OneNZ won't sell or rent me a mesh unit to provide coverage to the house with the new DECO mesh router

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netspanner

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#318784 20-Feb-2025 16:10

Got sent a new Deco X53-dsl Modem Router to replace my very old VF one. Its a mesh system and I have to get the smae deco

My netgear Band Expander doesn't connect to it it so I needed a deco mesh unit to replace it.

Only OneNZ sell them according to PBTech and the OneNZ shop.

But they won't sell or rent me a mesh unit! Becuase its not allowed in my plan!

So I am worse off than before without the ability to provide wifi to the rooms needed.

This is so stupid.

What do I do?

richms

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#3345005 20-Feb-2025 16:12

Send it back as its not suitable for you, change ISP and get gear that suits you from somewhere else.

But I did see a compatibility list for the deco mesh things a while back so you might find a better mesh unit will mesh back to the one supplied device.

Richard rich.ms

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#3345009 20-Feb-2025 16:33

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL6507/TP-Link-Deco-X50-Outdoor-AX3000-Dual-Band-WiFi-6-W

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jjnz1

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#3345015 20-Feb-2025 16:58

Spend an extra $10 month on your plan to get unlimited, then you quality for two free extenders.

robjg63

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#3345100 20-Feb-2025 21:44

Why do you think you need another Deco x53?

The TP-Link Deco units are all designed to work together

The first line of that page says:

All our deco models can be mixed to work together.

They explain some considerations you might make on that page - but you could buy anything from the Deco Mesh range for your home.

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Mehrts

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#3345221 21-Feb-2025 10:45

How hard is it to run cables to a couple of extra points around the house?

I say that, because then you're able to have hard-wired wi-fi access points installed which will provide a good solid connection all around the house without relying on repeaters and other mesh devices which are susceptible to wireless interference issues.

robjg63

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#3345238 21-Feb-2025 11:57

The mesh units work very well and are easy (and cheap) to setup.

If the OP has just the one Netgear band expander, and its one of those units that just attaches directly onto a power point, then one of these will be hugely better ($78):

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9406/TP-Link-Deco-M4-AC1200-Dual-Band-WiFi-5-Whole-Home

Looks like an order online item.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

netspanner

343 posts

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#3345493 21-Feb-2025 21:45

robjg63:

The mesh units work very well and are easy (and cheap) to setup.

If the OP has just the one Netgear band expander, and its one of those units that just attaches directly onto a power point, then one of these will be hugely better ($78):

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9406/TP-Link-Deco-M4-AC1200-Dual-Band-WiFi-5-Whole-Home

Looks like an order online item.

Fantastic! Thanks for that its awesome.

When I went to PBTech the guy I talked to said you needed to get the "right one" to maintain the benefits of it.

So why are there so many variants and what do you lose by just grabbing one at random based on price?

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richms

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#3345499 21-Feb-2025 22:22

netspanner:

Fantastic! Thanks for that its awesome.

When I went to PBTech the guy I talked to said you needed to get the "right one" to maintain the benefits of it.

So why are there so many variants and what do you lose by just grabbing one at random based on price?

Different hardware will support different bands and speeds of wifi, some will be sold with software licenses for things like pr0n blocking and ad blocking and similar which if you then swap a different one to be the router you will lose out on and then people will whine that they bought one with all these features and they cant use them because it is now just a dumb mesh node.

Richard rich.ms

noroad

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#3345523 22-Feb-2025 10:30

netspanner:

Got sent a new Deco X53-dsl Modem Router to replace my very old VF one. Its a mesh system and I have to get the smae deco

My netgear Band Expander doesn't connect to it it so I needed a deco mesh unit to replace it.

Only OneNZ sell them according to PBTech and the OneNZ shop.

But they won't sell or rent me a mesh unit! Becuase its not allowed in my plan!

So I am worse off than before without the ability to provide wifi to the rooms needed.

This is so stupid.

What do I do?

Just add one or more of these https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9611/TP-Link-Deco-X10-Dual-Band-AX1500-WiFi-6-Whole-Hom They are cheap and will mesh just fine with your X53. Problem solved, nothing to see here

robjg63

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#3345524 22-Feb-2025 10:42

(I still think something like the Deco m4 would be seemless and manageable under the TP-Link app).

Who told you that you can't use your Netgear range extender with the X53?

I don't know what model you have, but it should just connect to the wifi SSID that the X53 would be broadcasting.

EDIT: The X10 units that @noroad has linked to, would probably be the optimum if your budget is ok with that.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

networkn

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#3345539 22-Feb-2025 12:53

robjg63:

(I still think something like the Deco m4 would be seemless and manageable under the TP-Link app).

Who told you that you can't use your Netgear range extender with the X53?

I don't know what model you have, but it should just connect to the wifi SSID that the X53 would be broadcasting.

EDIT: The X10 units that @noroad has linked to, would probably be the optimum if your budget is ok with that.

Just because an extender connects, doesn't make it a good choice.

Wireless negotiates to the lowest common denominator, meaning for example, you connected a Wifi5 extender to a Wifi7 network, you'd get Wifi5 throughout.

robjg63

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#3345546 22-Feb-2025 13:33

networkn:

robjg63:

(I still think something like the Deco m4 would be seemless and manageable under the TP-Link app).

Who told you that you can't use your Netgear range extender with the X53?

I don't know what model you have, but it should just connect to the wifi SSID that the X53 would be broadcasting.

EDIT: The X10 units that @noroad has linked to, would probably be the optimum if your budget is ok with that.

Just because an extender connects, doesn't make it a good choice.

Wireless negotiates to the lowest common denominator, meaning for example, you connected a Wifi5 extender to a Wifi7 network, you'd get Wifi5 throughout.

Agreed.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler