Ethernet back haul
I am setting up a mesh network having recently installed full fibre broad band. I am with Vodafone (Ireland) and use a Gigabox modem router. My current WiFi set up is with 10-year-old old TP Link 10/100 access points running from a TP Link 5 port POE switch for the access points and a separate unmanaged TP Link 24 port switch for 16 ethernet connected devices around the house.
I intend to use the X50 in AP mode to retain the Vodafone router functionality and use ethernet backhaul to connect my 3 new X50 APs directly to the router through either the 24 port non-POE switch or the 5 port POE switch.
My questions:
1. Will this work?
2. Do the ethernet connections have to go back to the main Deco unit or can they connect directly to the Router through a switch, and still retain Mesh functionality?
3. If I am successful with this set up, can I then position the Deco units around the periphery of the house and turn the WiFi of the main Vodafone router back on and expect it to work within the mesh setup?
4. Seeing as the new X50 units all have the capability to use an external power source, should i even attempt to use the POE switch, whose maximum power output is likely to be reached and exceeded if all three APs are operating simultaneously?
1. Vodafone router will not join Deco mesh. Deco mesh will run its own WiFi network, even in AP mode. Other than that, setup you plan should work.
2. In Access Point mode Deco do not have to be wired through Main Deco, you can do it as following and it should work with TP-Link switch:
That's how I have it at my house, by the way.
3. No, Vodafone router will not join Deco mesh. Even if you configure Deco and Vodafone WiFi with same SSID, it will be as if you have two separate independent routers broadcasting same SSID: no mesh functionality between them.
4. It is probably not wise to exceed switch power budget, and if you can use external power supply for X50-PoE, it usually is better. Still, you can have one Deco powered from switch and others with their adapters, for example.