Question Telus Fibre and TP Link Deco XE75 Pro setup ?

[YourDogg]

Hello,

I have a Telus fibre internet setup (Telus Network Access Hub (Arcadyan NH20A) and Boost wifi 6(Arcadyan Boost 2.1)) and purchased a set (3) of the TP Link Deco XE75 Pro attempting to increase wifi coverage at my home and have additional ethernet outlets aside from the 3 pre-wired into the house.

I have been googling and troubleshooting and don't feel like I am any closer to figuring it out. Please let me know if I am on the right track or if not how can I make this work.

This is where i am so far....

1. Telus fibre into the house connected to a Telus Network Access Hub.
a. Network Access Hub has 3 ethernet . cables plugged in that are wired to: Bedroom (2nd floor), Living room (Main. floor), Basement.
2. Telus Boost WiFi 6 is plugged into the living room jack.
a. Deco #1 is plugged directly into the. Boost wifi 6.
3. Deco #2 is plugged into the Bedroom.
4. Deco #3 is plugged into the Basement.
(Ideally the basement Deco will have have 2 computers plugged in for gaming and possibly a console. I have a TP Link 5 port unmanaged switch I can use if needed.)

I have the Deco units in AP mode and the SSID/Password I set the same as the original Telus network.

Everything is running but I don't know for sure if this is working as intended.

Does this work having the Deco #2/#3 units plugged into the Network Access Hub and #1 into the Boost wifi 6? Google leads me to believe all the Decos need to be plugged into the Boost wifi 6??

Or is the Deco into the Boost redundant?

In addition, mixed opinions on the Deco having Smart DHCP on vs off and assigning static IP to them.

Thoughts?

 

[helpstar]

Deco#1 or the Telus booster is not necessary
DHCP on is fine

for gaming hard wired would be better, because of better latency and stability
if you can, use the switch instead of Deco#3
but if you don't get a wifi signal then, and you need it for your phone or other devices, plug in the deco into the switch

 

[Ralston18]

Agree that hard wired would be better.

Also, FYI:

https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-roaming-aggressiveness-guide/

= = = =

That said, I noted "Everything is running but I don't know for sure if this is working as intended."

What are the current performance measurements of the network and nework devices?

"Working" needs to be quantified in some manner in order to determine if your actions and changes effectively make a difference. Either positively or negatively.

Key is to establish some initial baseline of measurements and then, making only one change at a time, remeasure.

Not uncommon for something like Change#1 works, Change #2 works but Changes #1 & #2 together do not work.

Where "works" is some measurable improvement in network performance.

I am a believer in network diagrams - even for simple home networks.

Sketch out your network (does not need to be fancy, many examples online) and then use your sketch to track devices, measurements, and changes of any sort.

Keep notes as you go.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[YourDogg]

Hi,

Appreciate the replies and yes I will hardwire as much as I can and I wasn't aware of the windows roaming. I'll check it out!

The main thing I am trying to determine is if the way I have things wired/connected is proper. I'm trying to have an AP or wired Mesh device on each floor for max wifi coverage and then hardwire everything else I can. Computers, TV, consoles etc.

I will remove the Boost 6 and just use the full Deco system for the network if having both is redundant.

I'm at work so here is a quick and poor drawing.

The arrows are all ethernet cables.

 

[bill001g]

The box you call a network hub I assume also has a router function. Does this box have wifi radios.

It is fairly rare for any kind of modem to have more than 1 ethernet port, the problem is not the number of ports it is that the ISP will only give you a single public IP address.

You could have saved a lot of money buy inexpensive routers and running them in AP mode rather than pay for DECO things. In any case it will work fine as you have it diagrammed...assuming you remote the boost router. If you were to leave it in place you would have 2 networks in your house and the device would have issue talking to each other....they would all work fine to the internet though.

 

[YourDogg]

Here is a photo of the network hub. I found 1 Google entry that says it's a router as well but doesn't have wifi radios /capabilities.

So if that is the case I should be able to use the Decos as AP at the end of each ethernet line or as suggested use inexpensive routers in AP mode instead?

It's not too late for me to return the Decos. If I got 3 routers to use in AP mode instead would I need 3 of the same or does it matter?? Any suggested ones?

Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[Ralston18]

The drawing is fine. Very helpful.

As I understand it all, I would connect one the modem/network hub Ethernet port directly to the Boost 6 router's WAN port.

Likely means moving router closer to the Modem.

Fiber ====> Modem [LAN port] ----->[WAN port] Boost Router [LAN ports] -----> to

Living room ----> Deco #1 or (per @bill001g ) an inexpensive router as AP
Bedroom -----> Same (but Deco #2) as Living room
Basement ----->5 port Unmanaged switch with ----->'s to Computer #1 and Computer #2. No need for Deco #3. However if wireless is needed then again use a router as AP instead of an unmanaged switch.

Where ----> represents an Ethernet cable.

Disable the modem's router functions and let the Boost router handle DHCP.

Inexpensive routers as APls or perhaps even simple unmanaged switches for the basement.

Expand your drawing to show the ports in each device and use ~~~~> for AP's that must provide wireless as well as wired connectivity.

You have options and there may be other ideas and suggestions. I have no problem with that.

 

[helpstar]

Wouldn´t replace it with inexpensive routers in AP mode which doesn´t provide a MESH feature though

the network hub is a fiber "modem" router with 4 LAN ports

 

[bill001g]

Mesh is mostly marketing. It really is another name for wifi repeater except the companies use a proprietary method to lock you into their equipment. Mesh does nothing really when you are connecting all the units with ethernet. Maybe it makes it easier to manage but how often does someone change their SSID or passwords, how much extra do you pay to make it so you can only change it once rather than 3 times.

Large companies do not use "mesh" they use a similar design to the one proposed with ethernet cabled to remote AP. A home user though does not want actual AP since they cost more money than cheap routers set to AP mode. Real AP tend to have features like POE since they are mounted where no power plug available.

Many people use a mix of old routers from their junk pile as AP. Most times you do not need some high end wifi in remote rooms. AP mode is really stupid. It is basically a wifi radio chip in a dumb switch it does nothing other than covert the wifi signals to ethernet.

 

[helpstar]

If you wanna use wifi without disturbance, in my experience mseh is more user friendly. If you know what you are doing, you can use any router.