Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches

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Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-07 13:16:45

Hello,

I have two joined apartments (#1 and #2). In each one I have a telecommunication box and Ethernet cables between the box and individual rooms in that apartment. There is also one ethernet cable between the telecommunication box in apartment #1 and the telecommunication box in apartment #2.

But there are no direct ethernet cables between the telecommunication box in apartment #1 and individual rooms in apartment #2, or the other way around.

My plan is to:

1. put my ISP modem, a main Mesh router and a switch (switch #1) in the telecommunication box in apartment #1 (and connect them via Ethernet)

2. connect 3 Mesh satellites (via Ethernet) in apartment #1 to switch #1

3. put a second switch (switch #2) in the telecommunication box in apartment #2

4. connect Switch #1 and Switch #2 via Ethernet

5. connect Switch #2 and 2 Mesh Satellites in Apartment #2 via Ethernet

My objective is to:

- create one common Mesh Wifi network for both apartments, with wired Ethernet backhaul connections

- be able to use Wifi backhaul (in case I want to put a satellite in a room where I don’t have an ethernet cable)

- be able to connect via Ethernet a client device (e.g. laptop) to each of the Mesh satellites.

I have the following questions:

a) Is it possible to create the network described above?

b) which systems would be suitable for this network? I am mainly interested in consumer/home product line (for ease of use), but if business solutions would be better for the job, that’s ok too;

b) which switches would be suitable for this network?

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-07 13:58:17 - last edited 2022-11-07 14:01:28

  @klapaucjusz1 

 

a) Is it possible to create the network described above?

 

Yes, it is possible with Deco mesh.

 

b) which systems would be suitable for this network? 

 

This is TP-Link Deco forum. Deco is consumer grade WiFi mesh system, it should work with your requirements. A note of caveat: Deco mesh is only configurable through app on smartphone, there is Web interface but it is for manual firmware upgrade and system status report only. Can't manage Deco mesh without smartphone.

 

To help you choose between different Deco models, please answer the following questions:

 

1) What Internet speed you are getting from your ISP and do you plan to increase it in the future?

2) Is WiFi 6 a must or WiFi 5 can do (assuming it can support ISP Internet speed)?

 

c) which switches would be suitable for this network?

 

Deco Ethernet backhaul and compatible switches are discussed in the following document: General questions about Ethernet Backhaul feature on your Deco

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-07 14:51:31

  @Alexandre. 

Thank you for your answer.

 

1) What Internet speed you are getting from your ISP and do you plan to increase it in the future?

 

Right now my ISP is giving me 600mb/s (on paper). The ISP is uprgrading the building wiring to fiber optic, so I will be able to upgrade to 1,2 Gb/s after that. 

 

2) Is WiFi 6 a must or WiFi 5 can do (assuming it can support ISP Internet speed)?

 

I would prefer to go with WiFi 6 of 6E - so that the devices are futureproof at least for a while.

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-07 15:29:49

  @klapaucjusz1 

 

TP-Link has large selection of WiFi 6 capable Deco mesh models. I'll give you my recommendations for three different price and performance segments. 

 

Budget: Deco X20.

Recommended (mid-range): Deco X50 or Deco X55.

Recommended, alternative: Deco X60 or Deco X68, but only if X50/X55 are not sold in your region.

Top of the line: Deco X90 or Deco X95. The most powerful Deco model with WiFi 6 protocol.

 

---------

For WiFi 6E the choice is between these three models: https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/517502

Not very many devices support WiFi 6E, and WiFi 6 should be enough for a while, but if you want 6E these are your choices with Deco.

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-07 15:44:00

  @Alexandre. Great, thank you! So I understand all of the models you listed would work in the network I described, correct?

Is it not a problem that some satellites will be connected to the first switch, and some to the second switch, which in turn will be connected to the first switch?

The article you linked mentions two Deco-compatible switches, but both are quite big. Are there any 4 or 5- port switches which I could use?

Is it better to use a managed or unmanaged switch with the Deco?

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-07 16:21:04 - last edited 2022-11-07 16:21:26

  @klapaucjusz1 

 

All Deco models I listed will work with the network you described.

Two switches is not a problem as long as they are compatible. I have Deco unit connected to 5-port switch, which in turn connects to 8-port switch. 

 

Also, Deco model with 3 Ethernet ports gives you an option to wire both switches to Main Deco (router) instead of to each other. 

 

It is better to use unmanaged switches. Check TP-Link 5-port unmanaged gigabit switches, any that is not end of sale (meaning: not very old) on their Web site should be compatible. I can personally vouch for 5-port TP-Link TL-SG1005D switch that I am using at my home.

 

I would recommend buying Deco sets and switches from the place with good return policy. With WiFi mesh, until you try it at your place you wouldn't know if it works to your liking. If something is not right, you should be able to return hardware. One month return policy should be enough.

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-12 12:49:23

  @Alexandre. 

Hi, thank you for your help.

 

In my region the Deco X50, Deco X60 and Deco X68 are available. Deco X50 is the cheapest of the three, and X68 is the most expensive. Why do you recommend X50 over the X60 and X68?

 

Thanks!

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-12 15:01:11 - last edited 2022-11-12 15:01:21

  @klapaucjusz1 

 

We can exclude X68 from this list. It is same as X60, but has separate band for wireless backhaul. That provides benefit when most or all Satellite Deco are wirelessly connected. You plan to wire Deco units, which means with X68 you'll be paying premium for what you don't need.

 

To choose between X50 and X60, let's look at their hardware and software.

 

1. Hardware

 

Deco X50 supports faster version of WiFi6 (HE160), but can support less wireless devices per node. Deco X60 supports slower version of WiFi6, but it has twice number of antennas (4 vs. 2 for X50) which means, at least in theory, it should support more wireless devices per node.

 

If you build Deco mesh for office like environment, where many computers and tablets and other devices using WiFi are located in a tight area and actively utilize WiFi, X60 should do better.

If your place is home like, with devices such as TVs, smartphones, tablets, and some are often idle, X50 can do just fine. Also, with X50, if you can get for example desktop with modern WiFi card supporting HE160, you'll get faster speeds on it than with X60.

 

2. Software

 

TP-Link provided beta firmware 1.1.0 for X50 with very useful new features, addressing many issues Deco users complained about: Deco X50(V1) 1.1.0

There is no such beta firmware for X60 and it is not clear when or if there will be.

 

If you have or will have at least one of the following:

- Satellite Deco wirelessly connected to the rest of the large Deco mesh

- Security cameras only using 2.4GHz

- stationary devices such as TV or PC you want to have always connected to the nearest Deco node

 

then you really should go with X50 or other Deco models which support new features, and from Deco X-series those are X50 and X55 only.

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Re:Which products for wired Mesh network with two switches
2022-11-13 11:58:06

  @Alexandre. 

I see. Great explanation, thank you! I ordered 4 X50s and two small gigabit switches from TP Link. Thanks again for your help!

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