topic Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A) in Broadband & Landline

Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Stalwart — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:36:31 GMT

Hi all. First post here.

Switching over from Plusnet BB to EE Fibre 67 Essentials this Friday and want to get everything prepped my end as I work from home and cannot afford too much disruption / drop out switching over.

Current set up is TP-Link Archer VR2800 Router with WiFi extended through a number of TP-Link Deco X55 units.

From searching the community, I understand for Digital Voice I have to use the Smart Hub Plus and people continue to use their own router for extenders (power line or mesh) but turn off the WiFi on the Smart Hub. Is this the best way to extend WiFi whilst retaining Digital Voice? Or am I better off investing in EE's own Smart WiFi Plus SW30A WiFi 6 Network Extenders instead of the Deco (if these are the correct ones)?

I am a complete numpty when it comes to the home broadband / extenders so need / want something that is simple and straightforward right out of the box and is easy to manage and maintain (i.e. not have angry kids shouting at me when the WiFi signal is cr@p!!)

Question - can I use the Deco X55 Mesh extenders with the Smart Hub?

TIA

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Mustrum — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:01:57 GMT

@Stalwart if you wanted to keep it simple you could change the Archer WAN setting to DHCP or Access Point and connect its WAN port to a LAN port on the EE Router. Switch off the WiFi on the EE router, and that could be it.

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

bobpullen — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:05:49 GMT

@Stalwart wrote:
Question - can I use the Deco X55 Mesh extenders with the Smart Hub?

Yes, you may need to make some changes depending on how you currently have things set up though, e.g. I suspect the Archer has a different IP address to the EE hub (EE hubs use 192.168.1.254). Give it a go and see how you get on. If you have any problems, then just reset the Deco units and start from scratch with the EE hub. It can definitely be made to work.

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Stalwart — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:43:59 GMT

Hi Mustrum - thanks for the quick response. You'll know I'm a numpty at this when I say, "so how do I change the Archer WAN setting to DHCP or Access Point"...??! I've got the Router instructions PDF open - and there is a section called "Use the Modem Router as a DHCP Server" - am guessing that's it..??! 🤣

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Stalwart — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:48:39 GMT

Hi Bob,
Yep - the Archer does have a different IP address.
I'll reset all the Decos and see if I can get them working on the Smart Hub first.....

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Mustrum — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:57:32 GMT

@Stalwart yes that sounds the right bit.

It should change from the PPOE and your PN username and password so that it can just pich up the internet from the EE router .

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Stalwart — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:30:15 GMT

@Mustrum - yep, that just got a whole new level of complexity!! 🤣. I understand absolutely nothing about this!!

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Mustrum — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:49:55 GMT

@Stalwart that is the wrong section, it is the WAN setting you need to change from PPOE to DHCP or Access Point depending on the options yu have.

EDIT, this link should help explain https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/1731/

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:40:54 GMT

Point of order: Why do you think you'll be getting a SH30A? That is old-hat. Nowadays it'll be the SH31A.

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Stalwart — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:14:07 GMT

@XRaySpeX thanks for the heads-up. When was the SH30A phased out / replaced by the SH31A?

What's the difference in the models? And "Googling" this comes up with the SH31B!

What is the latest model I should be pushing for / expecting? I won't be mugged off by some back-of-the-warehouse old stock!

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Stalwart — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:16:39 GMT

It's defo the SH30A @XRaySpeX

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:23:19 GMT

Didn't realise you had already received the EE router.

Dunno when but suppose EE could be still sending out SH30A's for DSL lines.

The variants of Smart Hub Plus are SH30A,SH31B & SH32B, whose diffs are:

SH30A: DSL & Full Fibre, 1 Gig WAN port.
SH31B: DSL & Full Fibre, 2.5 Gig WAN port.
SH32B: Full Fibre only, 2.5 Gig WAN port.

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Stalwart — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:41:16 GMT

@XRaySpeX is that gonna make a whole world of difference to me being on DSL / Fibre, "only" having the 1 Gig WAN port on the SH30A?

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

Mustrum — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:03:28 GMT

@Stalwart it won't make any difference to you. The 31/32B's only offer an advantage for those on the 1.6Gb service

In your case it is the DSL port that you need, so you will be fine.

Re: Can I use TP Link Deco Mesh with Smart Hub Plus (SH30A)

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:44:30 GMT

Not a jot! The fastest you can get on any DSL fibre is 330 Meg.