X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.

X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.

X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
2 weeks ago
Tags: #Signal Strength
Model: Deco X50-5G  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.1.1

Query:

 

My old Huawei 4G router gave up the ghost. 

 

I replaced it with a X50-5G V2 with the idea when I do eventually move to 5G, I have a router capable of doing so.

 

The major difference is the signal strength. Situated in exactly the same position as the old 4G router, (on a window ledge with line of sight to the Three mast) the signal strength struggles to reach 3 bars, and can be as low as one bar with the consequential warning of low signal. The old Huawei used to report 5 bars sometimes dropping to 4 in heavy rain.

 

However, the speeds that I am getting remain excellent to beyond expectations (as follows):

 

Huawei

Stable speeds - 50 Mbps

After reboot - 100Mbps

No packet loss

 

Deco X50 5G (remember, this is a 4G SIM)

Stable speeds - 120Mbps

Occasional speeds up to 160Mbps

No packet loss

Rebooting makes no difference.

 

So it's clear the Deco is significantly better for speeds. It makes me think perhaps Three Ireland used some sort of throttling internal to their supplied modems.

But it also makes me consider the following: Is the problem with the Deco's reporting of low signal a simple case of poor firmware related measuring? I was looking into an external antenna, but at the speeds I am now getting (up to 200% improvement over Huawei) I have to consider the option that in fact I don't need one. But that signal strength keeps bugging me. Is it truly poor signal strength?

 

Note: Mast is approximately 1.8km away but with line of sight.

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#1
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7 Reply
Re:X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
2 weeks ago

As TP-Link have not even had the decency at least to respond to say my message has been received, I will return the product to Amazon for a full refund, as reading all the other threads, and noting all the internet stability issues this product still has after it's launch in July 2023, it's clear its unlikely to be rectified now.

 

Another failed Deco product it seems. How very disappointing.

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#2
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Re:X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
2 weeks ago

  @SteveWex 

 

Sorry you didn't get a response yet it's the weekend for David and he is the only staff member who monitors the en forum. Going to tag him in this post so he knows about it.

 

@David-TP 

 

While we wait for David...

 

May I know your mobile service provider?

 

Currently, it is suggested to temporarily set the "network mode" to "4G only" To see if that improves the signal/disconnects 

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#3
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Re:X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
2 weeks ago - last edited 2 weeks ago

It was Three Ireland 4G. I tried all different settings as recommended on these forums, but nothing worked. It's fairly clear its a hardware/firmware issue as a similarly sited Huawei runs a stable 5 bar signal from the mast which is line of sight about 1.8km away.

The X50-5G makes 3 bars maximum and with zero change in atmospherics or local interference drops to 1 bar, then drops out completely, then back to 3 bars.

The speed is good when at three bars, but it's the instability that's the issue, I would rather have a stable 60Mbps with Huawei than 120Mbps dropping to nothing then back to 80Mbps then nothing again with the X50-5G.

 

I've raised the return forms with Amazon and have until 26th November to post it back. Unless I can get some stability in the next two weeks, it's gone as it's currently not fit for purpose. Frankly though I don't see much point in waiting, with identical settings to the Huawei its just not as good and after 2 years since release I am still reading other threads with people suffering the same problems. If TP-Link haven't managed to fix these issues in 2 years, what chance is there of a solution in the next two weeks?

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#4
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Re:X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
2 weeks ago

  @SteveWex 

 

I have no idea if it can be resolved in two weeks it will depend on what is causing the signal to just up and die on you. The first step will be to get your logs so the engineers can figure out whats going on.

 

Could you please refer to this link to submit the Deco APP log. 

 

How to submit Deco APP log

 

Thank you

 

@David-TP 

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#5
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Re:X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
2 weeks ago

I didn't have the option "Basic network configuration" but found another way to send the logs.

I cannot increase the time before returning as the return window closes in 2 weeks. 

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#6
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Re:X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
2 weeks ago

  @SteveWex 

 

I'd give them a week then if there is no fix return it. 

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#7
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Re:X50 5G V2 Internet signal strength.
a week ago

  @HelpFixDecoApp 

 

Well, we've been in discussion and lots of options tried. The best that we got was to Cell Lock the strongest signal, but the problem is that yes, it locks the strongest cell in, but it locks the weaker cells out, so if the stronger cell goes down (like it did this weekend) the Deco is unable find another cell to use and I have no until I disable Cell Lock. 

 

This would not be so bad, but this happened overnight with no warning and as such all my Security cameras went down. Only by waking at 5am and checking my phone did I know.

 

So that's all folks, the X50-5G is clearly not fit for purpose as my Huawei B818 is capable of maintaining stable constant internet where the Deco simply cannot, and all the fiddling with settings doesn't make it any better.

 

The problem with the instability is down to the Signal to Noise Ratio. In a matter of seconds the signal goes from 4 bars (17db SNR) to 1 bar (0.7db SNR). No local sources of noise are likely as I live in a rural area with line of site and no buildings between me and the nearest cell tower. Just sitting here on my own in the house in cloudy but still and dry weather taking screenshots of the wandering signal, just one TV on while I do so.

 

I am sure there are countries in which this product will work, but Ireland is not one of them. Thankfully I chose Amazon to supply and I am able to return it easily and for free. In return I get EasyMesh compatibility and Beamforming back again along with many more minor but useful features, now all I need is for the X50-Outdoor to support Eco Mode and it would become an almost adequate Mesh system.

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#8
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