Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme

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Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme

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Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme
Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme
2021-01-14 18:57:25 - last edited 2021-01-15 02:44:43

Hi, 

 

I needed better WIFI coverage at home so I changed my Apple Airport Extreme for the Deco 5 mesh system. However, I would like to continue to use the Airport Extreme for automated backups of my computers. Can it be possible to set this up easily ?

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Re:Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme-Solution
2021-01-14 21:26:13 - last edited 2021-01-15 02:44:43

@MaryBee 

 

If you want to keep the network similar while introducing the Deco you can go for the following setup:

 

Apple router ----Ethernet----Deco 1 ----WiFi----Deco 2

                                                        ----WiFi----Deco 3

 

When you set up the Deco initially it will end up in Router Mode by default, but you can then change the operation mode to Access Point Mode. In AP Mode everything will be on the same network in that what is connected to Deco 3 will be able to talk to whatever is connected to the Apple WiFi.

 

There is a drawback in that you lose the Deco router features. Here is an article that talks about it: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2420/

 

As an alternative, you can have the Deco be the main router (Router Mode), and set your Apple router to act as a bridge (and still support backup?). Here is a thread of someone changing their Apple device to an AP device that allows backup: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/256405/is-it-possible-to-use-an-apple-time-capsule-just-as-a-network-attached-backup-dr

 

You can connect the Apple device to any of the Deco nodes.

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Re:Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme-Solution
2021-01-14 21:26:13 - last edited 2021-01-15 02:44:43

@MaryBee 

 

If you want to keep the network similar while introducing the Deco you can go for the following setup:

 

Apple router ----Ethernet----Deco 1 ----WiFi----Deco 2

                                                        ----WiFi----Deco 3

 

When you set up the Deco initially it will end up in Router Mode by default, but you can then change the operation mode to Access Point Mode. In AP Mode everything will be on the same network in that what is connected to Deco 3 will be able to talk to whatever is connected to the Apple WiFi.

 

There is a drawback in that you lose the Deco router features. Here is an article that talks about it: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2420/

 

As an alternative, you can have the Deco be the main router (Router Mode), and set your Apple router to act as a bridge (and still support backup?). Here is a thread of someone changing their Apple device to an AP device that allows backup: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/256405/is-it-possible-to-use-an-apple-time-capsule-just-as-a-network-attached-backup-dr

 

You can connect the Apple device to any of the Deco nodes.

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Re:Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme
2021-01-15 02:51:23

@Tony 

Thanks, using the Deco as the main router (Router Mode), and set my Apple router only as a storage device connected by an ethernet cable to the main Deco (guess it could be any of the Deco). Using the thread you suggested:https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/256405/is-it-possible-to-use-an-apple-time-capsule-just-as-a-network-attached-backup-dr

I guess the best would have been to use it for backups and as another Deco for the mesh network, but I think that the only way it can work is as an extender and I don't want 2 different network at home and I needed it more importantly for the automated backups.

 

Thanks a lot again for your help!!!

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Re:Deco 5 and Apple Airport Extreme
2021-01-15 23:48:34

@MaryBee 

 

In this walkthrough for another device it shows wiring the Apple Extreme to a router as an access point: https://support.getcujo.com/support/solutions/articles/9000091993-router-as-access-point-apple-airport#:~:text=1)

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