@Archundias 

No way. No one is going to support this anymore. They don't even bother answering these types of questions. If they started with V2, they won't go back to V1. Just like you wrote, we've been waiting for two years. Me too. I’m speechless. Personally, I think it’s a total scandal, plain and simple.

However, I found a different, better solution. It’s more stable, has better network coverage, and effortlessly replicates 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, MLO, Guest, and IoT networks. My main router is a BE800, but I’ve tested it with the BE550 as well, and it works perfectly.

  @DanielOK  Thanks for your advice, but I'm not spending any more money on a company that can't provide support for such a basic functionality on a perfectly capable device. If I'm going to spend more money, I certainly wouldn't do it with these folks.

  @DanielOK  - Can you please elaborate on the solution you implemented? You got me curious....

  @Gilad-A 

Unfortunately, it was time to invest again. My main home router is a BE800, and I previously had a BE550 V1 in the mesh network. As you know, the BE550 as a satellite is a pain—it only broadcasts the main 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. There’s no 6 GHz, no chance for even basic MLO (for 2.4/5 GHz), let alone Guest or IoT networks. Even worse, when the BE550 works as a satellite, it can't even enable its own Guest or IoT networks. It basically becomes an overpriced, basic satellite router worth 50-60 Euro, even though I paid 300 Euro for it two years ago. A total disaster.

So, I bought a 3-pack of Deco BE25. Theoretically, the BE800 and Deco don't work together in a mesh. Theoretically. In practice, they work great if you follow this trick:

1. Initial Setup: When you first launch the Deco, it creates its own WiFi network. You have to set it up initially.

2. AP Mode: Go into the Deco settings and change the operation mode from "Router" to Access Point (AP).

3. SSID Matching: Edit the WiFi name (SSID) created by the Deco to be identical to the BE800’s SSID, using the exact same password. This creates a unified network.

4. Sub-networks: In the Deco settings, enable the Guest and IoT networks, naming them exactly like the ones on the BE800 with the same passwords.

5. Optimization: Finally, enable MLO, Fast Roaming, and Beamforming in the Deco app. This ensures mobile devices switch between nodes seamlessly.

Everything works perfectly without any drops or hangs. These Deco units are a revelation—they have better coverage and a stronger signal than the BE550. Even though they are two different ecosystems (managed via two separate apps), they "talk" to each other perfectly. The BE800 sees the Deco units as active clients, and while the apps don't merge, the network itself is a unified mesh with MLO, IoT, and Guest support.

I managed to sell my BE550 for 200 Euro and bought the 3-pack Deco set for 250 Euro. With three units, my house coverage is incredible. On my 1000/500 Mbps fiber, I’m getting about 950/450 Mbps on my iPhone 16 Pro over WiFi. What more could I want?

To maximize performance, I connected each Deco via Ethernet Backhaul to a 2.5G switch, which is plugged into the BE800’s 2.5G LAN port. That’s how I dealt with this 'crap' system. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

  @DanielOK 
Wow! That's a really good work around. Well done man!
Thanks so much for taking the time to explain it in details. 

I'm with 3xBE550 V2 so I do run the beta but it's yet to be stable. Might eventually have to fallback to your solution (with other hardware) if all fails. 
The new firmware really is a lot better but it has it's own issues.

  @Gilad-A 

Neither the BE800 nor the BE550 are worth their price. They are a classic case of style over substance—unrefined and likely to stay that way. The BE800 can lose the signal for a device just 5 meters away with no obstacles. The IoT network signal strength is so pathetic that most devices on my ground floor can’t even pick it up. After over two years on the market, it’s still all half-baked.

The reason is simple: product cannibalism. The manufacturer has created such a vast range of products that they can’t keep up with the software side. And they won't! The current flagships aren't even working properly yet, and they are already pushing the BE900 and teasing WiFi 8. It’s madness and pure marketing fluff.

The fact is, the Deco series is miles ahead of routers like the BE800 or BE550. Even though all my Deco units (BE25) are placed on the first floor, their signal is so strong that 99% of my IoT devices (around 60 units) connect to the Deco instead of the BE800—even the ones on the ground floor. That speaks for itself.

My BE25 is the entry-level WiFi 7 model with only two antennas, so the BE65 with three is likely better. However, the BE65’s advantage is mainly when the units connect wirelessly, as they have a dedicated backhaul channel. In my case, since my Decos are linked via LAN, the inter-node communication goes through the cable, leaving the WiFi strictly for mobile devices and IoT. Therefore, I’m getting practically the same performance I would get from a wireless BE65.

Bottom line: buying TP-Link routers (Archers) was my worst investment. But since I—like many others—sunk a lot of money into this, I had to find a way to make it work. This 'hybrid' setup is my way of dealing with the mess.

What I’m describing is a classic case of portfolio dispersion. TP-Link releases dozens of models every year instead of refining the software for the ones already on the market. It’s incredibly frustrating that 'premium' hardware costing hundreds of Euros loses to a basic Deco system in terms of stability and range.

My conclusion regarding Ethernet Backhaul is key: since the data between units flows through the cable, paying extra for the BE65 model (which features an additional band for wireless communication) would be pointless. I’ve squeezed the maximum possible performance out of this configuration at the lowest possible cost.

What I wrote about 'product cannibalism' is a very accurate diagnosis of the electronics market. We often forget that hardware is only half the battle; the other half is stable code. My experience with the iPhone 16 Pro and fully saturating my connection (950 Mbps) on the 'entry-level' Deco BE25 model only confirms that mesh systems are simply better optimized for real-world home use than single 'monsters' with a dozen antennas.

It’s fascinating that the BE25 model—which is theoretically a 'budget' entry into the WiFi 7 world—actually offers a better user experience than a flagship. This is proof that a distributed architecture (Mesh) combined with a solid Ethernet Backhaul is currently the best solution for modern homes, especially with a large number of IoT devices.

True, but first I had to sink a massive amount of money into it, then wait like an idiot for two years hoping for a new firmware update, only to finally realize that not everything that glitters is gold."