@zim2dive If I understand correctly this is a new installation?

 

First try setting up the 3rd floor XE70 next to/near the 1st floor/primary Deco, (next to the first floor unit).  Connect an Ethernet cable between the two and verify Ethernet backhaul has established.  Disconnect power first, then Ethernet cable from the satellite Deco, and move it back up to the 3rd floor.  1st connect ethernet, then connect power to the satellite.

 

It is generally harder to establish Ethernet backhaul through switches/long runs because the system is designed to first establish WiFi backhaul.  Since they are 2 floors away the WiFi backhaul is too weak...

  @jzchen 

 

The unit would (for a short period) manage to establish the wired backhaul and show in the app as wired (serpetine S vs. wifi symbol).  But it appears that if the wireless signal isn't solid, it doesn't matter.. which is just bad programming IMO... but in brief, the wired backhaul was confirmed, but seemed to still rely (at least partly) on the wifi signal.

 

Units are boxed back up and being returned.

 

2 flaws IMO

 

a) not able to establish a stable wireless backhaul (20' straight up)

b) not able to use wired backhaul as the primary connection method (ie. if you have a wire, the wireless signal should not matter).. ie. I'd be ok with TRYING wireless first.. but if/once wired is found, the connection status should be based on that.  

 

Also seemed like the Deco was not terribly happy with Google Fiber Jack.  ie. had to power cycle the Fiber Jack to get the Deco to re-acquire an IP.  Orbi system did/does not.  (going back to the 7 year old Orbi for now).

 

Its a shame... really liked the price, and that the units were not specialized to router/satellite.  But robust wired-backhaul (or a MUCH better/stronger wireless backhual) is a MUST for me.

 

Also wasn't obvious that the units would daisy chain the backhaul (ie. unit 3 being too far from unit 1, but unit 2 in the middle would relay).  Again, that would possibly have been "good enough", but the app always showed both sats connecting to the main.

 

Off to investigate otherm options :(

  @zim2dive 

 

Per instructions that I've read once Ethernet backhaul is established, WiFi backhaul is supposed to be dropped (completely).  But there have been complaints on this forum for example after years of working on Ethernet backhaul it just all of a sudden stopped, for unknown reason....

 

Me, I split a 2-pack of Deco BE95 a while back with a friend.  I am waiting for a new version, (my current BE95 is V1.60), before I possibly buy another...

yeah, I don't know what to make of the confusing reporting... a) red LED on b) app reporting node offline c) WIRED traffic thru the "offline" node working just fine IMO, if you have a wired connection, everything should use it and that node should never be red/offline. However, that is not the way if behaved :(