Deco BE85 (BE22000) Wi-Fi 7 2-pack, my review coming from Orbi RBK50 mesh system
(I originally posted this on r/TpLink)
After 6+ years with an Orbi Wi-Fi 5 system, I decided it was time upgrade to take advantage of my AT&T 5Gbps fiber connection/LAN, and the growth of Wi-Fi 6/6E devices in my home.
I got the BE85 two pack about 5 days ago, and I need to get the big negative point out of the way, first.
The BE85 satellites have a fan that loudly runs a 5-min cycle, a few times every hour. I can tell the fan(s) run 24/7 at a very low rpm, you'd have to get your ear within one inch in a very quiet room. This is not the problem. It's the ramp to 100% that goes for apparently exactly 5 minutes, then drops back to idle speed. Happens on both satellites, so I don't think it's a hardware issue. The satellites aren't even under heavy load when the fans ramp. They just blast off, and 5 minutes later settle down.
It would be great if @Riley_S has any guidance on this. Because it's so annoying, I may have to consider returning the system.
So let's talk about the 'good stuff'. Pretty much everything else. Starting off with the OOB experience, the packaging and design is fitting of the $1000 price point. I realize this is cutting edge hardware, and I'm paying a premium for that. Right now, I think the BE85/BE95 systems appear to be the first/only mesh system with 10Gbps support and pass-through ethernet ports. No doubt this is what adds quite a bit to the premium over older TP-Link systems like the EX75 Pro, Eero and Orbi 6E competitors.
The app experience is pretty good, from initial set-up to normal usage. I use the system in Access Point mode, letting my AT&T BGW320-500 handle routing. No issues here.
There's one UI annoyance - my device names seem to have a bug, where 50% of them are designated "BSH Hausgeräte" which is somehow related to a Bosch refrigerator I recently purchased. If anyone knows how to refresh device names, I would really appreciate it.
The two pack covers my 2400sq ft home very well. The biggest difference over the Orbi system is how the Deco is able to maintain speeds at the edge of the coverage area and/or through walls. The Orbi had good coverage too, but speeds would drop significantly when you got away from line-of-sight.
I also bought the Deco X50-Outdoor. I haven't installed it just yet, as I'm trying to decide if the '5-minute fan problem' from the BE85s is going to ultimately drive me crazy.
Anyways, I'll wrap this up before it gets too longwinded, but I'm happy to answer any questions in the comments.
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@turns2stone I'm sorry about that. I hoped it would fix things for you. Maybe we're seeing different bugs then?
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@kellisj2003 agreed. I'm getting the iPhone 15 Pro next week, be great to see how it works with WiFi 6E.
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@turns2stone idea for you from a Tier 3 at Qualcomm. They're asking if you're using the Cat6 Ethernet cable that came with your Deco's. If so, they wonder if there is an issue with the TP-Link Ethernet cable.
They had similar issues at his call center with the Deco BE85's and BE95's, and when they replaced them with Cat8 Ethernet cables the overheat/fan(s) running wild issues cleared up. They're using Cat8 Ethernet cables made by Orbram, and available from Amazon.
Just an idea, but they're wondering if maybe trying those cables or Cat6a cables could fix your issue. What do you think?
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Interesting theory, but I'm not using the included cable. One unit has a high-quality 23awg Belkin Cat6a cable, the other is using Cat6a structured cable straight from my patch panel.
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This firmware update was just released, fixing issues with fans and 10 Gbps ports. Did you guys and gals get it yet?
Deco BE85(US)_V2.6_1.0.11 Build 20230830 |
Download | |
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Published Date: 2023-10-07 | Language: Multi-language | File Size: 34.14 MB |
Modifications and Bug Fixes: |
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@Richardj186 Awesome! Wasn't aware of this update. I will try later today and report back.
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@turns2stone it wasn't there yesterday so it's new today! I'll update mine too and also report back.
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20 minutes after the update, the fan went mad/100% just like before.
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@turns2stone has it only gone mad once, or still following the previous pattern?
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