@Lindr_ZA 

Regarding your laptop connecting to the main Deco instead of the satellite:

The Deco mesh system allows client devices (like your MacBook) to automatically select which Deco unit to connect to based on signal quality and other factors. While there is a "Connection Preference" feature for client devices that would allow you to manually specify which Deco unit a device should connect to, this feature is only available when all Deco units in the network support it.

Unfortunately, the Deco E4 model may not support the connection preference feature for client devices. The system is designed to automatically manage these connections for optimal performance, even if it doesn't always choose the physically closest unit.

Regarding the missing manual channel selection option:

Several Deco models support manually selecting Wi-Fi channels, and this option would appear in the Deco APP under MORE > Wi-Fi Settings > Advanced. However, since you're not seeing this option on your Deco E4, it means your model does not support manual channel selection.

As an alternative, the Deco E4 provides a "Network Optimization" feature which automatically detects and selects the optimal channel. You can find this in the Deco APP under MORE > Network Optimization. This function only needs to be run once after all Deco units are powered on for the first time • repeated use is not necessary.