@c1954ritchey
Thanks for reaching out. I understand that you have been experiencing frequent device offline notifications and connection drops across most devices on your Deco Mesh network, even though your setup hasn't changed recently and your firmware is up to date. Let’s go through some steps to help stabilize your network:
Main Deco unstable/dropping issues:
1. Check the Ethernet cable between your modem and the main Deco unit. If possible, replace it with a new cable to rule out any physical connection issues.
2. In the Deco app, go to MORE > Internet Connection > IPv4 > DNS Address, and set the DNS servers to 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1 for improved reliability.
3. Try cloning the MAC address of your PC or your old router (refer to this FAQ for instructions: https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/faq/2925/).
Satellite Deco unstable/dropping issues:
1. Ensure that both the main Deco and satellite units are placed in open areas, not inside cabinets or corners.
2. Move satellite units closer to the main Deco. Ideally, the backhaul signal strength should show at least 2 out of 3 bars.
3. If any satellite Deco is connected via Ethernet, temporarily remove the Ethernet cable to see if this resolves the issue.
4. In the Deco app, go to MORE > ECO Mode (if available) and make sure ECO Mode is turned off.
Client devices unstable/dropping issues (including IoT devices):
1. For mobile devices (laptops, phones, tablets):
• In the client list section of the Deco app, select your device and ensure that 'Speed Limit' is disabled, and that 'Mesh' is enabled. 'Connection Preference' should be set to 'auto' by default.
• Check the 'Parental Control' section to make sure your devices are not restricted by any profiles.
• Ensure your devices are connected to the nearest Deco unit with a strong signal, and are using the 5GHz or 6GHz band if possible. Try toggling Wi-Fi off and on to reconnect.
2. For 2.4GHz IoT smart devices:
• [For some Wi-Fi 7 models] In the Deco app, go to MORE > Wi-Fi Settings > Advanced and set the 2.4GHz Channel Width to 20MHz. Then go to More > Advanced > Wireless Network Mode and select 'High Capacity' mode to reduce congestion.
• Use the 'Network Optimization' tool in the Deco app to automatically optimize your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channels.
• If you have many Deco units and IoT devices, try temporarily powering off some units to see if stability improves.
If you continue to experience issues after these steps, please contact TP-Link support and provide details about the troubleshooting steps you have already tried. This will help us assist you more efficiently.
