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Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)

Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)

Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)
Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)
3 weeks ago - last edited Tuesday
Tags: #Network Connectivity #Deco Ethernet Backhaul #Powerline Backhaul
Model: Deco X50-5G  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version: 1.3.1 Build 20250918 Rel. 49303

Hi all,

 

I would appreciate some help with my setup. Let me first describe the general layout:
 

Setup / Topology (see attached screenshot)

  • Main router: Deco X50-5G (as Main Deco) in the apartment (living room).

  • Satellite #1: Deco PX50 (“PX50-A”) in the apartment, (unfortunately) just next to the X50-5G.

  • Satellite #2: Deco PX50 (“PX50-B”) 4 floors below, in the underground garage (same building).

  • Goal:

    • PX50-A to use Wi-Fi backhaul to the X50-5G (avoid Ethernet cable).

    • PX50-B to use PLC backhaul (Powerline) to reach the main network reliably from the garage.

Note: PX50-A currently connects only via Ethernet. If I unplug the Ethernet, it fails to join via Wi-Fi backhaul. PX50-B (garage) runs in PLC mode and works.

 

So I would like some on the following two topics...

 

1) I’d like PX50-A (inside the apartment) to connect wirelessly to the X50-5G. Right now it only stays online if I connect the included Ethernet cable. If I remove Ethernet then PX50-A goes offline / never completes joining.

What I’ve already tried:

  • Rebooted X50-5G and PX50-A; waited 5-10 minutes.

  • Moved PX50-A to the same room as the X50-5G (to rule out distance).

  • Disabled Ethernet on PX50-A entirely (no cable attached), power-cycled.

  • Ran Network Optimxation from the app.

  • Factory reset PX50-A and re-added it near the Main Deco.

What I am essentially asking:

  • Are there additional steps to force Wi-Fi backhaul on a PX50 that previously joined via Ethernet?

  • Is there a setting on X50-5G that could prevent a satellite from choosing Wi-Fi backhaul (e.g., band/channel, DFS, fast roaming)?

  • Any known issues with X50-5G (Main) + PX50 (satellite) combinations on recent firmware that affect wireless backhaul?

 

2) PX50-B in the underground garage currently uses PLC successfully to reach the apartment network. Both PX50 units today are on the same phase. In our building, the whole block appears to share a common neutral (typical 3-phase supply per riser), but different apartments have their own meters/breaker panels. So, what I would like to understand:

  • Is it supported/recommended to add a third PX50 in another apartment (different floor, almost certainly different meter/panel) and run it in PLC mode to utilize Powerline backhaul? In other words, will PX50 PLC backhaul generally pass across separate apartment panels/meters given a shared neutral, or is it only reliable within the same apartment’s electrical panel/circuit?

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Re:Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)-Solution
Tuesday - last edited Tuesday

@zilman7 

Hi, thank you very much for the message.

In order to use Poweline Backhaul(General Questions about the Powerline or PLC Backhaul Feature of Deco , it often needs to keep Deco PX50 as the main Deco.

Or the first main Deco PX is connected via an Ethernet cable to the main Deco, just like your case.

In other words, if the main PX50 is wirelessly linked to the main Deco X50-5G, the remote PX50 is unlikely to keep using Powerline Backhaul anymore.

 

If you want to try the wireless connection between the main Deco X50-5G and 1st PX50, it is suggested to power off the remote PX50 first, then reset the first PX50 by holding the reset pinhole for 1s, then refer to this link to manually add it on the Deco APP:

How to add an additional unit to your Deco network

 

Thanks a lot.

Best regards.

 

 

▶Check What's Currently Going on With Deco ▶Deco X50_V1_1.8.0 Significantly Expanded the Client Connection Details and Added Channel Selection ▶Deco X50/X55_V1.3_1.3.1 Introduced Channel Selection, WiFi Access Control and WireGuard VPN ▶Deco BE65/BE65 Pro 1.2.0 Enhanced Mesh Network Stability and System Security ▶Deco BE75 1.1.0 Added WireGuard VPN, Manual Channel Selection and More Try to leave a Message if urgent help is required.
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Re:Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)-Solution
Tuesday - last edited Tuesday

@zilman7 

Hi, thank you very much for the message.

In order to use Poweline Backhaul(General Questions about the Powerline or PLC Backhaul Feature of Deco , it often needs to keep Deco PX50 as the main Deco.

Or the first main Deco PX is connected via an Ethernet cable to the main Deco, just like your case.

In other words, if the main PX50 is wirelessly linked to the main Deco X50-5G, the remote PX50 is unlikely to keep using Powerline Backhaul anymore.

 

If you want to try the wireless connection between the main Deco X50-5G and 1st PX50, it is suggested to power off the remote PX50 first, then reset the first PX50 by holding the reset pinhole for 1s, then refer to this link to manually add it on the Deco APP:

How to add an additional unit to your Deco network

 

Thanks a lot.

Best regards.

 

 

▶Check What's Currently Going on With Deco ▶Deco X50_V1_1.8.0 Significantly Expanded the Client Connection Details and Added Channel Selection ▶Deco X50/X55_V1.3_1.3.1 Introduced Channel Selection, WiFi Access Control and WireGuard VPN ▶Deco BE65/BE65 Pro 1.2.0 Enhanced Mesh Network Stability and System Security ▶Deco BE75 1.1.0 Added WireGuard VPN, Manual Channel Selection and More Try to leave a Message if urgent help is required.
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Re:Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)
Tuesday

  @David-TP 

 

Hi David,

 

Many thanks for your clear reply and for taking the time to explain how the PX50 powerline backhaul behaves in a mixed setup with the X50-5G.

 

From what I understand -and also based on the FAQ you suggested- there are essentially two conditions for having a supported PLC backhaul between PX50 units:

1) A PX50 is used as the main Deco, and

2) There are two or more PX50 on the same power grid.

 

In my case, I’ve discovered that there is an additional “practical” scenario that works well in the real world, which is what I’m currently running:

  • X50-5G (main) --> Ethernet --> PX50-A --> PLC --> PX50-B

 

This layout has been very stable and fast for more than six months.

 

Based on your answer and the FAQ, these appear to be the realistic topology options for PX50 powerline backhaul in a mixed X50-5G + PX50 network:

1)Pure PX50 powerline mesh (fully supported by FAQ)

  • PX50 (main) --> PLC -->PX50 -->PLC -->PX50 …

(PX50 is the main Deco, 2+ PX50 on same power grid.)

2)Mixed network with Ethernet between main Deco and first PX50 (works in practice, as in my case)

  • X50-5G (main) --> Ethernet --> PX50-A --> PLC --> PX50-B

3)What I wanted to achieve, but is not supported for PLC backhaul

  • X50-5G (main) --> Wi-Fi --> PX50-A --> PLC --> PX50-B

 

As you explained, and as the FAQ implies, in this third topology if the first PX50 is wirelessly linked to the X50-5G instead of via Ethernet, the remote PX50 will no longer keep using PLC backhaul and will fall back to Wi-Fi (or fail to use PLC reliably at all; which I also confirm).

 

That’s a bit of a pity, because in my scenario it forces me to keep the X50-5G and PX50-A sitting next to each other just to preserve the Ethernet backhaul and enable PLC to the second PX50. It feels like a slight waste of resources and flexibility, especially for users who have a 5G main router (X50-5G), and

a strong need for PLC backhaul to reach another floor/garage over powerline, but would prefer to link the first PX50 to the X50-5G wirelessly instead of running an Ethernet cable across the apartment.

 

I’m sharing this mainly so that anyone else trying a similar setup (5G main + PX50 over PLC) understands the limitation:

If you connect the first PX50 to the X50-5G wirelessly, the PLC backhaul between PX50 units will no longer work as intended. To keep PLC backhaul, you need either a PX50 as main or at least one PX50 wired to the main Deco.

 

Again, thank you for your help and clarification. It was very useful to confirm that my understanding is correct. Hopefully TP-Link might consider supporting this Wi-Fi --> PX50 --> PLC topology in future firmware, as it would be a great option for 5G-based installations.

 

Best regards,
Ilias

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Re:Help with X50-5G and PX50 backhaul (won’t join via Wi-Fi) + PLC across apartments (same neutral)
Wednesday

  @zilman7 

Thanks a lot for your confirmation as well.

Furthermore, there is another combination for "5G+ Deco Powerline Backhaul Mesh".

NE200-outdoor is an outdoor 5G CPE router without WiFi and supports Bridge mode. Users could set NE200-outdoor as a 5G bridge modem, then connect Deco PX50 to create a Deco Mesh network.

Best regards.

 

▶Check What's Currently Going on With Deco ▶Deco X50_V1_1.8.0 Significantly Expanded the Client Connection Details and Added Channel Selection ▶Deco X50/X55_V1.3_1.3.1 Introduced Channel Selection, WiFi Access Control and WireGuard VPN ▶Deco BE65/BE65 Pro 1.2.0 Enhanced Mesh Network Stability and System Security ▶Deco BE75 1.1.0 Added WireGuard VPN, Manual Channel Selection and More Try to leave a Message if urgent help is required.
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