What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?

What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?

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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-03 09:46:57

Update:

I found Faq #13 addresses the secondary question on IoT and GuestNetwork  

https://www.tp-link.com/au/support/faq/3529/

 - it is not (yet) designed to be supported by SatelliteRouter

 

 

The Primary issue is still outstanding : EasyMESH:SatelliteRouter is not honoring HIDE SSID setting 

 

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#119
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-08 08:31:09

 

CollateralDmg wrote

  @Kevin_Z  and TP-Link team

 

I was doing some testing on my EasyMesh setup with the HideSSID option

Here's a cut and paste of the findings from the Reddit Post (   https://www.reddit.com/r/TpLink/comments/13jt0xh/comment/lpz1cgn/ ) 

 

Setup :  AX72Pro (Main) --->  AX72 (Satellite).

Both devices have current & up-to-date firmware

 

Main issue : Enabling HIDE of the PrimaryNetworkSSID  is a badly implemented.

 

a) The SSID will only be hidden on the Main Router

b) It will cause Wifi devices will only connect to SatelliteRouter unless it's completely out of range.

b) The EasyMesh feature of "easy hand-offs" are virtually compromised.

 

Are these considered Bugs or "Working as Designed" ? 

Thank you.

 

@CollateralDmg Could you confirm whether the AX72 Pro and AX72 are connected via Ethernet cable or wirelessly? 

 

Are you saying that Wi-Fi devices switch to the satellite router even after being connected to the main router's hidden network?

 

Our engineering team has confirmed that the hidden network settings for EasyMesh will be optimized in future updates.

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller. Archer AX90 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh and Ethernet Backhaul If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
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#120
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-09 10:05:23 - last edited 2024-10-09 10:06:59

Thanks for responding  @Kevin_Z 

 

Replies below : 

1. AX72 Pro and AX72 are connected via Ethernet cable  (Wired Backhaul) 

 

2. Are you saying that Wi-Fi devices switch to the satellite router even after being connected to the main router's hidden network?

= No ; if it's connected to the [MainRouter/HiddenSSID]  first, the device wouldn't jump to the [SatelliteRouter/BroadcastedSSID]  for no reason.

 

NOTE 1: I didn't do comprehensive testings to see when it would jump from HiddenSSID to BroadcastedSSID ; due to NOTE 2.

Maybe that's a testing the Tp-Link QA team can attempt.

 

The major problem is : even when the device is 0.0m away from the [MainRouter/HiddenSSID]  and also within range of the weaker signal from the [SatelliteRouter/BroadcastedSSID] , devices which are looking for a new connection will ignore the MainRouter and link to the weaker SateliteRouter.

 

 + these devices will -not- automatically switch to the much stronger MainRouter signal

 - until the device fully loses contact with the SateliteRouter. 

 

In short ; the "EasyMesh" feature of "Effective service prioritization and Quality of Service (QoS) support: Capability to prioritize low latency applications when needed and guides devices to roam to the best connection and avoid interference" is not available with HideSSID.

 

 

NOTE 2 : I've disabled the HideSSID feature for now since it doesn't work ; hopefully there's a firmware to allow EasyMesh to work with HideSSID.

 

Thank you!

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#121
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-11 03:27:25

@CollateralDmg 

 

Thank you very much for all the detailed information.

 

I've reported this issue to the QA team and hope they will optimize EasyMesh in upcoming updates soon.

 

As a workaround for the best EasyMesh experience, please disable the hidden network on the main device.

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller. Archer AX90 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh and Ethernet Backhaul If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
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#122
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-17 22:17:00

  @Kevin_Z 

I wish to connect at least 4 wireless APs, with an ethernet backhaul, preferably all of them in AP mode, into a mesh network. I thought that using Archer AX.. routers would be possible, but apparently

- Not all of them support EasyMesh

- Of those, not all of them support ethernet backhaul

- Of those not all of them support easymesh in AP mode.

 

I have read conflicting information on this webpage and the forums about whether or not such a setup is possible, all mesh devices in AP mode, including the controller, connected via ethernet, with a separate device acting as main router (no double NAT).

 

I also read conflicting info about the number of devices that can be connected.

 

Also I wonder if one can use the ethernet ports as regular ethernet ports on the APs when they are in EasyMesh satellite mode, or are they wireless-only in this case?

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#123
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-18 05:54:27

@MikeOxlong 

 

Could you please specify which information you found to be conflicting? We will look into updating it.

 

outline a network layout showing how you plan to connect all four EasyMesh devices, and we can provide more precise suggestions. When configured in AP Mode, you can still connect wired clients to the Ethernet ports of the AP, as described in this thread:

EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller. Archer AX90 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh and Ethernet Backhaul If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
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#124
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-18 07:28:29 - last edited 2024-10-18 07:35:44

 

Kevin_Z wrote

@MikeOxlong 

 

Could you please specify which information you found to be conflicting? We will look into updating it.

 

outline a network layout showing how you plan to connect all four EasyMesh devices, and we can provide more precise suggestions. When configured in AP Mode, you can still connect wired clients to the Ethernet ports of the AP, as described in this thread:

EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller

  @Kevin_Z 

 

Hi, thank you for the quick reply!

 

Conflicting - well, already in the linked page it says "The availability of EasyMesh in AP Mode may vary by region even for the same model. Please check your local website for more information."

 

Also when I check the Archer AX55, some pages say it is EasyMesh compatible, and that it supports being a mesh controller in AP mode. But when I go to the products page and filter for EasyMesh in the options in the left menu, the AX55 is not shown.

 

This is already confusing to me, because if I search for features for a model by model number, it might turn out that an article states it has a feature, but it might turn out that feature is not available for the variant I can buy at my location. Hence why I am asking here.

 

You say "When configured in AP Mode, you can still connect wired clients to the Ethernet ports of the AP", does this also apply when the device is in AP mode AND set to be an EasyMesh satellite?

 

Thank you for the offer for suggestions. I drew a quick sketch of a possible setup. Note, that the exact number and type of clients is just an illustration. The main router is ISP-supplied and shall not be changed, but for this reason all wifi APs shall run in AP mode. There is ethernet backhaul (but the potential of adding further APs with wireless backhaul is interesting). Each of the wireless APs have potentially wired device connections. I'd like to realize roaming for the wireless clients (blue). It doesn't really need to be EasyMesh (or mesh for that matter), as long as the handover is smooth (e.g. 802.11/v/k/r). I just thought EasyMesh may be the simplest / most cost-effective solution using TP-Link devices. So the question is, what should the red "Wifi AP" devices be from your product catalog?

 

 

 

 

 

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#125
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-18 08:04:50

 

MikeOxlong wrote

   @Kevin_Z  

 

Hi, thank you for the quick reply!

 

Conflicting - well, already in the linked page it says "The availability of EasyMesh in AP Mode may vary by region even for the same model. Please check your local website for more information."

 

Also when I check the Archer AX55, some pages say it is EasyMesh compatible, and that it supports being a mesh controller in AP mode. But when I go to the products page and filter for EasyMesh in the options in the left menu, the AX55 is not shown.

 

This is already confusing to me, because if I search for features for a model by model number, it might turn out that an article states it has a feature, but it might turn out that feature is not available for the variant I can buy at my location. Hence why I am asking here.

@MikeOxlong 

 

Thank you very much for your clarification. I understand now. I will pass this feedback to the local website admins and ask them to review the EasyMesh device list. I can confirm that the Archer AX55 V1 supports EasyMesh in AP Mode. You can also verify this by checking the firmware release notes below:

https://www.tp-link.com/de/support/download/archer-ax55/v1/#Firmware

 

MikeOxlong wrote

You say "When configured in AP Mode, you can still connect wired clients to the Ethernet ports of the AP", does this also apply when the device is in AP mode AND set to be an EasyMesh satellite?

 

Thank you for the offer for suggestions. I drew a quick sketch of a possible setup. Note, that the exact number and type of clients is just an illustration. The main router is ISP-supplied and shall not be changed, but for this reason all wifi APs shall run in AP mode. There is ethernet backhaul (but the potential of adding further APs with wireless backhaul is interesting). Each of the wireless APs have potentially wired device connections. I'd like to realize roaming for the wireless clients (blue). It doesn't really need to be EasyMesh (or mesh for that matter), as long as the handover is smooth (e.g. 802.11/v/k/r). I just thought EasyMesh may be the simplest / most cost-effective solution using TP-Link devices. So the question is, what should the red "Wifi AP" devices be from your product catalog?

 

 

In your network, you only need to configure one of the four Wi-Fi APs in AP Mode to act as the EasyMesh controller. The other three Wi-Fi APs can then join the EasyMesh network, as I described in a similar topology:

For the EasyMesh models, you will need to select one from the list in this thread, as you require a Wi-Fi AP that supports Ethernet Backhaul and can function as an EasyMesh controller in AP Mode:

EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller

 

If you have other inquiries, please feel free to let me know.

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller. Archer AX90 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh and Ethernet Backhaul If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
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#126
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-18 08:29:45

  @Kevin_Z 

 

Thank you for the response.

 

If I understand correctly, I need just 1 device from that list (the controller), e.g. AX55; and I can pair that with other devices, as long as those support easymesh and ethernet backhaul (e.g. AX72 Pro). [Tho as I indicated elsewhere on this forum, I'd be happiest if AP mode mesh control were enabled on the AX72 Pro as well ;) ]

 

The setup where the clients are not wired into the controller, but rather all 4 are wired into a common switch, in the same network, should not be an issue then?

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#127
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Re:What is EasyMesh and how does it work with TP-Link routers and extenders?
2024-10-18 12:15:11

 

MikeOxlong wrote

  @Kevin_Z 

 

Thank you for the response.

 

If I understand correctly, I need just 1 device from that list (the controller), e.g. AX55; and I can pair that with other devices, as long as those support easymesh and ethernet backhaul (e.g. AX72 Pro). [Tho as I indicated elsewhere on this forum, I'd be happiest if AP mode mesh control were enabled on the AX72 Pro as well ;) ]

 

@MikeOxlong This is correct. You only need the main Wi-Fi AP support EasyMesh in AP Mode and work as the controller. Others are required to support EasyMesh Ethernet Backhaul in your topo.

 

MikeOxlong wrote

 

The setup where the clients are not wired into the controller, but rather all 4 are wired into a common switch, in the same network, should not be an issue then?

 

This is also correct. All of the four can be wired into the switch.

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller. Archer AX90 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh and Ethernet Backhaul If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
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#128
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