@TP-Link

 

After months of frustration and disappointment, I’ve made the decision to stop using TP-Link products, including the Deco XE75 Pro. Initially, the hardware seemed like a great deal, offering strong performance and an appealing feature set for its price. However, the lack of reliable support, meaningful firmware updates, and responsiveness to user feedback has left me feeling disillusioned. What began as an exciting investment quickly devolved into a series of unresolved issues and headaches, leaving me ready to move on.

 

Why I Chose TP-Link

 

When I first purchased the Deco XE75 Pro, it appeared to be the perfect solution for my home network. The specifications were impressive, boasting Wi-Fi 6 support, solid mesh capabilities, and future-proofing at an affordable price point. For a while, it delivered decent performance with an easy setup, good coverage, and reasonable speeds. But as time passed, these promises fell short, and I began to realize that I had invested in something that couldn’t meet its full potential.

 

What Went Wrong

 

Irregular and Unreliable Firmware Updates

One of the main reasons for my dissatisfaction is the lack of consistent firmware updates. When I bought the Deco XE75 Pro, I expected regular updates to fix bugs, enhance performance, and address security vulnerabilities. Instead, updates have been sporadic, often spaced months apart, with the last major update failing to resolve critical issues such as poor channel optimization and network instability. In some cases, updates even introduced new problems rather than fixing existing ones.

In an era where competitors are proactive with regular patches and updates, TP-Link’s slow response feels increasingly inadequate, especially when it comes to cybersecurity and overall performance fixes.

 

Missing Key Features

Despite receiving feedback from users like myself, TP-Link has neglected to add basic features that are standard in other networking products at this price point. These omissions are especially frustrating when they prevent users from fully customizing or optimizing their networks.

To name only a few of the missing features:

• No LAN without WAN: This is essential for situations where you need local connectivity without an active internet connection. Its absence limits flexibility.
• No VLAN tagging for guest networks: VLAN support is critical for segmenting traffic and enhancing security. Without it, the Deco XE75 Pro leaves your network more vulnerable.
• No ability to disable DHCP while maintaining routing functionality: Many advanced users prefer manual IP management, but this lack of control forces you to rely on DHCP, limiting customization.
• No manual control over Wi-Fi settings: In dense environments, adjusting channel width or signal strength can be vital for optimal performance. The Deco XE75 Pro doesn’t offer this level of control, leaving you at the mercy of automatic settings that don't always provide the best results.

 

These missing features force many users to add third-party routers or access points to fill the gaps, which undermines the Deco XE75 Pro’s potential as an all-in-one solution.

 

Incomplete AP Mode Functionality

Even in Access Point (AP) mode, which is designed to extend your network without interfering with routing, the Deco XE75 Pro falls short. Basic features like VLAN tagging support for the Guest and IoT WLAN's, the ability to enable VPN tunneling and retaining routing functionality are absent, limiting network flexibility and security. Moreover, there are no manual controls for Wi-Fi channel width or signal strength in neither Router mode or AP mode, making it difficult to fine-tune performance.

Compared to other routers at this price point, the Deco XE75 Pro’s AP mode feels incomplete and unable to fully meet the needs of users seeking advanced network configurations.

 

Persistent Performance Issues

Despite extensive troubleshooting - including resetting the network, adjusting settings like Fast Roaming and Beamforming, and testing wired backhaul setups - the Deco XE75 Pro continues to suffer from random disconnections, poor channel optimization, and overall instability. These issues, reported by many others, remain unresolved even after updates.

I’ve encountered inconsistent speeds, dropped connections during streaming, video calls, and slow file transfers. What was supposed to be a reliable mesh network often results in devices switching between nodes, leading to poor performance across my network.

 

Lack of Communication and Transparency

Perhaps the most frustrating part has been the lack of communication from TP-Link. There’s no clear roadmap or timeline for fixing issues, and it’s unclear whether user feedback is being taken seriously. Despite reaching out via forums, social media, and support channels, the responses I received were sparse and unhelpful. For a product marketed as premium, this level of customer service is disappointing. Users deserve to be informed about updates, not left in the dark.

The lack of transparency makes it feel like TP-Link either can’t or won’t prioritize customer concerns, adding to the frustration.

 

Why I’m Moving On

At this point, I’ve lost confidence in TP-Link’s ability to deliver the support and innovation needed to remain competitive. Brands like ASUS, Netgear, and Ubiquiti offer more frequent updates, better feature sets, and clearer communication with their customers. These companies regularly release patches, incorporate user feedback, and provide robust roadmaps for future updates. They prioritize security, performance, and customer satisfaction - qualities I now seek in a networking solution.

 

While I had high hopes for TP-Link when I initially invested in their products, the lack of support and failure to address critical issues has led me to move on. For anyone considering a Deco, I’d recommend exploring other options unless they make serious improvements. While the Deco's may suit basic networking needs, it no longer meets the standards required for long-term and reliable performance.

 

I hope TP-Link listens to the feedback of frustrated customers like myself, but for now, I’m ready to switch to brands that offer a more dependable and transparent experience.

 

Goodbye, TP-Link. You’ve lost a customer. Hopefully, things will improve in the future, but for now, I’m done