TP-Link Deco E4 and M4 mesh systems - Do they connect directly to the UFB ONT?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › TP-Link Deco E4 and M4 mesh systems - Do they connect directly to the UFB ONT?

1 | 2 | 3

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2851168 15-Jan-2022 16:24

shk292:

Yes, the M5s definitely have gigabit ethernet ports, but they seem to limit WAN throughput to around 500Mbps. If I connect the ISP-supplied router to the ONT I can get the full gigabit but I prefer to have the M5 in router mode in order to be able to use the other features such as AV and family controls.

Saw something about that while I have been looking:

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2429/

Disabling QoS settings was suggested. (point 3 in the link)

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

Syusuke

11 posts

Geek

#2853805 19-Jan-2022 20:41

I would also be careful about connecting it directly. I had problems using my Deco x60 with a direct connection to the ONT was getting random cut outs. I ended up using my Spark Smart Modem as the bridge and setup the Deco as just APs, works just fine now but ended up being quite messy. Still unsure what the problem was to be honest.

Quinny

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2854176 20-Jan-2022 14:55

Been using the free Deco TP-Link from Vodafone connected direct to the ONT for a year with zero issues. Behind that I have a Netgear Prosafe 48 port gigabit feeding the house. Im on FibreMax and wi-fi is solid as and pc all get about 960/540.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2902373 14-Apr-2022 13:34

Just to complete the post - I finally bit the bullet and bought a 2 pack of Deco M4s on special this week(end) at PBTech (~$180).

Opened the box, followed the instructions and all sorted.

I did find that the primary unit (connected to the ONT) didn't seem to want to connect after I had entered the initial PPPoE details (I am on Bigpipe fibre - so you just make up some details).

So I just restarted it and voila!

We have a 2 story house and the ONT is in the centre of the house downstairs (where the previous HG659 was located).

I was immediately getting much stronger signal and the ookla speedtests were much faster than the old wifi even on upstairs devices.

I paired up the second unit upstairs - which was easy (you just have to use the android app for all setup).

I plugged the HP printer in the office upstairs into one of the RJ45 ports on the upstairs unit so that's all working fine - A great way of getting an ethernet port at a distance.

I found HP printers are very annoying on wifi as they go to sleep and can only be woken by pressing the button on the printer - whereas the ethernet port can just wake the printer automatically - so that's all solved now.

The only moment of head scratching was a couple of devices that I had with static IP address - The Decos have an IP address of 192.168.68.1 (as opposed the the more common 192.168.0.1 or sometimes 192.168.1.1 address).

Very pleased so far.

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

SNicolle

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2914093 15-May-2022 09:07

I’ve recently setup an x55 set direct to the ont.

I was hoping someone might be able to help with two things.
my MBA2013 can connect to the wifi but can’t find any internet. Basic troubleshooting hasn’t seemed to help me yet so all ideas welcome.
Also possibly related, I was hoping to dumb down my fritz box to act as just a media server for my usbhdd but can’t get back to the admin page.

DamageInc

549 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2914150 15-May-2022 09:44

trig42:

I know the M4 does - set one up for a friend late last year.

They are on Spark UFB, and once we had set the VLAN to 10, it worked perfectly. Took about 10 minutes to setup, they're stoked with it.

They got it as their UFB install had the fibre coming into a room at the far end of the house, when they were mostly using devices at the other end, and the supplied router WiFi was not good enough at that end of the house. A pair of the M4s fixed it, and all is good now.

Hi,

So into the ONT is plugged the supplied router and the M4's using separate ports? Or the supplied router disconnected and just using the M4's?

Pop! OS

shrub

775 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2914156 15-May-2022 10:15

Yes these work will directly off the ont.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

SNicolle

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2914176 15-May-2022 11:33

SNicolle:

I’ve recently setup an x55 set direct to the ont.

I was hoping someone might be able to help with two things.
my MBA2013 can connect to the wifi but can’t find any internet. Basic troubleshooting hasn’t seemed to help me yet so all ideas welcome.
Also possibly related, I was hoping to dumb down my fritz box to act as just a media server for my usbhdd but can’t get back to the admin page.

all sorted

NadjatheVampire

16 posts

Geek

#2924013 8-Jun-2022 16:40

If anyone has experience of doing this with 2degrees please help! Or even just getting an MR4 connected to the 2deg Fritzbox.

2degrees don’t seem to know the first thing about mesh systems, not this one at least.

NB I had 3 MR4s setup and working fine when I was with slingshot (using slingshot router, not direct to ONT)

And the 2 degrees wifi/internet is working fine

I may be going wrong at the ‘Internet Connection’ bit - 2deg customer support couldn’t even tell me which username/pw to put in (they thought SSID & WLAN key but I’m dubious)

I tried the ‘BYO modem’ details from 2deg website and that didn’t work

SNicolle

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2924089 8-Jun-2022 20:59

What are you struggling with in particular?

im up and running on 2degrees direct to ont.

NadjatheVampire

16 posts

Geek

#2924124 8-Jun-2022 22:24

What am I struggling with? - Everything?
I can’t get even one MR4 set up whereas with the slingshot it just worked out the box.
I am going through set up in the deco app and at the Internet Connection screen, putting in the settings as per the 2deg BYO device, ie PPPoE, user and pw as for my 2deg online account login (with @snap.net.nz) and VLAN 10.
Using a new name and password for the deco network, not that of the 2deg router.
The led goes from blue to red at the ‘creating wifi account’ stage and although the app lets me finish setup, it doesn’t work.
I’ve also tried plugging an MR4 straight into the ONT but feel a bit lost as to how to set it up, and and I can’t even get a blue led.
Spent an hour on the phone to 2deg, an hour on ‘chat’ with TP link, each of whom says the other shows be able to tell me what to do. Not so!

Spyware

3762 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2924144 9-Jun-2022 06:12

PPPoE setting only applies if connecting directly to ONT. If behind router then WAN interface is simply DHCP without a vlan tag in order to get an IP address from router.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2924171 9-Jun-2022 09:35

NadjatheVampire: What am I struggling with? - Everything?
I can’t get even one MR4 set up whereas with the slingshot it just worked out the box.
I am going through set up in the deco app and at the Internet Connection screen, putting in the settings as per the 2deg BYO device, ie PPPoE, user and pw as for my 2deg online account login (with @snap.net.nz) and VLAN 10.
Using a new name and password for the deco network, not that of the 2deg router.
The led goes from blue to red at the ‘creating wifi account’ stage and although the app lets me finish setup, it doesn’t work.
I’ve also tried plugging an MR4 straight into the ONT but feel a bit lost as to how to set it up, and and I can’t even get a blue led.
Spent an hour on the phone to 2deg, an hour on ‘chat’ with TP link, each of whom says the other shows be able to tell me what to do. Not so!

As mentioned above, the m4 can either directly replace your existing router and plug straight into the ONT, OR you can connect it to your existing router.

If you currently just have the Fritzbox as your router and wifi and havent got it doing anything else, then I reckon remove it and connect the first M4 to the ONT and let it work as intended.

If the M4 is connected to the ONT it needs to know how to authenticate your internet connection and that is where it needs the PPPoE details and VLAN details you mentioned above come in.

So first step - turn off the Fritzbox and disconnect it.

Connect the first M4 to the ONT with an ethernet cable (Not sure if you have to use port 1 on the M4 to the ONT - but I did).

If you have saved the correct PPPoE details, then give it a couple of minutes - does the blue light eventually come on - I find it takes a minute or 2 sometimes.

If not then go through the setup on the app again. You can always do a factory reset on the m4 by using a paperclip on that little switch on the bottom of the unit.

This video is not bad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X7Q2mMGiS0&t=245s

In the case of the M4 connected to the ONT, its 'Router' at 1m12s.

The AP mode they show at 1m40s is if you were plugging it into your Fritzbox - so ignore that section and jump to 1m53s

Don't give up - you got this!

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

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2924177 9-Jun-2022 10:15

For anyone wondering M9 works with ONT (Spark is our ISP) with a few setting adjustments. It took ages to connect. I was about to give up when the status LED went green.

Mike

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2924180 9-Jun-2022 10:43

MikeAqua:

For anyone wondering M9 works with ONT (Spark is our ISP) with a few setting adjustments. It took ages to connect. I was about to give up when the status LED went green.

Mine took a long time the first time (Bigpipe) - I think I actually powered it off/on (too impatient) before just leaving it and it sorted itself out after a couple of minutes.

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

1 | 2 | 3