This topic

Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 17:54:33 GMT

Hi all,

I'm giving up on the complete wi-fi discs as they just don't cut it with a FTTP 900mb connection and the speed we get at the far end of the house is just sad. I have bought Deco X90 AX6600 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System to be delivered any day now. I don't use Digital voice, but would like to use the smarthub still if possible for its extra ethernet ports as the Deco only has one left after plugging in WAN.

Could the following be set up.

Openreach box > Smarthub2 > Deco (switching off wifi on the Smarthub2)

or would it be better to just put the deco straight into the Openreach box and buy and attach a switch to the available port? Any downsides to this.

Thanks in advance !

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

licquorice — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:00:44 GMT

Buy a switch.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:37:57 GMT

I have a similar setup albeit with FTTC, so have an HG612 modem into the Deco M5 with an 8-port switch on the Deco's other port. I can think of no good reason to use the SH2.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

countrypaul — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:25:01 GMT

If you ever get a fault BT may require you to put the BT Hub first so you config with the Deco attached to the Hub would avoid any issues in that case. I suggest holding onto the BT Hub even if you don't use it (BT may charge you later if you do not return it when asked).

Putting a switch in with just the Deco would be a much simpler setup overall. You would like have to change more settings than just disabling WiFi on the BT Hub, DHCP servers?, Deco as a router might involve changing IP routing.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 19:02:39 GMT

Thanks all, I'll report back when I have setup.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 20:39:27 GMT

Another thought, will this setup affect bt tv in any way?

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 20:48:58 GMT

Shouldn't do. I can receive the preview channel 330, so the Deco seems to pass multicast OK.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:55:00 GMT

Hi, another question. As I have Halo 3 which includes Hybrid, I'm assuming that wouldnt work with just the Deco on its own so would need to use the Smart Hub also. Am I correct ?

Or just disconnect all things BT and plug it all back in should I encounter any connection problems ?

Only reason I'm asking about the Hybrid is my contract doesnt end until next year so I'd be paying for it anyway

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

licquorice — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:59:08 GMT

Yes, the hybrid device only works with the Smart Hub2

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:08:43 GMT

Thanks so as above

Option 1) Modem > SH2 > Deco to have Hybrid

Option 2) Modem > Deco and only plug in BT equipment until end of contract if I have fault.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

licquorice — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:12:09 GMT

Yep

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 14:57:39 GMT

Thanks all for the shared advice.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

countrypaul — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:14:40 GMT

A question since I do not have the hybrid setup: If you plugged the sh2 into the Deco and the Internet to the Deco went down would the hybrid setup cut in? Setting up the routing could be interesting but without knowing how the SH2 detects the Internet is down I don't know what triggers the hybrid connection.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

licquorice — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:57:40 GMT

If the SH2 reports a loss of broadband, either on DSL port for FTTC or WAN port for FTTP, the Hybrid kicks in and connects by Wifi to the WAN port internally (don't ask me how it does that).

To utilise it in conjunction with the Deco, you would need to connect a hub LAN port to the Deco WAN when the WAN lost service. As long as the Deco was set up with a different subnet to 192.168.1.xxx in the first place, it should obtain an IP address from the hub. You might have to set the gateway to 192.168.1.254 manually though.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

PixieChaser — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 20:45:11 GMT

How are you getting on OP? I want to upgrade my mesh from the old ORBI to a WIFI 6 module.

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 09:01:20 GMT

Still waiting on delivery but will come back and give an update. Heard good things about the x90, so eagerly optimistic !

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:04:40 GMT

Setup without sh2, bt tv having a hissy fit with multitasking issues. Going to try with sh2 and access point the deco main

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:55:17 GMT

Scrap that, it didn't like going through the switch. Plugged in direct and all was good but I needed a port for hive hub. Switched to WiFi for bt tv Pro and still stable on multicast channels. Had to enable upnp in settings to stop son's x box from having moderate NAT but he's well happy with the 500 plus mb he's now getting compared to a very weak speed before. Left all bt equipment off. Will keep an eye on it. Happy days

Re: Setup advice for Mesh

alan_mc — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:51:43 GMT

Well it was fun while it lasted. Noticed the wifi speed had dropped to my son's room/satellite.

Checked speed at main deco and my speed through ethernet has dropped by half and stayed there.

Tested on 2 laptops both with 1GB ethernet cards (which confirmed correct speed tests in the past). Put the SH2 back in, no change. Tried direct to ONT with PPPoE with a few different cables (including the one that came with the SH2), no change.

BT engineer scheduled for Wednesday. Couldn't run either the MYBT test or the one that Support sent down the line with the SH2 connected, both said could not run the test. Apparently everything showing green on BT side.

It has been a while since I tested on ethernet so maybe there was an intermittent fault there.

Could the ONT be the issue?