TP-Link Deco M5-2P (2-Pack) AC1300 Wi-Fi Mesh System @ PCByte
$179 if purchased in-store (Delivery is showing $9.90 for me).
Previous deals show this as $199 from other vendors.
PCByte advised that customers are currently unable to order online then pick-up from store, so it's either visit a branch or pay for delivery.
Price-beat @ Officeworks for ~$170
Do one of these have to be connected to your router via ethernet?
Yes, you plug one of these into the modem/router via ethernet and initialise it first, then the rest that you add to the mesh will automatically connect to that one through the app 🙂
After I set these up in my place, I turned off the Wi-Fi in my main modem as you'll be setting up a new SSID using these anyway, to prevent saturation (not that it will make a difference in a home environment) 🤔
There's two ethernet ports on each hub, and I know one of them is input from the router WAN port, the other I'm not too sure because I'm new at this. I assume it's output so you can connect a device to it like a TV, console or PC.
If anyone can correct me, please do! 🙄
So if you have only 2 of these mesh things, you're really only extending by 1 (whatever physical distance that might be)? Trying to work out how many I need. Thanks
That's correct, although I'm pretty surprised with the strength of these things. I live in a 2-storey townhouse and I just have one downstairs and one upstairs, and the whole house is covered nicely, and even reaches all the way to my complex carpark with around 2-3 bars!
Can always purchase more and add to the mesh anytime too.
Hi Choosk
Did you connect eth port of Deco to eth port of router or to WAN to router
Connecting WAN to Deco seems you are replaing your ISP router with Deco
as WAN out of NTD ( as I have NBN FTTP in my case ) will go directlty to Deco eth port bypassing ISP router
Ethernet from the FTTP NTD straight into M5.
You connect the two this way:
Modem/Router Numbered Ethernet Port -> Deco WAN input port.
I've got FTTC so I have to connect a modem to the NBN box. I don't know what FTTP setup is like.
@choosk: Seems this can work both ways
Existing Router Eth to M5 as per Choosk
WAN to M5 as per Twix comment
@bzybee: Yeah it can work both ways but the NBN connection device to existing router to M5 is not always the right way to set it up though. Do you have a landline or just use a smart phone to make calls?
@Twix: I have landline as well Router feeding 4 eth connected devices which includes one POE switch to connect another two devices including approx 20 wifi supported devices in home
@bzybee: With a Dodo landline keep your existing network setup the same and plug in one of the M5 to the router or network switch and configure the M5 as an access point.
If you ever cancelled the landline you should remove the Dodo router and plug in one of the M5 to the NTD.
@Twix: Landline - I've got FTTC, so my deco connects to my modem, which then connects to the NBN box, which connects to the wall port then runs to the curb.
Is there a way to set these up using mobile internet?
@choosk: Nope not using mobile internet. Landline I meant as in do you use the old school house phone to make calls?
@Twix: Not after moving to nbn and cancelling my ADSL. Before I did have a house phone but it was never used as society's pretty much progressed to mobile communication nowadays and away from hard phones.
@choosk: Well if your just using a mobile for calls your FTTC is not setup the right way. The NBN connection device essentially is a modem and you don't add another modem after it.
NBN connection device —-> M5 is what your setup should look like.
@Twix: Really? I'll try that today!
Although I like having the modem in there because I've got some devices that connect to it through ethernet.
I'll see what I can come up with, thanks!
@choosk: Yeah your running a double NAT with two routers. If your not seeing any problems you can leave it. The right way is to purchase a network switch for the extra LAN ports instead.
NBN connection device —-> M5 —-> network switch.
You don't always plug a M5 into your existing modem/router.
What kind of NBN? FTTN, FTTB, FTTC, FTTP or HFC?
Do you have a landline or just use a smart phone?
Yeah the extra LAN is for TV, PC, Xbox and so on.
I have FTTN
Thanks Twix!
Hi Twix, you seem very knowledgeable with networking solutions so I wonder if you are able to answer my question. I've only started looking into networking as we recently switched over to TPG NBN 50/20 (FTTC).
We're currently using TPG's VR1600V modem router and I've noticed that our WIFI signal is pretty weak and unstable, even on the 2.4GHz band. 5GHz was pretty much impossible to be used outside of the home office where the router is placed. I also noticed that our signal and internet speed gets worse during peak hours (drops to 10-20mbps). My guess would be that our house is too big with too many walls in between rooms which causes the poor wifi signal.
Now I also have a home phone which needs to be plugged into a Uni-V port and as far as I understand, it will only work using TPG's modem router. I spoke to TPG and they suggested that I use the VR1600V in bridge mode and get a separate WIFI router instead.
I was previously looking at Amazon Eero but I came across another comment which indicated that I'd need a vlan tagging enabled router to be compatible with TPG NBN. So here I'm thinking about using the TP-link Deco M5 as the router to cover the whole house.
I just wanted to check if this setup will work for me, or are there other alternatives which could provide a better solution?
TL;DR
Internet plan: TPG FTTC 50/20 + home phone line
Current setup: FTTC network connection device -> VR1600V (modem/wifi router)
Proposed setup: FTTC network connection device -> VR1600V (bridge mode) -> TP-Link Deco M5
@Shostaholic: Is the speed drop happening with ethernet or just wifi?
Most often in a large building with many walls and a router your going to have a bad wifi time.
UNI-V ports are for FTTP. TPG VoIP is done on the VR1600V and yeah TPG use VLAN 802.1q for NBN.
eero only has IPoE and no PPPoE protocol and no VLAN 802.1q option. You can use eero bridged but you loose a few extra features.
Don't bridge the VR1600V. You can configure the M5 in AP mode for the TPG landline to work but again you loose a few extra features.
A better solution to get access to all the M5 features is by switching your number to a VoIP service provider (VSP) and purchase an IP handset or ATA device to use your existing handset.
Setup option 1: NBN connection device —-> M5 —-> IP handset base station —-> IP handset.
Setup option 2: NBN connection device —-> M5 —-> ATA device —-> existing handset.
After I set these up in my place, I turned off the Wi-Fi in my main modem as you'll be setting up a new SSID using these anyway, to prevent saturation (not that it will make a difference in a home environment)
You always turn off your original router's wifi. that's part of the process, not an option. If you don't it will interfere with your mesh wifi in the same way as any other wifi interference as it's not part of the mesh network
My main trigger was that I wanted to use the same SSID as what the modem/router was using, but it wouldn't let me.. so I learned that you indeed have to turn off the modem's wifi anyway 😑
no im pretty sure these act as the router
If you have NBN - most of the time you have an NBN device or box? that acts a modem - you plug the modem into one of these and youre set
Double post.
https://www.amazon.com.au/TP-Link-AC1300-Whole-System-DecoM5…
More expensive by $3.47 but significantly cheaper if you count delivery.
Personally delivered to my door is worth $3.47 > Driving to the location.
179$ free delivery without prime aswell with a different seller (I dont know how to link it but look to the right under other sellers without prime.)
Yeah, I suppose it's good value if you either don't have prime, or if you live close enough to a branch.
Do you know if this is available at officeworks for price beat? I can't seem to find it online.
My mistake, the 2 pack officeworks is selling is for the M9 and the M5 they stock is only 3 pack.
Post corrected.
Whats the overall benefit of getting an M9 over an M5 other than cost? I currently run WIFI 5.
Comparison chart here.
From what it looks like, the M9 supports much faster speeds and bands.. I know the M5 is limited to 100mbps over wifi.
I stand corrected! Thanks Twix
Comparing a 2 pack setup.
M5 AC1300.
Dual band.
350sqm wifi coverage.
M9 AC220.
Tri band with dedicated wifi network between each M9. In other words even faster performance.
420sqm wifi coverage.
Integrated Zigbee smart home support.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
100 devices and no lag! Marketing people are funny!