(I originally posted this on r/TpLink)

After 6+ years with an Orbi Wi-Fi 5 system, I decided it was time upgrade to take advantage of my AT&T 5Gbps fiber connection/LAN, and the growth of Wi-Fi 6/6E devices in my home.

I got the BE85 two pack about 5 days ago, and I need to get the big negative point out of the way, first.

The BE85 satellites have a fan that loudly runs a 5-min cycle, a few times every hour. I can tell the fan(s) run 24/7 at a very low rpm, you'd have to get your ear within one inch in a very quiet room. This is not the problem. It's the ramp to 100% that goes for apparently exactly 5 minutes, then drops back to idle speed. Happens on both satellites, so I don't think it's a hardware issue. The satellites aren't even under heavy load when the fans ramp. They just blast off, and 5 minutes later settle down.

It would be great if @Riley_S has any guidance on this. Because it's so annoying, I may have to consider returning the system.

So let's talk about the 'good stuff'. Pretty much everything else. Starting off with the OOB experience, the packaging and design is fitting of the $1000 price point. I realize this is cutting edge hardware, and I'm paying a premium for that. Right now, I think the BE85/BE95 systems appear to be the first/only mesh system with 10Gbps support and pass-through ethernet ports. No doubt this is what adds quite a bit to the premium over older TP-Link systems like the EX75 Pro, Eero and Orbi 6E competitors.

The app experience is pretty good, from initial set-up to normal usage. I use the system in Access Point mode, letting my AT&T BGW320-500 handle routing. No issues here.

There's one UI annoyance - my device names seem to have a bug, where 50% of them are designated "BSH Hausgeräte" which is somehow related to a Bosch refrigerator I recently purchased. If anyone knows how to refresh device names, I would really appreciate it.

The two pack covers my 2400sq ft home very well. The biggest difference over the Orbi system is how the Deco is able to maintain speeds at the edge of the coverage area and/or through walls. The Orbi had good coverage too, but speeds would drop significantly when you got away from line-of-sight.

I also bought the Deco X50-Outdoor. I haven't installed it just yet, as I'm trying to decide if the '5-minute fan problem' from the BE85s is going to ultimately drive me crazy.

Anyways, I'll wrap this up before it gets too longwinded, but I'm happy to answer any questions in the comments.