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Mesh Network and Livebox

ToucanIntrepide74 Posted messages 16 Status Member -  
yg_be Posted messages 23437 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -

Hello,

I just installed a Livebox 7. The 5GHz/6GHz Wi-Fi significantly increases the speed of the Wi-Fi.

But especially in the living room, because in the rest of the house, it decreases sharply. In particular, in the garage, a connected switch and a webcam cannot connect because the signal is too weak.

I was thinking of installing TP-Link Deco XE75 units to create a mesh network in the house.

But question: is it possible for these units to extend the Wi-Fi from the Livebox (meaning having the same SSID) or does it mean having a second Wi-Fi network for this mesh network, with a different SSID?

Thank you for your answer

2 answers

  1.
    yg_be Posted messages 23437 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   Ambassadeur 1 588
     

    Hello,

    The mesh wifi network will be independent from that of the box. And the main Deco must be connected via Ethernet cable to the box.

    Different possibilities, from best to worst:

    1. Disable the wifi of the box (especially since, probably, a Deco is close to the box), and configure the mesh with the SSID known by the devices
    2. (meh) have two different SSIDs
    3. (to be avoided) have the same SSID (and password)

    The mesh has two modes of operation, Router or AP. Since the Livebox acts as a router, it is preferable to configure the mesh in AP mode.

    If possible, use Ethernet cabling to interconnect the Decos.

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    1. ToucanIntrepide74 Posted messages 16 Status Member
       

      Thank you for the response.

      It’s a pity there isn't a standard for mesh, as it's a bit silly to have a box with wifi and then have to turn it off to connect a wifi access point instead. But maybe one day...

      I'm currently debating between the Deco X-75, the Asus ZenWifi BT8 (dual-band wifi 7), and the Asus ZenWifi XT8 (tri-band wifi 6). I will look into this a bit more closely.

      Regarding the backhaul: for one of the access points, it will be fine. For the other, it will be more complicated: either it’s centrally located but without an ethernet connection, or it’s significantly far away but with a connection. I will do some tests and see.

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    2. brupala Posted messages 111142 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   14 442 > ToucanIntrepide74 Posted messages 16 Status Member
       

      I would advise against dual-band Wi-Fi 7 if you don't have a device with Wi-Fi 7 yourself; the advantage of Wi-Fi 7 when you only have Wi-Fi 6 devices is precisely the 6 GHz band between access points.

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    3. yg_be Posted messages 23437 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   1 588 > ToucanIntrepide74 Posted messages 16 Status Member
       

      It's just as stupid to need a box instead of plugging one of the mesh nodes into the ISP's cable.

      Some ISPs offer mesh-compatible boxes.

      There is a standard for mesh: EasyMesh. Not (yet) very widespread.

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    4. yg_be Posted messages 23437 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   1 588 > brupala Posted messages 111142 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       

      Indeed, all Deco devices have always used multi-band communication to communicate with each other.

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    5. ToucanIntrepide74 Posted messages 16 Status Member > brupala Posted messages 111142 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       

      My smartphone is on wifi 7, but it's not a big deal if I stick to wifi 6. Especially since with the 5G plans offering 100 GB, it's sometimes faster to turn off the wifi.

      But indeed, tri-band wifi 6 with backhaul on a dedicated channel is probably the solution.

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  2. brupala Posted messages 111142 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   14 442
     

    Hello,

    If you got the LB7 for its wifi and you're putting a mesh wifi behind it, that's not a good idea.

    From the moment you install a mesh wifi, you must turn off the wifi on the box; after that, if you like it so much, you can give the mesh the same SSID as the one you had on the box, even the same WPA key, if it saves you from reconfiguring your devices.

    And there you go....

    But gosh, those line spaces are annoying!!

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    1. ToucanIntrepide74 Posted messages 16 Status Member
       

      No, I chose the LB7 because for 2 or 3 euros more in monthly subscription, there are significant discounts on streaming offers :)

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