Accepted Manual Signal Source Selection on Deco

Background:
Some users might notice that all satellite Deco units are connected to the main Deco, instead of the nearest satellite Deco.
Typical Layout:
Why does the satellite Deco still keep selecting the main Deco as a signal source instead of the nearest satellite Deco?
Deco will choose the best signal source by itself. The selection does not depend absolutely on the signal strength, but also on the connection rate. Sometimes satellite Deco units may get slower speed due to half-duplex mode and interferences caused by connected devices like phones, or other devices. To ensure the satellite Deco gets reliable speed, the main Deco stays selected by Satellite Deco after comparative analysis.
Some users tested that after moving one of the satellites far enough and not being able to reach the main Deco, they finally get the desired connection map:
However, the speed of the satellite becomes slower than what it could get when connecting to the main Deco directly. Due to the working pattern and protocol/regulation of Wi-Fi technology, the more wireless hops, the slower the speed would be. This rule applies to any kind of mesh or extender system. So it is not always good to connect to the nearest Deco unit.
Solutions
Deco Firmware Updates Adding Signal Selection and VPN for Multiple Models
Related FAQ:
How can I find a suitable spot for my Deco?
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@TP-Link my issue was with the network layout. After I reconfigured my layout to have the following structure, the ethernet backhaul was automatically enabled (decos are in AP mode):
internet -> modem -> router -> switch -> deco 1 / deco 2
I previously had the following structure which would not work in AP mode (or router mode) with ethernet backhaul:
internet -> modem -> switch -> router -> deco 1 / deco 2
However, the deco app still does not allow for changing the signal source (I thought based on reading, that with firmware version 1.6.0, it was possible to manually specify the signal source from the app, but when I tap the "signal source" in the app, nothing happens).
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Hi, Could you please go to Deco APP>three lines on the top>help>contact us>suggestions and add the APP log, then send the feedback to us?
By the way, is there any chance that you could record a video clip when you tried to change the signal source, but nothing happened?
In case there is any misunderstanding, the signal source here only refers to which Deco nodes, like you could choose Deco 1 or Deco 2 as the signal source of Deco 3, but you could not choose wireless backhaul or Ethernet backhaul to Deco 1.
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hi Tp link
having the same issue with my M4 on firmware 1.5.2. Is there yet an update so the signal source can be selected or at least the furthest away deco connects to the closest (daisy chain) rather than the hub? I have seen some other posts that this could be possible. Please can you advise
thank you.
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I managed to get them to connect in a chain by rebooting the main deco, which forced the further away deco to connect to the middle one while the main deco was down. It doesn't work every time though, sometimes it takes many reboots, and most of the time the further away deco's revert to connecting to the main one after boot is complete anyway. Mine have been fine for almost a week now though, 4 M4's all chained. Hopefully the new firmware will be out soon so I can make that permanent...
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@TP-Link Having the same issue of distant deco keeps connecting to the wrong unit. Hopefully you will release a fix soon to allow choosing the signal source manually, as this is really frustrating.
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@AlonK Same here, it seems there is no currently solution if you are using something different than M5.
But they have "top request" since 2 years about that.
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WTF ? When are you going to release this update for manual selection for M4 ?! It's a shame ! You just do false advertising ! It has been more than one year since you told me the functionnality was coming SOON ... Poor dev team and communication team ... you are loosers ...
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@Yoann Just got that in my email from @TP-Link it is hilarious:
"Just because an option is being analyzed, this does not mean that will 100% get implemented in our line of products. For obvious reasons, we cannot implement any request from any user – this is valid also for any other company
You are requesting a function that is not advertised on product page, product installation guide, datasheet or any other official source.
Even on the website it shows how both Deco satellites connect to the main Deco, not to each other. Please explain how the information on the website is misleading, in order to ask for a complete verification.
We do not consider that an 10 eur router will give you the same performance, ability to connect 100 devices, a mesh technology, and any other features of Deco. If it were the same features, you would have chosen that option instead."
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What a poor customer service ...
What is the point of advertising a mesh technology if it doesn't act like a mesh system ?
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