Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?

Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?

Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?
Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?
2025-05-19 15:58:05
Model: Deco M5  
Hardware Version: V7
Firmware Version: 1.7.8

Hi all,

 

I have a question on the functionality of the Ethernet backhaul. 

 

My M4/M5 network refuses to allow more than one ethernet/wired device. Ive tried different switches/cables/ everything. All firmware is updated.

 

Then when I connect to this M4 or M5  device which appears randomly/rarely as wired (I see myself as an active client) I get miserable (<100mb) CLI Speedtests - even if when I take that very same cable and connect it to my PC I have almost 1.0gbps using the same command line test.

 

1) In the simplest of configurations (3x M5) with the master connected to my Archer BE3600 router - there's no way I can get two devices to show up as ethernet backhauled 

2) The app seems to hold onto stale information for ages. When I see 'everything looks good; - i power off a device and yet , even if i refresh or 'check again', or close/reopen the app , it's still there with this incorrect status (btw all of this when I am connected to the same SSID).

3)  On the Master M5 when I stand next to the device and connect wirelessly I get a 700mbps speedtest everytime.

 

Is my experience common? Are the ethernet backhauled connections always this poorly performing.Would I be anyway disappointed even if I could get all the devices to show as wired backhaul (i.e am I dreaming of getthing the same 700mbs as I get when next to the master)?

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

 

Kevin

 

 

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Re:Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?
2025-05-20 06:42:19

  @KevinComo 

Hi, thank you very much for the feedback.

Can I have the current Deco APP version?

Please make sure it is up-to-date: the latest Deco APP for IOS is 3.9.50; 3.9.42 for Android.

 

Please make sure Deco is set to "Access Point" mode: How to set up Deco to work in Access Point mode

 

"1) In the simplest of configurations (3x M5) with the master connected to my Archer BE3600 router - there's no way I can get two devices to show up as ethernet backhauled "

Are all three Deco M5 units connected directly to the Ethernet ports of BE3600?

-If there is no EasyMesh range extender, it is suggested to disable "EasyMesh" feature on the Archer BE3600 first:

Ethernet Backhaul could greatly minimize the speed attenuation. The other Ethernet Backhauled Deco should provide a similar speed to the main Deco.

Best regards.

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Re:Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?
2025-05-20 11:47:36

  @David-TP 

 

Hi. The app version is 3.9.50 running on iOS 18.4.1

 

I have to admit I don't run the mesh as a simple AP as I wanted to use the parental controls and other nice features of the Router mode, If this can be managed (at least partially) by the BE3600 I will goive it a try and let you know.

 

About the very slow speed, let's see how that is when dumbed down to AP mode.

 

Many thanks, K 

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Re:Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?
2025-05-20 18:25:33

  @KevinComo 

 

Yay!!! So, I switched to AP mode and it 'seems' that the backhaul is working (going by the speedtest results) but the app is still unreliable so I can't confirm from there that the wired connection is working.

 

The app seems to be incapable of reporting the real network status regardless of whether you are LAN connected or 5G connected to the Deco network.

 

Even when you close the app and re-open it still shows all (but the master) Decos as offline when I can see them all with their white status on and working perfectly.

 

I'll try to install on an Android device to see if the app is any more reliable - but for sure on iOS it's really poor in this respect. 

 

Best, K

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Re:Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?
2025-05-21 02:50:45

  @KevinComo 

Thanks for the reply.

I'll wait for your update.

If, however, the same issue happened to the Android APP as well, please try to save some screenshots/video clips if possible, then help me submit the Deco APP log here:

How to submit Deco APP log

 

Wait for your reply.

Best regards.

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Re:Does backhaul actually work - and at what speeds?
2025-05-23 09:47:40

  @KevinComo 

 

I had another question in the meantime (not about the app).

 

I have the BE3600 acting as my primary router with it's own Wifi 7 SID.  

 

I took the M4 and M5 and reset everything. Then I create a new network - obviously using a different network name and SID.  By default this had operation mode set as "WiFi Router". The primary uses one ethernet cable to connect to the LAN port of the BE3600 and this works 'okay' (but not very fast as the backhaul doesn't work).

 

When I switch the M4/M5 Mesh to 'Access Point' things speed up a lot - but then there a lot of packet loss. I run continuous ping and see 10% timeouts. Also devices around the house randomly lose there connection to the internet.  Switch it back to router mode and everything works properly and reliably again (but slower).

 

My question is whether the Network of the M4/M5 mesh should be somehow linked to the Wifi network of the BE3600 - so it becomes an access point for THAT network. I could imagine that the packet loss and internet disconnect are happening because they are in different networks and maybe the routing isn't passing through from the BE3600 - even though it's from there that the clients get assigned their DHCP (192.168.0) and DNS/Gateway.

 

Before I reset everything, could I maybe get your thoughts on that - and if it's the case that the M4/M5 Mesh should be somehow linked to the BE3600 - considering they use different technologies - how would i do that?

 

Thanks a million in advance.

 

Kevin

 

 

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