Using EE Smart Hub with a TP-Link Deco Mesh setup

[BonhardBeej]

Hi all,

First up, apologies, as I know these type of questions have been posted many times, although I am somewhat confused with the range of answers. Hoping that XRaySpex can maybe provide me with a conlcuding answer as to the way forward.

I won't go into the reasons as to why I am installing a TP-Link Deco M9 Mesh System, sufficed to say I live in an old stone-build farm property. I would like to continue to use the EE Smart Hub, although forcing it into acting as a Modem only, which I would then plug up with my first TP-Link node. I have seen many people stating that this cannot be done, and then some saying it can, and then some contradicting themselves.

I have a fibre plan with EE, although the fibre is only to the box down in the village, which is then standard copper up to the Farmhouse, about 500 - 600 yards up the road, so I am on ADSL. I get between 47 and 40Mb download, which believe me is good for my rural area, and acceptable to us for what we need to do. My plan is to switch off the WiFi in the Smart Hub config pages, and do the same with the DHCP. Cannot actually switch off NAT, as there is no option for this, although I do not have any Port Forwarding setup anyway, so that shouldn't be a problem.

I called EE Broadband technical help this morning, and a chap named Paul told me to excatly the same as I have decribed above, and all would be well in the world. But based on the feedbacks I have read on this and other forums, I am looking for that warm to hot feeling that what I intend to do is correct, acceptable, and wil work.

Thanks so much in advance for any help you lovely people can offer up.

[BonhardBeej]

Although I don't need Port Forwarding, I connected a couple of Microsoft mini cams to two USB ports on the laptop, and setup port forwarding by following this guide:

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/1797/

And guess what, worked a treat.

[JimmyMarchy]

This is unexpected, have you found any limitations since you set it up?  Looking at getting a Deco system myself, and wondering if i need to invest in a modem as well or if the SmartHub will do.

[BonhardBeej]

Hi Jimmy, no problems whatsoever, good speed, no dropouts, all running perfectly well.

[pewtu]

I am considering moving to we broadband and hence looked at their router. At present I am with Plusnet and their router, when used with my deco results in double NAT ing. Causes problems with my mobile when moving about the house. As soon as it gets near the Plusnet router it picks that up and disconnects internet to reconnect. The solution was to direct the Plusnet router and go for a bog standard fibre modern.

[bachoo786]

Hi @BonhardBeej 

I just got the EE fibre max 900 and got my deco m5 delivered yesterday. I followed your updated post and was able to get the deco m5 up and running. However I am experiencing a significant speed drop when I am next to another deco unit on the first floor I.e. if I was to stand next to the main deco unit then the speeds are as expected but if I move to the other decos which are positioned in the 1st and 2nd floors the speed drops from 878mbps to 50mbps on the first floor and 20mbps on the 2nd.

Do you experience something similar?

Thank you.

[RunninWolf]

Yes I’m getting the same thing. FTTP 550 mbps. Similar performance from primary / main node that is Ethernet to smart hub (500 mbps from ee hub and first node). Then monster drop off from secondary nodes down to 50 mbps or slower. 

I had 3 Tenda nova mw6 and ‘upgraded’ to tp link deco mx20 but it’s worse. I’ve ‘optimised’ the wifi channels but no joy. 

I’m at the start of my troubleshooting so any tips appreciated. 

[marsm]

Thanks for sharing. My Sky set up is the same, but it looks like I’ll be doing that with ee as we’ll be switching to them in the next fortnight, and will replicate this with our Deco M9.

[marsm]

Is it not possible to connect the fibre feed straight into the Deco9 bypassing the ee router?

[nutsnut]

If you've got full fibre with an ont then yes, if you haven't then no.

You will need to set the deco at an access point and let the ee router do the routing.

[marsm]

Openreach have installed our fibre today and we have an ONT - can I just connect the LAN cable from the ONT directly to the master Deco unit and do I need to change any settings on the Deco?