WiFi Upgrading to Mesh?

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OK, I’'ve been chugging along for years as an Apple guy, Airport Extreme, Express, the Extreme is my Router, splitting off to the various ethernet feeds, switches to feed our computers, and such that need ethernet… But the WiFi is a bit long in the tooth, so maybe tome to move along.

Looking at “TP-Link Deco XE75 AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E System - Wi-Fi up to 7200 Sq.Ft, Engadget Rated Best for Most People, Replaces WiFi Router and Extender, AI-Driven New 6GHz Band, 3-Pack”. then I see there are WiFi 7’s, too!

So as usual, the deeper I look, the more options! Only looked at Amazon so far, I imagine Costco has similar offerings…

All fed from my own Cable modem, no rent, from Xfinity/Comcast… Many things to consider, what have others done, what not to do, maybe…

weco…

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I have the TPLink Deco Mesh 5, or a bunch of them, actually. I have what is called a “basement rancher” in a chevron shape with the modem in the middle, but WiFi never reached the extremities - the master bedroom on one end and the garage on the other.

The house is also stucco, with a metal lattice backing, so basically a Faraday cage meaning cell service inside the house is crap. The Mesh network solved it; easy to set up and place anywhere the WiFi did reach and relay beyond that. We now have reliable service in the bedroom, workshop, and the garage (that became important when the EV came in with its own Bluelink package, and someday I will upgrade the irrigation system controller to include WiFi so I can control it from afar as well.)

Bought on Amazon; roughly $50 per puck (less when I bought them). Even added one near a back window so the bird cam can reach us from the back yard.

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Got my first Mesh in 2016 or 2015 – an Orbi16 system. Without doubt the smartest computer decision I made except for maybe swapping from Windows 7 to Apple with Snow Leopard or switching from Alta Vista to Google

Below is one of the best reviews of Mesh. At the end is a diagram of the test house used for reviews. The Eero website has a lot of good stuff, but not easy to find.

I have recommended and help install five Eero systems in our Active Adult community. The top WireCutter recommendation changes a time or two a year. They are all good in terms of performance. In my view Eero is the best one and has been for the last 3 years. My reasons are ease of set-up and customer support.

For anybody happy with actual bandwidth of 500 to 700 Mbps living in homes from 3000 to 4000 square feet, I say get the Eero7 three unit package at $350. My actual system is the Eero7 Pro three pack. I like the fact it is vertical and I can see the light of units on high shelves without having to climb up. I see no use for any of the subscription stuff. In your specific home you may decide to add a 4th unit. Eero is owned by Amazon. Get your product there - free returns up to 30 days. In January I did an install that had me baffled - so I called Eero customer support. It took them about 15 minutes, but they found the problem. The home owner had a cat that liked sleeping near the AT&T fiber modem and the cat had damaged the outer fiber optic cable cover. There is one item some people will not like - the only way to do anything with Eeros is via a cell phone app. Many people really don’t believe after the install and initial unit placement the customer needs to just leave the system for 1 or 2 days. These units learn where WiFi access points are and adjust signal strength and direction to users. At that point one can begin final location tweaking. Two tips: #1 Higher is better. Put units on top of kitchen cabinets and book shelves. #2. Use your Superman X-ray vision. WiFi does not send signal through circuit breaker boxes or refrigerators very well.

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I’ve had the Linksys Velop 5 mesh system since 2018. Has worked great but looking to upgrade/change when we get fiber internet.

IIRC, I think TP-Link and one other is banned or about to be banned in the USA. Basically comes down to China made and security issues.

About 3 months ago set up the Eero 6+ at the in-laws house when they got a fiber internet connection. Had good reviews and was on sale. Simple set up, took less than 10 minutes for 3 nodes. They haven’t had any issues in a 2 story house with the entry point being the basement office/study while 2 nodes are on main level.

Don’t get too hung up on wifi 6 vs 7 unless you have all brand new devices connecting to the internet and everything needs near gig speed for your work.

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But there is one other consideration for Mesh system – number of WiFi connection possible. The limit on my Orbi was either 16 or 24 devices. My current network has over 40 wifi devices including Watches, Oven, Dishwasher, smoke alarms, 3 connections per TV. I have a visitor network that adds addition connections.

My two TVs have AppleTV box, the TV itself & DirecTV Stream. Other WiFi uses include a printer, computers, car, Rachio irrigation system, backyard weather station and the list keeps growing. Certainly my next Washing machine, refrigertor and a Heatpump water heater will use WiFi connections.

I think a few bucks for 5 plus years of future proofing is worth consideration.

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Thanks for all the input, I looked at Costco, not as wide a selection as I thought, so back to Amazon, their top pick, not their own Eero, but a TP-Link X55 @ $149, next up the TP-Link Deco 7 @ $358, then the TP-Link Deco XE75 @ $198, and on and on, clear on up over $1K! A bit of overkill for us, guests and the myriad of attached ‘stuff’, drip system, garage door opener, thermostat, washer/dryer, a couple ‘smart’ TVs, our iPhones, watches, as well as various Macs, laptops… A recent data overload on out iPhone data plan, might have been that we don’t always link to the wifi everywhere when we’re home, so another reason I’m looking…I have ethernet tied to a couple AppleTV bricks, as well as the TVs, rn those CAT5’s years ago…

Long retired, since '02, things like this become a bit of a hobby, also I cruised flea markets for years, picked up backups for the old Apple wifi setups, all of that can go into the electronic waste, I guess…

I think if I use the same password, all the ‘smarty’ devices should just link up to the new system, and the same with our guests, etc…

So, heading to the $200 middle ground, we’re not gamers, not since Colossal Cave of Apple //e days…

Thanks again, good to see the setups. I just looked at my LAN drawing, I haven’t updated it since '23, will have to redo it!! This is a lot of time, some cables had to run outside, via conduit to get to where they were needed… (MacDraft app)

LAN 23
LAN 23768×588 181 KB

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Interesting, I saw only 3 ethernet ports, on the TP-Link XE75 unit, so asked about the ports:

“The TP-Link Deco XE75 does not have a designated “input” port — all 3 Ethernet ports are auto-sensing and work as both input (WAN) and output (LAN). When you set up your system, the port that connects to your modem automatically becomes the WAN (input) connection. The other 2 ports work as LAN (output) for your devices. If you use a satellite unit as the base instead, all 3 ports are available for devices. This flexible design means you can connect your modem to any of the three ports on whichever unit you choose as your main”

I was close to having to move up for more ports, but I think this should work…

OK, done, Ordered! Be here Saturday…

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