TP Link Deco Satellite / Node Setup

Witterings

Witterings

Witterings

Associate
Joined
7 Apr 2024
Posts
12
Location
Chichester
I've pasted a link to a diagram below .... I have a Non mesh router in one room, I run an ethernet connection to a switch in another room and then ethernet to my main Deco BE65 set up as an access point in the area the strongest WiFi signal is required.

I want to add a satellite in the room where my router is as it's struggling to get a decent WiFi signal from the main BE65 in there.

To get a wired backhaul, do the nodes need to be plugged straight from one into another or can there be a router / switch in between them.

If it'll work I'd get another node (Deco X50) and attach it to the router via ethernet (have used a yellow line on drawing to show where it'd be in the chain) ... does anybody know if this would work and form part of the same mesh network or do I have to wireless backhaul the X50 to the BE65 and us it as a range extender?

I appreciated it'd be best to take another ethernet out from the BE65 straight to the X50 but unfortunately that's not possible.

Any help, much appreciated.

 
I looked into this for you, and I think the answer is your existing Deco should be operating as a Mesh (and not an AP, which has its own SSID), and then you buy an additional mesh satellite unit/units to add to that, which can then be part of the same mesh network, if they are connected via ethernet via switches.

From TP‑Link (Deco):

Ethernet backhaul works when satellite nodes are connected to the LAN port of the main node or a switch connected to that LAN port.

Most mesh systems do not require nodes to be directly daisy‑chained. They can be connected through an unmanaged switch.

Most switches are compatible with Ethernet backhaul.

Also:

Mesh nodes often have limited Ethernet ports, and adding a network switch is a normal way to expand connectivity and support wired backhaul setups.

Never plug a satellite node into the WAN port of another router — always LAN‑to‑LAN. All wired nodes must ultimately connect back to the main mesh router’s LAN network, not its WAN side.

Avoid loops — don’t wire nodes in a circle unless the mesh system explicitly supports it.

Ethernet backhaul activates automatically on most systems once the cable path is valid.

You should wait until someone else confirms this answer before buying anything.
 
Last edited:
You'd want to put the additional Deco into the switch ideally. If not possible then it'll need to be wireless backhaul, via the other Deco. Nothing into the Router as that is just there to provide internet access.
 
radderfire said:
I looked into this for you, and I think the answer is your existing Deco should be operating as a Mesh (and not an AP, which has its own SSID), and then you buy an additional mesh satellite unit/units to add to that, which can then be part of the same mesh network, if they are connected via ethernet via switches.

From TP‑Link (Deco):

Ethernet backhaul works when satellite nodes are connected to the LAN port of the main node or a switch connected to that LAN port.

Most mesh systems do not require nodes to be directly daisy‑chained. They can be connected through an unmanaged switch.

Most switches are compatible with Ethernet backhaul.

Also:

Mesh nodes often have limited Ethernet ports, and adding a network switch is a normal way to expand connectivity and support wired backhaul setups.

Never plug a satellite node into the WAN port of another router — always LAN‑to‑LAN. All wired nodes must ultimately connect back to the main mesh router’s LAN network, not its WAN side.

Avoid loops — don’t wire nodes in a circle unless the mesh system explicitly supports it.

Ethernet backhaul activates automatically on most systems once the cable path is valid.

You should wait until someone else confirms this answer before buying anything.
Click to expand...

I just googled it and it came up with this answer, I'm using the main router for all DHCP duties and gateway to the internet ... I do have one other Deco with wireless backhaul and it's working fine as a mesh network with the primmary setup as an AP .... I didn't mention the earlier as it shouldn't affect "The Other Side" and wanted to keep it as simple as possible.

"You should set up your Deco in Access Point (AP) mode when you already have a primary router (like your ISP's modem/router) handling internet gateway duties, and you just want the Deco system to extend Wi-Fi coverage and create a seamless mesh network, avoiding Double NAT and conflicting features like DHCP servers. This setup makes the Deco purely a Wi-Fi extender, relying on your main router for all routing functions".

Firegod said:
You'd want to put the additional Deco into the switch ideally. If not possible then it'll need to be wireless backhaul, via the other Deco. Nothing into the Router as that is just there to provide internet access.
Click to expand...

As it's set up, wouldn't it just see the router as a 2nd switch ..... but maybe 2 switches, is a switch too many and that's what may cause an issue??

Whichever way I go, I walked around the front of the house today with a WiFi analyser App and for things like CCTV and just playing radio via internet as I do loads of work out the front, I do need to extend the range, even if it's Wireless backhaul so have ordered one anyway and will "play with it" and see what works best.

Cheers to both of you for your input, always appreciated :)
 
Witterings said:
As it's set up, wouldn't it just see the router as a 2nd switch ..... but maybe 2 switches, is a switch too many and that's what may cause an issue??

Whichever way I go, I walked around the front of the house today with a WiFi analyser App and for things like CCTV and just playing radio via internet as I do loads of work out the front, I do need to extend the range, even if it's Wireless backhaul so have ordered one anyway and will "play with it" and see what works best.

Cheers to both of you for your input, always appreciated :)
Click to expand...
No. :) The cable form the switch is going into the wan port back on the Router. Your (soon to be) two decos are lan ports only. Only thing to worry about, as you say, is whether the deco or the router is dishing out DHCP addresses. Popping through Deco in AP mode is using them for the WiFi only.
 
Firegod said:
No. :) The cable form the switch is going into the wan port back on the Router. Your (soon to be) two decos are lan ports only. Only thing to worry about, as you say, is whether the deco or the router is dishing out DHCP addresses. Popping through Deco in AP mode is using them for the WiFi only.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that the switch should be going into a LAN port on the router.

A Deco can then go into a LAN port on either the router or the switch.

There should only be one device on the network set to do DHCP, in this case it will be the router.
 
I've only very recently started using AI and asked the question there

I have a non mesh router so have switched the internet off on it but I am using it as the a gateway to the internet and it's DHCP for everything on the network. I have an ethernet cable from one of the Lan ports on the router to a switch and then an ethernet cable to a TP Link Deco BE65 set up in access point mode and DHCP switched off as the primary device.I'd like to plug another Deco Node (X50) into one of the other Lan ports on the router .... if I do this, will it just see the router as a 2nd switch and work as a wired backhaul or do I need to set it up as a wireless backhaul?

ANSWER .... according to AI

Yes, if you plug the second
Deco node (X50)
into another LAN port on your existing router, it will automatically detect the wired connection and use it as a wired backhaul. You do not need to set it up as a wireless backhaul.
This configuration works because your entire network is operating in a single, flat network (due to the router handling DHCP and the Decos being in Access Point mode), allowing any Deco unit to connect to any part of the wired network (router or a switch connected to the router). The Deco system's software will automatically prioritize the faster, more stable wired connection over the Wi-Fi backhaul.

Key Steps and Information
  • Initial Setup Required: Ensure the new X50 node has been added to your existing Deco network via the Deco app first, typically by setting it up wirelessly near the main Deco unit. Once it appears as online in the app, you can physically move and wire it.
  • Automatic Detection: After you connect the Ethernet cable from the X50 node's port to a LAN port on your main router, the Deco system should automatically switch the connection type.
  • Verification: You can confirm the connection type in the Deco app. The network map should show a wired symbol (like a chain link or an Ethernet plug icon) between the satellite Deco unit and the main Deco/router connection, instead of the Wi-Fi symbol.
  • Operation Mode: Since your main router is handling DHCP and acting as the gateway, keeping all Deco units in Access Point (AP) mode is the correct configuration to avoid network conflicts (like a double NAT or multiple DHCP servers).
Your proposed setup will work perfectly, leveraging the best performance of a wired backhaul throughout your home.

These articles explain how to set up your Deco units for wired backhaul, confirming that connecting the X50 node to your router's LAN port will automatically establish a stable wired connection.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom