TP-Link AC1200 Deco Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System

After trying various solutions including Powerline adapters and AP's & Repeaters, I finally opted for an out-of-the-box product. Set-up was super easy, and I tested it with a parallel wifi SSID, to my existing, made sure I was happy, then switched my VM router to modem only mode, and renamed my Deco mesh to my old SSID, and magically everything connected. Using the iOS app to setup is very simple, and guided for each unit, step-by-step. Great experience, and family is now connected throughout the house.

We just moved into a 4-storey new build and the fibre box was located on the bottom floor in the garage. The wifi barely reached the second floor (living areas) but did not reach the third or fourth floors at all (bedrooms). I didn't realise how much we depended on internet until now. Our working from home, kids homework, even the television...all online. This Mesh System is relatively cheap in comparison to other models and it works great. It is super easy to set up. I only checked the instructions to know what the different lights meant. Full wifi bars and fast internet on every floor. I could only put each unit on the first three floors and I wondered whether I needed to purchase another unit but it wasn't necessary...strong wifi signal reaches the top floor fine ... MoreWe just moved into a 4-storey new build and the fibre box was located on the bottom floor in the garage. The wifi barely reached the second floor (living areas) but did not reach the third or fourth floors at all (bedrooms). I didn't realise how much we depended on internet until now. Our working from home, kids homework, even the television...all online. This Mesh System is relatively cheap in comparison to other models and it works great. It is super easy to set up. I only checked the instructions to know what the different lights meant. Full wifi bars and fast internet on every floor. I could only put each unit on the first three floors and I wondered whether I needed to purchase another unit but it wasn't necessary...strong wifi signal reaches the top floor fine with full wifi bars there too. If you're experiencing wifi issues throughout the home, this is the perfect product.

Was looking for improvements for our home WIFI (2 story - Brick veneer) as our ISP supplied modem wasn't cutting it downstairs...Was sceptical at first; but even after only installing the first unit (right next to the current modem via ethernet cable supplied in box) my WIFI range had greatly improved 5 fold (at a guess) - when walking downstairs to connect the second unit (also via ethernet to the main modem) i was still getting signal from the first unit!!!I was luckier than some people; having already installed CAT6 throughout the home... But i am now a believer of the whole Mesh thingy that is now the new normal! We can now walk anywhere in the home with seamless-full speed WIFI.Would recommend to anyone looking at extenders or upgrading modems.-- The ... MoreWas looking for improvements for our home WIFI (2 story - Brick veneer) as our ISP supplied modem wasn't cutting it downstairs...Was sceptical at first; but even after only installing the first unit (right next to the current modem via ethernet cable supplied in box) my WIFI range had greatly improved 5 fold (at a guess) - when walking downstairs to connect the second unit (also via ethernet to the main modem) i was still getting signal from the first unit!!!I was luckier than some people; having already installed CAT6 throughout the home... But i am now a believer of the whole Mesh thingy that is now the new normal! We can now walk anywhere in the home with seamless-full speed WIFI.Would recommend to anyone looking at extenders or upgrading modems.-- The only reason i only gave it 4 out of 5, is due to needing to download and set up via App only!!

A good recommendation!

I am really impressed with this WiFi system. My wifi has been so slow for so long. My router was about eight years old so couldn’t keep up with all the smart devices in the house. I also had many Wi-Fi black spots which made streaming tv and music a nightmare in certain rooms. This is now no longer a problem. The reason I have knocked a star off is that the set up was not as easy as anticipated. I downloaded the app and followed the instructions however I needed to connect the system to my ‘lightning speed’ and had to go through the rigmarole of contacting my internet provider which was quite laborious however I did eventually get this sorted. I am happy with the results!

Absolute nightmare

Since installing these all our accounts have been hacked sad thing is they did not even work in fact the connection was worse than everDaily we are getting hacked today Netflix gone all passwords changedQVC saying it’s strange should not happen !! Well we have never never had an issue until we installed these boosters absolute nightmare and scary not sure what to do now all being returned BE CAREFUL no proof it’s the boosters but if not it’s a massive coincidence

Delightful surprise

To start with, I am a certified network engineer with 10 years experience. I am also certified and experienced in wireless networking technologies. As such, I am highly skeptical of all consumer grade network equipment.My in-laws have a home built in the 1960's with a large amount of old cabling and old copper pipes in very inconvenient locations for wireless networking. In fact, the entire center of their house is absolutely the "anti-wireless" and in scientific terms, haves as a Faraday Cage which blocks all wireless signals and in fact even attracts them and kills them.Over the years, we've tried multiple wireless solutions including extenders from multiple brands. I had finally decided try this TP-Link solution and if it failed, I was going to start running ... MoreTo start with, I am a certified network engineer with 10 years experience. I am also certified and experienced in wireless networking technologies. As such, I am highly skeptical of all consumer grade network equipment.My in-laws have a home built in the 1960's with a large amount of old cabling and old copper pipes in very inconvenient locations for wireless networking. In fact, the entire center of their house is absolutely the "anti-wireless" and in scientific terms, haves as a Faraday Cage which blocks all wireless signals and in fact even attracts them and kills them.Over the years, we've tried multiple wireless solutions including extenders from multiple brands. I had finally decided try this TP-Link solution and if it failed, I was going to start running cabled networking to each room where I'd install Cisco access points.Before I get to the results, 802.11ac (which is the standard this equipment supports) introduced "Wireless mesh by design" but it wasn't until the next generation WiFi 6 (802.11ax) where it was supposed to work properly.I was absolutely shocked by the results!Not only was this equipment functional, but it met and exceeded all expectations of a wireless mesh network of any price range. It simply "just worked".Additionally, the app based installation from an iPhone was smooth and easy. I believe I spent more time taking the product out of the box than I spent configuring the equipment. There was only a single "hitch" during installation where one of the access points required me to "try again" to get it online. But it was perfectly smooth.From a technology perspective, there is no particular reason you would need to install a more expensive WiFi mesh. This system works extremely well and 802.11ax (or WiFi 6) does not offer any new features that will be accessible or useful to home users for the next 5-8 years. It is often tempting to spend the extra money for the "latest and greatest", but in this case, 802.11ac is already substantially more capable than any consumer can actually benefit from. Spending more to get the latest doesn't actually offer any practical advantage. For gamers who may be reading, while the technology in theory could decrease your ping times, it would require at least a 2Gbp/s Internet connection to actually benefit from it. And the added latency within the mesh on AC or AX would kill that anyway.The only negative remark I can make about this equipment is, it's large and the power cables are about 150cm in length. This is inconvenient and will cause most people to place the access points too close to the floor. For best results, within your house, you should make the effort to place at least the main unit at a higher point... above book cases for example.The last point I'd like to make is that companies like TP-Link tend to "move onto the next product" and move all their engineers to their newer technologies meaning that updates become rare once they ship their products. As TP-Link created what they call the Deco ecosystem, I am hoping that new software will continue to be made for these units for the next 3-5 years. This is a risk you would run with any hardware from any vendor except for maybe Cisco, Google and Amazon.I highly recommend these products and am considering actually replacing my Cisco enterprise wireless network in my house with this system.

Easy set up, good wifi coverage

I had already set up a wifi mesh which was very simple following the easy to understand instruction after I had downloaded the app to my phone. These two units were added to my system and were easy to add on again using the app. I now have wifi coverage right through the house and in a studio in the garden and in my workshop. The system is easy to set up and very effective at providing good coverage and you stay connected even when moving around the place. I recommend this system especially for the easy set up, I'm a technophobe, hate messing with this stuff but even I found my way through the tasks with ease.

Not so easy

Instructions not so easy and I found quite baffling. Is this an American company? To begin with, I was confused re disconnecting both modem and router and the 2 pictures of such. I only have the modem that came from my broadband provider. The first drum has to be connected with the Ethernet cable to the modem and plugged into electrical socket - double wall socket. Therefore had to disconnect and remove table lamp. Able then to proceed naming the device and connect to internet. Next step is setting up the other 2 drums. As the main reason for buying was to boost signal to smart television as IPlayer keeps freezing. I therefore spent a considerable amount of time reorganising the equipment around the TV to release a socket for the drum. Plugged in and waited for it ... MoreInstructions not so easy and I found quite baffling. Is this an American company? To begin with, I was confused re disconnecting both modem and router and the 2 pictures of such. I only have the modem that came from my broadband provider. The first drum has to be connected with the Ethernet cable to the modem and plugged into electrical socket - double wall socket. Therefore had to disconnect and remove table lamp. Able then to proceed naming the device and connect to internet. Next step is setting up the other 2 drums. As the main reason for buying was to boost signal to smart television as IPlayer keeps freezing. I therefore spent a considerable amount of time reorganising the equipment around the TV to release a socket for the drum. Plugged in and waited for it to connect. After several failed attempts told to place nearer the main box. Again had to configure which electrical device to disconnect. This time it did connect and having done so able to place and connect beside TV. Same issue with the 3rd drum. Not therefore the 10 mins set up time as advertised. I am sure it could be if you have spent time previously preparing and releasing other electricals.Now to watch some catch up, IPlayer, Netflix without interruption. Who was I kidding? Problems still with smart TV and it said to check internet connection. After much time figuring out and locating internet connection on TV found it was still connected to original modem provider code. I had to manually key in the Mesh name and password to the TV. This then made me check my iPad and laptop and found they were connected to my new system but these do sync with iPhone anyhow. I also checked and I can easily change which WiFi to use on these devices.All in all this is a very expensive way of boosting my WiFi signal to my television. Re controlling guest and children’s use am certain canny kids would soon work out how to switch WiFi and who has guests these days!!All in all have decided this kit is not really necessary for me and will be dismantled and returned. It has made me realise the TP Link extender I already have and thought not working may be due to not changing WiFi on television. These apps and instructions make us assume automatic changes.Thanks to QVC’s return policy though, I have not yet again wasted money on purchasing an unnecessary item. There again would I have thought of installing had I not watched the TV!

Simple enough to setup, seems to work well.

We had (older, 2G) TPLink repeater and then an AMP 2G/5G repeater to get signal to the front bedroom. They were unreliable and often required reboots. I put these in bridge mode and stuck the base into the wired connection off a hub on the main floor. We could now get a signal to the front bedroom with only the single unit. We then plugged in the other 2 units and have coverage on both floors and basement. Through tiled floors and cinderblock garage and everything. The house is 2400 sq ft. The signal is around 98 mbit and stable. No reboots needed so far.

Works to make a mesh network

Although this tp-link duo does what it's designed to do, there isn't much that's configurable. 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands are tied to the same SSID. This is the same for the guest network (which there is only one). If I could have afforded the extra cost, I would have purchased two of the TP-Link Omada EAP225 and a OC200 controller. This would have served my needs much better. I suppose though, for the money, it does what it's supposed to do. For the average user this mesh system would be great. Would I recommend it? Yes and no. Yes, if you just need a simple mesh system. No if you require something more than the ordinary for your home.