TP-Link Dual-Band AX1500 WiFi 6 Mesh Wi-Fi System (Deco X15) | Replaces Routers and Extenders | Covers up to 5,600 sq.ft. | 2 Gigabit ports per unit, supports Ethernet Backhaul | 2024 Release (3-Pack)

Finally WiFi that doesn’t feel compromised
I have Verizon FIOS bundled service, so I have my TV, phone and internet all-in-one. While I do love FIOS, one of the negatives is that I had to use their bundled Gateway modem/router because of my TV and phone services. My house does have a wired ethernet network running thru it, which is great for all my desktop PC’s and Home Theater setup, but the FIOS Gateway router’s WiFi performance didn’t adequately cover my three floor house (the FIOS modem is in my garage, next to my home wired-network box). To help solve this issue, I tried using the very well reviewed Netgear EX6200 range extender, but I could never get reliable performance out of it…random drops, slow speeds…it just didn’t seem to like working with my FIOS router.In looking for a better solution, my research led me to looking into Mesh networking, especially as these systems (supposedly) would not need to bypass my FIOS modem…it would work with it, just taking over the WiFi functions. I was apprehensive, so I wanted a cost effective product. Tp-Link’s Deco series have gotten rave reviews and their latest S4-series was actually cheaper than the previous M4-series, so I took the plunge.Getting the Deco S4 up and running is so much simpler than traditional WiFi extenders and boosters…download the TP-Link mobile app, launch it, pick your TP-Link product and it guides you through the whole process. There were some hiccups during installation, mainly where the app failed in finding the S4 devices on the first pass, but hitting the Try Again button solved the issue. The S4 router unit (all three are identical) simply plugs into any open port on the back of the FIOS modem. Once the Mesh network is setup on this S4 router, you can now easily add the other units throughout your home using the app. The app has a lot of functionality…you can set-up usage profiles, “Blacklist” devices from using your network, monitor network health and utilization, etc. Two other benefits with the S4 Deco units are that each includes two auto-sensing Gigabit ethernet ports (useful for network switches/hubs or plugging in non-WiFi devices, etc.) and that they are compatible with all TP-Link WiFi devices, so expansion and upgrades are easy.Coverage is excellent. The big benefit to a Mesh network is that all the S4 units are essentially operating as one…so, as you move throughout your house (or even outside!), your devices simply pick-up the strongest signal from the best available S4 router. You don’t need to manually switch from network to network like you would with a traditional WiFi extender. Speeds are surprisingly fast. I only have FIOS 100/100 service, but I am getting WiFi speeds of 100+ Mbps on my ground and third floors (both S4 units are wired) and almost a full 80 Mbps on my second floor with a non-wired S4 unit. Outside on my back deck, speed drops to “only” 60 Mbps…incredible! I spent about 4 hours stress testing the network and found it to be rock solid…very consistent and dependable WiFi performance.If there were two things I’d list as negatives, they would be the lack of a web-based network tool/programmer (everything has to be done on the mobile app) and that there was a way to identify/isolate usage between the 2.4 and 5.0 bands.This is a long review, but to sum it up, the Deco S4 is a great product. It’s simple to set-up, works with your existing modem (a HUGE plus for Verizon FIOS users), doesn’t act like a bottleneck and offers a huge area of coverage. And there’s the very nice price. I finally feel like I’m getting all the WiFi I’m supposed to be getting!

Just What I Needed
I recently moved into a new home with three levels. My coaxial input to the home is on the ground level which is where Xfinity installed my cable modem/router unit. If I’m on the ground level the speeds I get are fantastic(over 550Mbps down and over 100 up). However by the time I reach the third story where the bedrooms are my speeds were falling off a cliff to about 40 and below, and at times fully disconnecting from my home Wi-Fi.This is where the Deco comes in. My main Deco connects via ethernet to my Xfinity cable modem/router and sends the Wi-Fi signal to the satellite units. I have the second Deco on the 2nd floor where my living room is, and my third Deco in the hallway of the third floor where all the bedrooms are. With this setup, I’m able to get MUCH more reliable speeds throughout the house. I have screenshots of the speeds I get near main Deco, Deco 2 and Deco 3. I go from 550/115 on the ground floor to 250-300/100 on the second floor, and reliably 180-220/85 on the top floor.More long-term I plan to route ethernet cable through the house and set up the Deco’s using ethernet backhaul which will give the Deco’s a more reliable connection to talk to each other and save the Wi-Fi only for providing connections to the clients on the network.The app works well too. I’m able to set up connection preferences to have the Deco’s arranged the way I want as well as set fixed position devices like a desktop or smart TV to only connect to a particular Deco that is within range. The flexibility of this system is great.

Al principio me decepcionó un poco porque después de haber configurado los DECOs y crear la red, los dispositivos cliente se conectaban intermitentemente, es decir, se salían de la red y después volvían a conectarse, ésto pasaba con televisiones, computadoras, celulares y cámaras. La red mesh tampoco servía bien, si me movía de un lugar conectado a un DECO y me movia a otro junto a otro DECO, mi celular seguía conectado al 1ero, después perdía conexión y por ultimo tardaba un par de minutos en conectarse al otro DECO (aunque estuviera junto a él). Ésto resultaba increíblemente molesto porque el objetivo de la red mesh es precisamente perder conexión de un lugar a otro. Estaba a punto de devolver el producto hasta que revisé unos foros de TP-Link y recomiendan deshabilitar la función de “Fast-Roaming” en las configuraciones avanzadas de app para resolverlo. Al parecer es un protocolo algo nuevo y no todos los dispositivos lo soportan (aunque soporten wi-fi 6) y esto puede provocar intermitencia y que la red no funcione bien. Les dejo la configuración que me funcionó perfectamente a mí y ahora de los 100MB que tengo contratados me llegan entre 98 y 100MB en toda la casa:- Fast roaming deshabilitado (configuraciones avanzadas)- Beamforming activado (esto es para que la esfera de difusión de los radios se enfoque a done se encuentran los DECOs)- Modo de operación: Access Point (no router). Ésto es mera preferencia, pero si tu proveedor de servicio de internet te da un modem con router. Lo mejor es que ese modem siga administrando las conexiones y seguridad y que los DECOs sólo te proveean del servicio de wifi. Si los DECOs los dejas en modo router, tanto tu modem como los DECOs van a querer administrar las conexiones y eso puede provocar problemas de doble NAT o ruteo de puertos (básicamente problemas con servicios de streaming, videollamadas o juegos en linea). Lo mejor es tener un sólo router, ya sea que desactives el del proveedor o los DECOs los cambies a punto de acceso.- Correr el proceso de optimización de la red que provee la applicacion.- Si conectaron algún cliente a la red antes de desactivar el fast roaming, entonces saquen al cliente de la red (olvidar) y vuelvanse a conectar.Cuando dejas las configuraciones adecuadas, los DECOs funcionan execlente. En mi casa con 2 routers inalambricos difícilmente conseguia 30MB de los 100 que tengo y con muchísimas zonas muertas. Con éstos aparatos lo solucioné, pero de nuevo, tienes que estar muy atento con las configuraciones.

Siguiendo las instrucciones de de la App. el TP-link Deco se instala fácilmente. Una vez instalado funciona correctamente. Mediante una RED DE INVITADOS tienes bajo control las TVs, Tablets, teléfonos etc. lo cual es muy útil, pues algunos chicos abusan de la nueva tecnología digital.