@74Hopper 

Don't trust everything Copilot AI says on the Internet. Specifically, Part 1 is applicable to TP-Link WiFi router and not Deco mesh. Part 2 is just wrong: you will not be able to use the Ignite Wi-Fi Gateway as part of the mesh system and the primary mesh unit together with Deco mesh. 

I have Rogers/Shaw Ignite Gateway and Deco mesh. This type of setup is familiar to me. I may be able to help you, but first, questions for you:

1. Do you have M5/M4 already or just plan to buy them?

2. What is the speed of your Shaw Internet package?

3. Have you considered Shaw Ignite WiFi Pods for expanding your WiFi coverage? They do create WiFi mesh with Ignite Wi-Fi Gateway as the primary mesh unit.

  @Alexandre. hi there I figured that copilot might be wrong and that's why I put my question here. I have not taken any steps to configure the ignite Wi-Fi gateway either way. I already own the 3 decoM5's and two deco 4m's and what I'm hoping to do is use them in a mesh configuration and then use Archer C-4000 router as an access point as well downstairs  through a coaxial network that was in the house already. Any suggestions you have for how to set this up would be appreciated as Shaw is not super helpful in explaining connectivity issues that are outside of anything they own. That said it would be nice to have a the gateway working because it seems like it might be better than what I have.

  @74Hopper 

We both have same ISP (Rogers/Shaw), same Gateway hardware. From what you are saying your house has coaxial (TV) cables and they are no longer in use - same with me when Rogers pushed customers from TV over coax to TV over IP with new tiny set-top TV box.

My Deco mesh has M5 and M9 Plus, yours will have M5 and M4 - very similar hardware, too.

There are very many similarities between your and mine environment. I'll just tell you everything I did and it should work for you, too. But, to make sure I recommend relevant configuration, I need you to tell me the following:

1. What is the speed of your Shaw Internet link?

2. How many floors does your house have? Include basement if it is finished and needs WiFi coverage.

3. Do you have TV cables going to each floor of the house? 

4. Do you have TV cable terminating in the middle of the floor which is middle floor of the house?

5. Your house is not wired with Ethernet cables, right? If it does, do they go to every floor, just in the finished basement, etc.

Also, do you have experience using Deco mesh and Deco app, or is it all new for you?

  @Alexandre. so glad you can help, I will answer your questions below :)

1. What is the speed of your Shaw Internet link? 1G the new service in BC

2. How many floors does your house have? Include basement if it is finished and needs WiFi coverage. 3 floors but only use the top 2, basement is unfinished

3. Do you have TV cables going to each floor of the house? Yes top 2 coax

4. Do you have TV cable terminating in the middle of the floor which is middle floor of the house? Yes middle has tv cable coax too

5. Your house is not wired with Ethernet cables, right? No If it does, do they go to every floor, just in the finished basement, etc. Not wired for Ethernet

Also, do you have experience using Deco mesh and Deco app, or is it all new for you? Yes been using the app for a few months and was a couple years ago both Tether and Deco app.

Hope that helps, and I thank you for the support!

Chris

  @74Hopper 

OK, here we go.

1. When you decide to finish your basement to use it as a living/office space, make sure you put Ethernet cable(s) from one end to another, and make sure you tested cables first. Also, not with the tester but actually connecting networking equipment to both ends of the cable.

2. You should be using Shaw Gateway, and in its default gateway (not bridge) configuration. Turn off its WiFi after you have Deco mesh running. Having ISP Gateway will really simplify your life if you need Shaw Tech Support troubleshoot cable issues. Anything other than standard Shaw Gateway - and your escalation will be initially dismissed as "third party hardware issue/not our problem."

3. For that same reason, the best place for Shaw Gateway is where coaxial cable enters the house (in the corner of the basement, I assume). Put it somewhere else, and any complain for Internet issues will be dismissed with "we don't troubleshoot TV cables going through your house after entry point."

4. Put  Archer C-4000 router aside. It is nice router, but it will not join Deco mesh. If you want consistent WiFi mesh environment, it should all be Deco.

5. Deco M5 and M4 will deliver at most 600Mbps over WiFi when hardwired, M5 slightly less than M4. They are WiFi5. If you want gigabit WiFi speeds, eventually you'll have to replace these by WiFi6 capable Deco.

6. You should run Deco mesh in Access Point mode. This is the only Deco mode that will work with the rest of my recommendations.

7. I strongly recommend to utilize coaxial cables for Ethernet links. This will let Deco units use Ethernet backhaul. Shaw Ignite WiFi Gateway Gen 3 (XB8) is MoCA 2.0 compatible, you will need compatible with Deco Ethernet backhaul MoCA adapters.

I use ScreenBeam Bonded MoCA 2.0 Network Adapter (Model: ECB6200S02) - check them on Amazon Canada. They go for about $125 each but it is really worthy purchase - you will be bringing gigabit Ethernet all over the house.

These adapters are compatible with both Shaw Gateway and Deco.

You may need to enable MoCA in Shaw Gateway settings, but other than that it is plug and play. 

8. Best place for Main Deco is in the middle of the house. It must be wired, so for sure get MoCA adapter for TV outlet in the middle of the first floor, and attach Main Deco to adapter.

9. I strongly recommend to have at least one hardwired Deco per floor. Which means, on the second floor have another MoCA adapter at TV outlet, and Deco unit connected to adapter. If you have multiple TV cable outlets on the second floor, start with one in the room where you want best WiFi speeds (master bedroom?)

10. You might not need all five Deco units for two floors WiFi coverage. If you need more than one Deco on the second floor and it'll be using wireless backhaul, use Connection Preference feature to connect it to second floor Deco unit which is on Ethernet backhaul. 

On the first floor, if you have Main Deco in the middle of the floor, Satellites from the first floor on WiFi backhaul will connect to Main Deco by default.

11. Deco M4 might get you faster WiFi speeds, Deco M5 may have more features. You'll have to decide by yourself which model will be your Main Deco and if you are not using all of 5 Decos, which model(s) to put aside.

-----------------------------------------

Questions?

  @Alexandre. hey you're amazing thank you, I will try it out later today. I have a couple questions, 

1. Should I reset my decos or use the new network function? Right now they are running with the Gateway but the numbers aren't great.

2. Some sites say to have the same ssid for each unit in this case gateway and deco's and other's have said they should be different, what's working for you?

3. The Gateway is set up and locked to WAP3 transition for the 2.4 and 5G and WAP3 only for the 6G, should I request transition for the 6G? And can I utilize that bandwidth via Deco 5 & 4? No right lol

4. In that regard do you have a jail break for the Rogers/Shaw lock down on functionality? lol

Once i'm into it I'm sure there will be a couple more questions but for now I'm grateful for the support and knowledge you have shared!

Really, thank you,

Chris

  @74Hopper 

1. Should I reset my decos or use the new network function? Right now they are running with the Gateway but the numbers aren't great.

If you have Deco mesh running, no need to reset it. Configure Deco mesh to run in Access Point mode and they will deliver the best performance they can. Deco M5 hardwired can deliver just under 500Mbps in ideal conditions, if you are getting more than 300Mbps from M5 it is good enough. 

Satellite Deco using WiFi backhaul will deliver half of Main Deco speeds, that's why you'll benefit greatly from having hardwired Satellite Deco: those will have as fast WiFi speeds as Main Deco.

2. Some sites say to have the same ssid for each unit in this case gateway and deco's and other's have said they should be different, what's working for you?

I have turned off WiFi on Rogers/Shaw Gateway, at my house only Deco mesh provides WiFi coverage. If you need strong WiFi signal near Shaw Gateway, connect one of Satellite Deco to Ethernet port of Gateway with short Ethernet cable. In Deco Access Point mode, you can have Satellite Deco connected directly to ISP Router (Shaw Gateway).

Because I only have Deco mesh WiFi, I don't need to figure the right answer to that question.:)

3. The Gateway is set up and locked to WAP3 transition for the 2.4 and 5G and WAP3 only for the 6G, should I request transition for the 6G? 

Same as above, Ignite Gateway WiFi is turned off and I don't have these concerns.:)

4. In that regard do you have a jail break for the Rogers/Shaw lock down on functionality? 

I wish...