. To be  on clear, you can just turn it off during above speed testing. Tell ISP Tech Support that with multiple test tools and high quality smartphone connected to their router WiFi you are only getting WiFi5 speeds, while WiFi6 speeds should deliver gigabit or better. Tell them what Tx/Rx rates you see on smartphone.

 

If they can't figure remotely what is going on, request technician visit to your house and to demonstrate at least gigabit speed on their wired device they bring with themself and connect to your Vodafone router, or similarly gigabit speed on their own WiFi device connected to your router wirelessly.

  @Alexandre. 

 

So i clarified with the ISP, it seems what they meant with 1400mbps (not 1500) is that download is 1000mbps and upload is 400 mbps, so total 1400.  It is the fastest package they offer.

 

I do not have a device to check the actual speed when wired, except with Xbox X wired directly to ISP router, and there during downloads it is only managing 750mbps max.

 

So coming back to improving Deco home Mesh, i included my previous email below with some updated queries...

 

To your questions...

 

1. What is the speed of your Internet link?

 

Internet is 1000mbps download and 400 upload.  When testing from my ISP router, I get +650mbps wifi using Speedtest.net.  I get very similar speed from Main Deco, which sits right next to the router anyhow.  So no loss.

 

 

2. What device are you using to run speed tests?

 

iPhone 15 Pro Max.  How close should i be getting with my iphone to the ISP 1000mbs?

 

Software is Speedtest.net. I try several times and always go airplane mode first standing near the node I’m testing.  In rooms, I just check that it is the Deco Wifi.  I have not turned off my router Wifi off.

 

 

3. For Satellite 1, check what level of Signal it reports to Main Deco. You can find that in Deco app in Satellite 1 info page. Example:

 

Strong.  All Sats are strong.  I attached screenshots.

 

 

4. In Deco app, find Main Network settings, keep only 5GHz band and run speed tests again:

 

Switched to 5GHz only, rebooted whole system, this is over multiple readings taking max.  It fluctuates a lot.  Each time switching Wifi off/on on iPhone, standing next to sat, cannot be sure which sat it is actually using, as they all overlap, including Main.  Tested again with dual band, same process.

• Main - 5GHz only @ max 730 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 690 mbps
• Sat 1 - 5GHz only @ max 310 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 280 mbps
• Sat 2 - 5GHz only @ max 150 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 150 mbps
• Sat 3 - 5GHz only @ max 125 mbps vs. Dualband @ max 125 mbps

Wondering about the test, would the iPhone not use Wifi 5GHz when available, so is test indicative?

 

 

5. Do you have coaxial (TV) cable between two floors? If yes, it may be possible to use it to deliver Ethernet and provide Ethernet backhaul from first floor to second floor.

 

Coax outlets are in extremities and not in strategic locations for sats.  I would have to use possibly more sats to cover the upstairs. 

 

Other question... in Advanced Setting, i do not understand several settings?  All disabled by default.  Any could be helpful?

- Fast Roaming

- Beamforming 

- OFDMA/MU-MIMO

 

Can i hope to get 300mbps in rooms, or am i wasting my time?  Current set up is 100mbps in rooms.  Its not bad, but seems low compared to source.

 

Thank you

  @Bruno74 

 

Each Satellite Deco hop will cut WiFi speed in half. If you start with 750Mbps on Main Deco, you should expect to get reduced speeds on Sat 1 and Sat 2 exactly as you have. Sat 3 is a bit of outlier, I expected it to be even slower.

 

You can try different Satellite placements and how the connect to each other and to Main Deco. Maybe you'll get better results with one or another configuration, but same rule applies: Satellite connected to Main will only get you half of Main speed - and so on.

 

Bringing Ethernet between two floors would help, because then you start with Ethernet connected Satellite on First floor that has same speed as Main Deco on Ground floor. If WiFi coverage from that Satellite is not enough, you add another Satellite on First floor, connected to Ethernet wired Satellite, and that new Satellite will get you 300Mbps.

If you decided you want to try with MoCA adapters, I'll give you recommendations which brand and model to buy, to make sure they are Deco Ethernet backhaul compatible.

 

Other question... in Advanced Setting, i do not understand several settings?  All disabled by default.  Any could be helpful?

- Fast Roaming

- Beamforming 

- OFDMA/MU-MIMO

 

These should be on by default. Enable them. Each of them should have a brief description in Deco app what is this setting for.

  @Alexandre. 

Yes pls, woudl appreciate recommendation of Moca.  Was thinking of this one i found on Amazon, any good and compatible?  It seems all would be as they get connected with ethernet anyhow, no?

 

MA2500D goCoax Adaptador Moca 2,5 com porta Ethernet de 2,5 GbE. Moca 2,5. 1 x 2,5 GbE. 

MoCA2.5 over Coax

Up 5 bonded channels

Up 16 nodes in the same network

Up 2.5 Gbps real traffic throughput

1 x MoCA of port for coax.

1 x 2.5 GbE RJ45 LAN.

1 x restore button.

1 x MPS button pair

4 x Status LEDs (Power/MoCA/Security/Ethernet)

 

Meantime was going to play around as you suggested.  

 

Question, if i add another satellite to the other side of the house, directly linking to main, would it like Sat 2 have 50% speed of Main?  Will be trying but wondered what you would expect?

  @Bruno74 

 

Not every MoCA adaper is compatible with Deco Ethernet backhaul protocols. The one you have found might work, but it may be an overkill for your needs: it has 2.5GBps Ethernet ports when everything else at your house runs on gigabit. 

 

Check this on Amazon: "ScreenBeam Bonded MoCA 2.0 Network Adapter for High Speed Internet, Ethernet Over Coax - Starter Kit (Model: ECB6200K02)"

This is two unit set, which you'll need to link Ground and First floors. I use it at my house, can confirm it is compatible with Deco. Also, it should cost less than what you have found, because it has gigabit Ethernet ports.

 

As for Satellite Deco, does not matter how many you add and link to Main Deco, each such Satellite will deliver you just 50% of Main Deco WiFi speed.