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Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP

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Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP

Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
2025-07-13 18:08:29
Model: Deco XE75 Pro  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version: 1.2.14 build20241223 rel. 16551

Hi TP-Link Support — I’m reaching out after two days of trying to get my Deco mesh system working as the primary router behind my AT&T BGW320 fiber gateway. Despite following all setup steps and confirming passthrough is active, the Deco is still getting a private IP.

 

 

 

 

🔧 System Setup:

 

 

  • ISP: AT&T Fiber 1000 Mbps
  • Modem/Gateway: AT&T BGW320
  • Mesh System: TP-Link Deco (3-unit system; main unit hardwired)
  • Mode: Deco is set to Router Mode
  • Internet Type: Dynamic IP (DHCP) selected during setup

 

 

 

 

 

✅ My Goal:

 

 

  • I want Deco to act as the sole router in my home.
  • I’m trying to use IP Passthrough from the BGW320 so Deco receives the public IP and manages all traffic (no double NAT).

 

 

 

 

 

🔁 What I’ve Already Done:

 

 

  1. Reset all Deco units and factory reset BGW320
  2. Set BGW320 to:
    • IP Passthrough Mode: Enabled
    • Passthrough Type: DHCPS-fixed
    • MAC Address: Selected Deco from device list
    • Saved and rebooted
  3.  
  4. Disabled AT&T Wi-Fi radios (2.4 & 5 GHz)
  5. Main Deco connected to BGW320’s yellow LAN port
  6. Power cycled in proper order: unplug Deco → reboot BGW320 → wait 2–3 mins → plug Deco back in
  7. Waited for full boot and checked Deco’s internet IP

 

 

 

 

 

⚠️ Problem:

 

 

  • Deco never gets the public IP from AT&T. It always shows a private IP like 192.168.1.75
  • Meanwhile, the BGW320 shows passthrough is active, and displays the correct public IP (45.17.16.127)
  • Deco is the only LAN-connected device during setup (no switches, no other active connections)
  • I also unplugged my Vivint Smart Drive, which was previously on the network, in case it was grabbing the lease

 

 

 

 

 

📷 What I See:

 

 

  • On BGW320:
    • IP Passthrough: On (public IP address)
    • IP Passthrough Address: 45.17.16.127
  •  
  • In Deco app:
    • IP address is always 192.168.x.x (private) — never updates to public IP
  •  

 

 

 

 

 

❓My Questions:

 

 

  1. Is there a known issue where Deco doesn’t accept a public IP via passthrough from AT&T gateways?
  2. Could there be a DHCP timing conflict where Deco isn’t requesting the IP fast enough?
  3. Is there a way to force Deco to release/renew WAN lease or spoof a MAC address to match the one BGW320 expects?
  4. Does Deco require any VLAN tagging or other custom config for this to work on AT&T?

 

 

Any help would be appreciated. I’d love to avoid having to bypass the BGW320 altogether if I can get this working properly through standard passthrough.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

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#1
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13 Reply
Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
2025-07-13 18:55:02

  @Suoravat 

 

Not sure any of these suggestion will help or not but give them a try and report back. If none of these work i will give you the intructions to open an email up with support 

 

TP-Link Deco mesh WiFi systems can be used with AT&T internet services. To integrate them, you can either use the Deco in router mode alongside your AT&T modem/router (which may lead to double NAT issues) or configure the AT&T device in bridge mode and use the Deco as the primary router. Alternatively, the Deco can be set up as an access point, with the AT&T gateway acting as the main router. 

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

 

1. Deco in Router Mode (with AT&T modem/router):

  • Connect the main Deco unit to an Ethernet port on your AT&T modem/gateway. 
  • This setup can lead to double NAT, potentially causing issues with certain applications or devices. 
  • To avoid double NAT, consider putting the AT&T modem/gateway in bridge mode. 

 

2. Deco in Access Point Mode (with AT&T modem/router):

  • The AT&T gateway remains the main router, handling DHCP and other routing functions. 
  • The Deco units extend the Wi-Fi coverage of the existing network. 
  • This is generally the recommended approach to avoid double NAT issues. 

 

3. Deco in Router Mode (with AT&T modem/gateway in bridge mode):

  • This configuration is similar to using the Deco as the main router, but with the AT&T device acting as a modem only. 
  • This eliminates double NAT and allows the Deco to manage all routing functions. 
  • You may need to configure the AT&T device for bridge mode (e.g., IP Passthrough on the BGW320-500). 

 

4. Troubleshooting:

  • If you experience issues with the Deco setup, ensure the AT&T modem/gateway's firmware is up to date. 
  • Consider disabling the Wi-Fi on the AT&T device to avoid interference. 
  • If using a wired backhaul (Ethernet connection between Deco units), ensure the cables are properly connected and functioning. 
  • If you have a large home or complex layout, consider using an Ethernet backhaul for optimal performance. 

 

In summary, while both Deco and AT&T internet are compatible, proper configuration is crucial to avoid potential issues and ensure optimal performance. The best approach often involves utilizing the Deco as the primary router (either with or without the AT&T device in bridge mode) or as an access point to extend the existing AT&T network. 

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#2
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
2025-07-13 19:18:12

  @HelpFixDecoApp 

 

Thanks for the suggestions, but I’ve already walked through all of those steps in great detail over the last two days. Here’s a recap of what I’ve tried and confirmed:

 

 

 

 

✅ My Current Configuration:

 

 

  • AT&T Gateway: BGW320 (Fiber 1 Gbps)
  • Deco System: TP-Link Deco (set to Router Mode)
  • Connection Type: Dynamic IP (DHCP)
  • IP Passthrough Mode: Enabled on BGW320 using DHCPS-fixed, with Deco’s MAC selected
  • Deco is hardwired directly into the BGW320 yellow LAN port
  • Vivint Smart Drive is unplugged to ensure Deco is the only Ethernet-connected device during setup
  • AT&T Wi-Fi is disabled (both 2.4 and 5 GHz)

 

 

 

 

 

❌ What’s Not Working:

 

 

  • The BGW320 confirms that IP Passthrough is active, and it shows a valid public IP (e.g., 45.17.x.x) assigned to a device
  • However, the Deco continues to pull a private IP (192.168.x.x) and never receives the public IP
  • Power cycling the devices in correct order (Gateway first, then Deco) does not resolve the issue
  • Attempting to renew the IP in the Deco app also does not pull the public IP
  • Deco is not in Access Point mode
  • No switches or other devices are in line between Deco and the gateway

 

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#3
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
2025-07-13 19:58:04

  @Suoravat 

 

Ok thank you for that going to have you open a ticket on this

 

1. Email support at support.usa@tp-link.com.
2. Include the model number of your Deco router, as well as the hardware and firmware versions.
3. Describe the issues you are facing and send the email.
4. Within a few minutes, you will receive an automated response with a TKID number.
5. Upon receiving this email, please access the Deco web UI by entering "tplinkdeco.net" in your browser. Navigate to Advanced > System > System Log, select "ALL" in the log type, and save the file to your local computer. Then, reply to the email you just received, attach the log file, and kindly request that your ticket be escalated to a senior engineer for further assistance.

 

When you reply to the email also give them this link 

 

https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/831850

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#4
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
2025-07-13 23:27:14 - last edited 2025-07-13 23:34:08

 I have the same AT&T service, BGW320-500 and BE95 IP Passthrough.

 

How about if you just reboot the DECO system?

 

EDIT:  In the DECO app -> More -> Internet Connection -> IPv4

 

What does it show as the IP Address?

 

 

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#5
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
2025-07-13 23:38:25

  @jzchen 

 

Thanks — really appreciate the response.

 

I’m using AT&T Fiber with the BGW320-505 and have the Deco XE75 Pro in Router mode, with IP Passthrough enabled (set to the Deco’s MAC address).

 

✅ I’ve already rebooted both the BGW320 and the Deco system multiple times — including full power cycles and soft reboots through the Deco app.

 

 

 

 

Here’s what I’m seeing in the Deco app:

 

 

Deco App > More > Internet Connection > IPv4:

 

  • IP Address: 192.168.x.x (i.e., a private IP, not public)
  • Gateway: 192.168.1.254 (this is the BGW320’s IP)
  • Connection Type: Dynamic IP

 

 

So unfortunately, even with IP Passthrough active, the Deco is still pulling a private IP, which results in double NAT and also prevents IPv6 from activating properly.

 

I’ve also confirmed:

 

  • The correct MAC address is selected for passthrough
  • The firewall/packet filtering on the BGW320 was disabled during testing
  • Passthrough is set to DHCPS-fixed

 

 

 

 

Let me know if you’ve seen anything similar — or if you had to change anything beyond just enabling IP Passthrough and rebooting. Open to trying anything else!

 

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#6
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
2025-07-14 01:07:33 - last edited 2025-07-14 01:13:34

Unfortunately I have seen this bug for a long time in the -500 version. The -500 takes a while to boot, (unplugging then plugging that PS/2 style plug). Timing the reboot of the DECO after (similarly unplugging then plugging the power cord into the unit): 5 seconds after 10 seconds after 15 seconds after 20 seconds after etc. Until it catches was what worked for me. Eventually the more recent BGW320-500 update seems to have solved this. If trying that does not work, you can try taking the WAN IP and static assign to the DECO. (My WAN IP has not changed in so long, maybe since I got service 2 ish years ago, that I memorized it).

 

EDIT-  I have an ASUS brand router that I've also run with IP Passthrough.  The same issue also happened (in the past).  My conclusion since it happened to both brands the BGW was at fault...

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#7
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
Wednesday

  @Suoravat Was this ever solved? I'm running into the same issue. 

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#8
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
Wednesday

  @TP_User1-2-3-4- Nope not at all I think it's the art router 

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#9
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
Wednesday - last edited Wednesday

  @TP_User1-2-3-4- Mine is up to firmware 6.33.5 and it still does not passthrough, unless I power cycle 1st the BGW, and about 20 seconds later power cycle my Deco, (both by pulling the power connector on back).

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#10
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Re:Need Help: Deco Mesh + AT&T BGW320 IP Passthrough Not Working — Still Getting 192.168 IP
Thursday

  @Suoravat I hope you were able to get IP Passthrough to work by my workaround.  (I had to fix getting a private IP last couple of days and I would say 30 seconds may be conservative and 40 seconds may be worth a shot.  But it took me a couple of tries and I did not use a stop watch)...

 

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#12
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