Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?

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Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?
Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?
2025-03-09 17:27:55 - last edited 2025-03-28 07:36:58
Model: Deco BE65  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version:

Hi all,

 

First off, sorry for the basic question(s). I’m a total noob in stuff like this. 

I have a modem and a router connected to it. The latter provides wifi. Just the usual, basic setup. I have an ethernet wallport in my office room, in all the bedrooms and two in the living. All rooms are downstairs by the way: my office is at the end of the hallway, the bedrooms are along the hallway next to eachother and the living is on the othe side of the hallway, opposite to the office room.

 

My router is placed in my office room together with the modem and that’s too far away from the living so wifi obviously isn’t great there. I now have an (old) Apple Time Capsule (don’t ask...) which I’m using as an accesspoint in the living, but I’m not happy at all with the speed/connection.

 

I’d like to have one wifi network, working seemlessly with just the one password. Obviously, this is possible with the mesh system, but can it also be done with multiple access points?

I’m currently looking into the Deco BE65 with 3 units.

 

From what I understand, I guess(?) there are at least two options:

 

1) Mesh system: ditch the existing router and connect the main Deco unit directly to the modem, set it in router mode and then use two or more ("satellite") Deco’s in the mesh, placed strategically in the house.

A question I have here is this: should the main Deco unit which is the "router" really be connected directly to the modem (with a short cable) in my office room or can I connect it to an ethernet port in the room of my choice? (While the ethernet port is connected to the modem of course). Like that I could set the main Deco-"router" more central to have better connection to the satellite units?

 

2) Is it possible to just leave the modem and existing router as they are and use 2 or three Deco’s set in accesspoint mode (so not as an official "mesh") in different rooms, connected to the ethernet port in these rooms and still have a seemless roaming wifi network, (almost) as fluent as the "mesh" system?

 

Again, sorry if these are stupid questions, but I know next to nothing about networks and wifi stuff... Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

 

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Re:Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?-Solution
2025-03-10 03:34:40 - last edited 2025-03-28 07:36:58

  @Jodecaesteker 

Hi, welcome to the community.

#1:

If you plan to "ditch the existing router", the main Deco is recommended to connect to the ISP modem directly via a short cable.

For the house with reserved Ethernet structures, the wall Ethernet ports in different rooms are usually from the same center Ethernet patch hub.

When Deco is in the Router mode, only one unit is allowed to connect to the ISP modem.

#2

If we keep the existing router, "Access Point" would work well, and the 3 Deco units are still under the same Mesh.

 

Here is an instruction for Deco Ethernet Backhaul: https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/faq/1794/

Case one is like:

Case two is

Thank you very much and best regards.

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Re:Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?-Solution
2025-03-10 03:34:40 - last edited 2025-03-28 07:36:58

  @Jodecaesteker 

Hi, welcome to the community.

#1:

If you plan to "ditch the existing router", the main Deco is recommended to connect to the ISP modem directly via a short cable.

For the house with reserved Ethernet structures, the wall Ethernet ports in different rooms are usually from the same center Ethernet patch hub.

When Deco is in the Router mode, only one unit is allowed to connect to the ISP modem.

#2

If we keep the existing router, "Access Point" would work well, and the 3 Deco units are still under the same Mesh.

 

Here is an instruction for Deco Ethernet Backhaul: https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/faq/1794/

Case one is like:

Case two is

Thank you very much and best regards.

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Re:Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?
2025-03-10 11:44:50 - last edited 2025-03-11 06:20:50

  @David-TP 

Thank you for the clear reply.

 

Some more noob questions... How do I setup and connect it all?

Also, I'd like to use the ehternet backhaul, so, is the following correct?

(As said, I'd buy a 3-pack of Deco BE65 to have 3 access points (in actual access point mode), acting as one seemless mesh.)

 

1) connections after installing and setting it all up:

 

   modem

         |

existing router

         |

main Deco (in access point mode)

         |

TP Link switch SG116

         |

different cables from the switch to different ehternet ports in different rooms:

> I'll place two Deco units in access point mode in two different rooms, connected to the ethernet port in that room

(I'll have to place them strategically spread to cover the places where we want wifi).

 

Questions here: 

- can I have ethernet backhaul with this ...and will the switch (SG116) allow it?

- I guess I'll need to turn off the wifi of the existing router?

 

 

2) setup:

 

a) connect the first (=MAIN) Deco unit in the position described above and make the "Deco Wifi network", then set this unit to access point mode (AP) (reason for this position: I want to use ehternet backhaul)

b) add one other Deco unit as a satellite with the Deco app, without first connecting it to an ehternet port (just power it up and get close to the first MAIN Deco).

c) set the Deco satellite to AP mode

d) connect the Deco satellite to any ethernet port in any room. (Where I need wifi).

e) for the second satellite: repeat step b to d.

f) turn ethernet backhaul on for each Deco unit in the app.

 

Would this be correct?

 

Many thanks in advance!

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Re:Creating one seemless roaming wifi network with multiple Deco BE65 nodes: mesh or accesspoint mode?
2025-03-11 06:49:31

  @Jodecaesteker 

Hi, Thanks for the update.

Here are some details for your reference:

TL-SG116 is ok to establish Ethernet Backhaul among Deco units. Ethernet Backhaul would be automatically enabled once the Deco units detect there is an Ethernet Connection between them. 

It would be better to disable the WiFi on the existing router.

 

As for the setup,

You can put all 3 units next to each other to finish the setup first according to the Deco APP auto-setup guide,

then switch the operation to "Access Point" for all units under Deco APP>More>Advanced>Operation Mode.

After that, you can unplug the satellite Deco units and place them where you need WiFi.

https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/download/deco-be65/#video

 

 

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