Smart Bulbs/Devices with Deco Mesh WiFi (frequency)
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My question is at the bottom if you do not want the background...
This is actually for the Tapo L610 V1, Firmware 1.0.3 Build 221129 Rel. 192631, but also a number of other smart devices from Tapo and a few from Kasa. The Tapo L610 for some reason does not show up in the Models section, but is the prime offender of the issue.
I have good WiFi coverage in my house, using a 5-node Linksys Velop mesh network putting out a single intelligently manged WiFi network (i.e. 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz showing as 1 WiFi). There are still a few corners where I want stronger signal, so I plan on expanding it slightly with a few extra nodes, or possibly doing so while changing to a more modern Mesh system, of which I am seriously considering something from the Deco range.
We have recently started purchasing smart plugs and bulbs. We have bought:
3x Kasa KP115 plugs
1x Kasa KL110 bulb
1x Tapo C200 camera
2x Tapo TC70 camera
4x Tapo L630 bulbs
12x Tapo P110 plugs (not yet delivered)
The issue we are running into is that the connection seems a bit spotty on some of the devices. Bulbs, for example, can sometimes take 20-30 seconds to respond to an instruction, and occasionally do not respond at all. The plugs occasionally stop reporting energy usage and then start showing it again, and also have delayed response to on/off instructions.
After a lot of experimenting, I have worked out that some of it has to do with signal in worst corners of the house, but in the areas with very strong signal I suspect it has to do with smart devices not playing well with 5Ghz WiFi frequency. To test, I split 2.4 and 5Ghz into separate WiFi, connected them to the 2.4Ghz and the devices seemed to work perfectly. When I bonded them together into a single WiFi again, the problems returned.
I refuse to split the WiFi permanently. It is a layer of complication that should not be necessary and I'd rather live without the smart devices than split the network.
Now to my question: If I buy a Deco Mesh WiFi system, and run it outputting a single WiFi network (i.e. NOT having 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz showing separately), will it play well with the various TP-Link smart devices? Has TP-Link provided native compatibility between the two? Or is this issue going to plague me as long as the WiFi frequencies are not separated?
