Hello TP-Link support,

 

I am using a TP-Link Deco mesh network (with 7 nodes, which I know it is a lot, but it should work connected to an ISP router (MEO GR241AG). The setup is as follows:

 

⚙️ Network Topology:

 

ISP router (MEO GR241AG) → connected via Ethernet to Deco Main (Router mode)

 

Main Deco → Ethernet → Switch 1 (TP-Link TL-SG116, unmanaged)

 

Switch 1 → Ethernet → several Decos + one cable going into Switch 2 (also unmanaged)

 

Switch 2 → Ethernet → more Decos (these are not wirelessly linked — they're wired from Switch 2)

 

Guest network activated. 

 

24 devices peak usage.

 

🧪 Problems:

 

1. Internet issues on devices — frequent DNS errors, sites fail to load first try, then work after reload. Difficulty to connect to networks. Difficult to use.

 

2. ISP is not in bridge mode. Main deco at 192.168.68.1.  Other Decos in the network appear with IP 192.168.71.x instead of 192.168.68.x, even after reboot. Is it normal ?

 

3. Deco app often shows Decos as disconnected or unstable connected and disconnected. Is difficult to use it.

 

4. When Guest Network is enabled, everything gets worse — connectivity drops, some Decos disappear from the app.

 

 

✅ What I tried:

 

Disabled Guest Network → system got more stable, but not working yet.

 

Switched off loop prevention toggle on unmanaged switches (it caused more problems when ON).

 

Verified that only one cable links Switch 1 to Switch 2.

 

Tried to disconnect SW2 and allow for every deco that was served by it to be connected through mesh wifi to other deco units. 

 

Tried to reset/re-add Decos with 71.x IPs → but they return to wrong subnet.

 

 

❓ My questions:

 

1. Can Guest Network work reliably across multiple switches? If yes, do both switches need to support VLAN tagging (802.1Q) and STP?

 

 

2. Is replacing only Switch 1 with a VLAN-aware model (like TP-Link TL-SG108E or SG116E) enough? Can I have the second in this topology ? Should it be managed also ? 

 

 

3. What’s the best practice for setting up a reliable, wired Deco mesh with Guest access and switches?

 

 

 

Thank you for any detailed guidance you can provide. I'm happy to provide diagrams or more details if needed. This is being really difficult...

 

Best regards,

Tiago