@wifinovice 

You can have the Deco used the same SSID you have, but note that having the same name does not mean everything will be mesh. When you are around the Deco units, the nodes will recommend the best node to connect to. When you move from the Deco to your ISP router, it will be up to your device to determine what to connect to.

1. In Router Mode, only the main Deco can be wired to the router or the one device receiving the internet connection. The satellite unit must be connected behind the main Deco, be it a switch behind the main Deco or connected to the main Deco via WiFi.

If you want to be able to connect each Deco directly to the switch instead, you can change the operation mode of the Deco to Access Point Mode. Here is an article that talks about the mode: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2420/

2. Regardless of mode you will still have the mesh features. Firewall and virus features are apart of the router mode (FAQ link above).

3. If you want to stay with router mode, the main Deco can be wired to the modem/router then have the switch wired to the main Deco, then have the satellite units wired to the switch. If you opt for AP Mode, then you would continue with the setup you planned and wire all Deco nodes to the switch.

@Tony 

Hi Tony, if you use access point mode, does the mesh work seamlessly? you don't need to turn off or on the wifi for your devices to connect to the nearest node? As from what I read from the other thread, there's a seamless switching mode but advise not to enable so to not break the device?

@OKeefe 

The mesh features still work in AP Mode so your device will roam. The Deco utilizes the 802.11 k/v/r protocols which gives the ability to roam. If your device supports those protocols then it should seamlessly roam. If you have an older device then the device itself will just choose on its own without the help of the Deco.

I think the seamless switch is seen on wireless cards such as roaming levels you can set.