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Deco mesh & CPL network

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Deco mesh & CPL network

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Deco mesh & CPL network
Deco mesh & CPL network
2025-04-22 19:28:57 - last edited 2025-04-24 18:29:11
Model: Deco M4  
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Hi all,

 

Searched a little this forum but coud not quite find an answer to my particular case.

 

I'm looking to extend my wifi to my garden shed (for robot lawn mower & wifi in the garden). For my house, I currently have deco M4 units, all connected through ethernet backhaul. But I do not have ethernet cable to the shed...

 

I am looking into two options : pull a 40m ethernet cable to my shed, which requires quite some work (including breaking my terrace). And then I thought I could maybe do the job with powerline (CPL), as I do have a powerline up to my shed. But I'm not sure what I want to do will work : connect one CPL unit to my switch through ethernet cable, and plug in the wall in my house. Connect second CPL in my shed socket, and then connect a new deco M4 (or other) via ethernet cable in my shed.

 

Would this work and be considered as one and same network ? I read about P7/P9 able to use powerline backhaul ; should I set-up directly with P7/P9 instead of CPL ?

 

Thanks for any advice/help !

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Re:Deco mesh & CPL network-Solution
2025-04-22 20:58:21 - last edited 2025-04-24 18:29:11

  @Jonathan85 

 

Try powerline first. I would suggest the following approach:

 

1. Test to see if powerline link is stable and reasonably fast;

2. Use one of Deco M4 units you already have to see if setup works, by placing it in the shed;

3. If everything works, buy additional Deco unit, and for that I would suggest either M4 or M5.

 

I would recommend against P7/P9. Reasons are many, to spare your and mine time listing them - just trust me on that.

 

Deco mesh will use Ethernet backhaul over powerline if powerline adapters support it. TP-Link brand of powerline adapters is recommended, but I tried with ZyXEL and have found that this brand is compatible, too.

 

For powerline adapters, do not go with fastest: faster speeds they promise, more sensitive to electrical wire quality and noise they are. AV1000 is more than enough. 

 

My recommendation would be "TL-PA7017 KIT" or if you only have one socket in the shed, same set but with pass-through, and it is "TL-PA7017p KIT". They should be indentical in performance otherwise.

 

So, the process:

 

1. Deploy both adapters, see if they can establish the link;

2. If they do, attach device with Ethernet port such as laptop to shed adapter and run speed tests, to see what actual speeds you are getting. Try few speed tests separated in time between them, to understand link stability and performace.

----

At this point, if you are not happy with results, return powerline adapters to seller. You should be getting them from the place with return policy of at least two weeks. This would also mean you can't use powerline link.

If you don't have laptop (or anything with Ethernet port) to use for tests in Step 2, skip that step, proceed to Step 3.

----

3. Bring one of Satellite M4 you have to the shed and attach it to powerline adapter there. See if that setup works;

4. If it does, time to shop for additional Deco unit for your Deco mesh. M4 should be the best option (I always recommend consistent hardware), followed by M5 which is positioned as add-on unit to WiFi 5 type of Deco mesh systems, which is one you have. 

 

 

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Re:Deco mesh & CPL network-Solution
2025-04-22 20:58:21 - last edited 2025-04-24 18:29:11

  @Jonathan85 

 

Try powerline first. I would suggest the following approach:

 

1. Test to see if powerline link is stable and reasonably fast;

2. Use one of Deco M4 units you already have to see if setup works, by placing it in the shed;

3. If everything works, buy additional Deco unit, and for that I would suggest either M4 or M5.

 

I would recommend against P7/P9. Reasons are many, to spare your and mine time listing them - just trust me on that.

 

Deco mesh will use Ethernet backhaul over powerline if powerline adapters support it. TP-Link brand of powerline adapters is recommended, but I tried with ZyXEL and have found that this brand is compatible, too.

 

For powerline adapters, do not go with fastest: faster speeds they promise, more sensitive to electrical wire quality and noise they are. AV1000 is more than enough. 

 

My recommendation would be "TL-PA7017 KIT" or if you only have one socket in the shed, same set but with pass-through, and it is "TL-PA7017p KIT". They should be indentical in performance otherwise.

 

So, the process:

 

1. Deploy both adapters, see if they can establish the link;

2. If they do, attach device with Ethernet port such as laptop to shed adapter and run speed tests, to see what actual speeds you are getting. Try few speed tests separated in time between them, to understand link stability and performace.

----

At this point, if you are not happy with results, return powerline adapters to seller. You should be getting them from the place with return policy of at least two weeks. This would also mean you can't use powerline link.

If you don't have laptop (or anything with Ethernet port) to use for tests in Step 2, skip that step, proceed to Step 3.

----

3. Bring one of Satellite M4 you have to the shed and attach it to powerline adapter there. See if that setup works;

4. If it does, time to shop for additional Deco unit for your Deco mesh. M4 should be the best option (I always recommend consistent hardware), followed by M5 which is positioned as add-on unit to WiFi 5 type of Deco mesh systems, which is one you have. 

 

 

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Re:Deco mesh & CPL network
2025-04-23 09:29:34 - last edited 2025-04-23 09:31:17

Hi @Alexandre. , Thanks, approach seems logical ! Testing in this case is probably the best !

I'll follow your tips & stay away from P7/P9 (not the first time I hear some negative info over those)

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Re:Deco mesh & CPL network
2025-04-24 18:33:57

Hi all,

 

Thought I'd loop back - bought a couple of TL-PA7017P, connected one through ethernet on my router, plugged in the wall socket. Plugged in the second in my shed, paired them no issue.

Tested with ethernet & laptop in the shed; got about 50 Mbps speed (1/4th of theoretical max ; 1/3rd of realistic max - more than enough for me as it's for coverage in the garden).

Grabbed one of my M4's, connected through ethernet in my shed, instantly got it online no issue, and sees ethernet backhaul. Tested wifi, same 50 Mbps.

 

So yes, it works, seems compatible in my case ! I'm off to buy a new M4 to extend my coverage.

 

Thanks again @Alexandre. , you helped me do the jump ;)

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