DECO M9 PLUS IS NOT ROAMING
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Hello
My Deco network is installed with 1 deco acting as a router connected to my internet modem, the 2 other are connected via Wifi. The network is set to 2,4 Ghz for compabtility reasons with my Wifi printer. Fast roaming was intially off (defaulted at installation). The deco speed test gives a good internet connection of 60Mbps
I use the setup for 2 weeks now and I experience the problem that my clients "remember" the last Deco connected, so they don't switch to the nearest Deco with the strongest signal. This works for normal internet use, but when using zoom, or Microsoft teams, sometimes I get a signal for poor internet connection and I'm cut off.
I've read the FAQ "Get to Know Fast Roaming / Seamless Roaming on a Deco System", and some other users issues.
So I tried it with the fast roaming option. This does not seem to bring a solution. My Acer Aspire3 laptop doesn't switch at all, and my Galaxy S8 anly switches only after serveral minutes. So far for the roaming expercience
In the Deco app I can't see on which Deco my devices are connected, so I have to use the Android app Wifi Sweetspots and the Windows Xirius Wifi Inspector to see it.
The only workaround is to swithch of the clients's wifi and to reconnect so it uses the nearest deco.
I'm well aware of erverything that is mentioned in the FAQ, but I don't understand why it doesn't seem to work on any of my devices and why de Deco app doesn' offer more visibility on which deco my device is connected.
When is this getting solved? Because I'm considering of sending the kit back, while it is still new...
I'm expecting a clear answer on this one. Thanks in advance
Koen
PS: in the proces of switching to fast roaming my LG smart TV doesn't offer my Synology NAS as a DLNA server anymore. Switching back to fast roaming off doesn't solve this...
Meanwhile I did some further troubleshooting...
I checked everything again for the beginning and I solved the roaming problem:
First of all I found this good article about roaming on the TP-link site, it really should be pinned on top of the smarthome/deco community . I found it via google 
https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/592/
Solution for the roaming
On the deco app I set the "Fast Roaming switch on"
For my laptops I increased the wifi roaming agressiveness to the setting "Highest". They now switch to the nearest/strongest Deco. Not in a split second but in acceptable timing.
(Free) Tools used for the the troubleshooting
- Advanced IP scanner to discover the IP adresses within a subnet/range. The Deco app isn't good enough for troubleshooting (one should be able to have a reporting capability for a subent, for devices connected to a Deco, .. instead of clicking on each device to see it's Ip adres..
- Xirius Wifi Inspector on the laptops to check if the laptop is really roaming
- Wifi Sweetspots and WiFiAnalyzer Android Apps to check if my Samsung smartphone is really roaming
Conclusions after 2 weeks of usage
1) The Deco M9 Plus is a good product
2) The commercial promise that its easy to install is only partially true
3) If you have problems you need additional (non TP Link) tools to find the solution, the App is too simple
4) TPlink support for Deco should go further than only saying "The client could not be compatible" or "The client desides to roam or not". It is true, but to find a solution a customer needs more info/knowledge
5) I shared this info to help others because I saw some unresolved cases about Deco roaming. So please complete the pinned articles on top of the Deco community with this kind of info (The manual and the app aren't sufficient)
Anyhow thx for the help, and hopefully you do something with this feedback...
Meanwhile I did some further troubleshooting...
I checked everything again for the beginning and I solved the roaming problem:
First of all I found this good article about roaming on the TP-link site, it really should be pinned on top of the smarthome/deco community . I found it via google
https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/592/
Solution for the roaming
On the deco app I set the "Fast Roaming switch on"
For my laptops I increased the wifi roaming agressiveness to the setting "Highest". They now switch to the nearest/strongest Deco. Not in a split second but in acceptable timing.
(Free) Tools used for the the troubleshooting
- Advanced IP scanner to discover the IP adresses within a subnet/range. The Deco app isn't good enough for troubleshooting (one should be able to have a reporting capability for a subent, for devices connected to a Deco, .. instead of clicking on each device to see it's Ip adres..
- Xirius Wifi Inspector on the laptops to check if the laptop is really roaming
- Wifi Sweetspots and WiFiAnalyzer Android Apps to check if my Samsung smartphone is really roaming
Conclusions after 2 weeks of usage
1) The Deco M9 Plus is a good product
2) The commercial promise that its easy to install is only partially true
3) If you have problems you need additional (non TP Link) tools to find the solution, the App is too simple
4) TPlink support for Deco should go further than only saying "The client could not be compatible" or "The client desides to roam or not". It is true, but to find a solution a customer needs more info/knowledge
5) I shared this info to help others because I saw some unresolved cases about Deco roaming. So please complete the pinned articles on top of the Deco community with this kind of info (The manual and the app aren't sufficient)
Anyhow thx for the help, and hopefully you do something with this feedback...