Returning my Deco M4 tomorrow. Extremely disappointed in configuration options.
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Part I:
I just replaced my TP-Link Archer C1900 today, and am extremely dismayed with the TP-Link M4 Mesh System's software. Firstly, I understand that it may be easier to roll out an application for IOS/Android, but when I tried to log onto the router through my PC - which has worked PERFECTLY in past routers - there are literally 10% of the options available on the web version that are available on the app! Coming from the C1900, I expected that this newer product would at least have the same configuration settings available.
And on the application itself, it's extremely underwhelming as well. The "advanced settings" don't have nearly enough configuration options, and the QOS configuration - which I bought the router to try and improve - is laughable. You can only select items to "prioritize". Really? No settings to say what the prioritization is? How is that even right?
PLEASE tell me you have a major update in the works. Please tell me I didn't just waste hundreds of dollars on a mesh system that's obsolete out of the box.
Anyone?
Part II:
Hours later, I have boxed my M4 set up and have it ready to return to the store. I have over 50 smarthome IP enabled devices in my house, and although the M4 claims to be able to handle up to 100 items, it would not find almost 30 of my devices. I went through reconfiguring the M4 to match the original C1900's configuration, which automatically found maybe 20 devices, and then I manually configured 40 more, at a time cost of over two hours. The remaining devices would not attach, no matter how much I tried. When I finally 'gave up', I disconnected the M4 and reconnected the C1900, everything was back to normal, connected and functioning, automatically.
That, unfortunately, was the straw that broke the camel's back. If I cannot have my smarthome configured and functional, then this is not the product for me.
A few parting items:
- Why are there not separare SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz? For those of us who want to have all of our 'older tech' on the 2.4GHz and newer on the 5GHz, you don't give us any ability to select which we're connecting to.
- What's with the anemic set of "advanced" settings? Where are ALL OF THE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS you've given us with past products? Why does this NEW PRODUCT have little-to-no advanced configuration option?
- Where are all of the configuration options available through the browser? Why do they not, at least, match the options available through the app? What happens if someone doesn't have a smartphone? Can they not set this up through their web browser?
This product doesn't really seem thought through enough. I've been working in I.T. for the past thirty years, and I can't recall seeing a product as poorly supported by software as this.
