Residential Mesh Wi-Fi

TP-Link Deco Mesh Wi-Fi With CAT6 Wired Backhaul

Residential Mesh Wi-Fi / Wired Backhaul

Before and after Verizon Fios network equipment cleanup with TP-Link Deco mesh Wi-Fi and CAT6 wired backhaul
Before and after CAT6 wall jack and wall-mounted TP-Link Deco mesh access point installation
Before and after wall-mounted TP-Link Deco access point connected for whole-home Wi-Fi coverage
Wall-mounted TP-Link Deco mesh access points installed across a multi-story Massachusetts home
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Challenge

The home had inconsistent wireless coverage and an unfinished network foundation. CAT6 cabling reached several rooms, but loose wall cables, incomplete terminations, unclear basement connections, and poorly supported mesh placement kept the system from using reliable Ethernet backhaul. The Verizon Fios gateway, switch connections, and Deco units also needed to be configured as one coordinated network rather than separate pieces of equipment.

Solution

Mass IT Pro Solution traced and terminated the existing CAT6 runs, installed finished RJ45 wall plates, labeled the basement connections, and added a TP-Link five-port switch. TP-Link Deco units were wall-mounted at selected locations and configured in access point mode behind the Verizon Fios gateway. The nodes were connected through CAT6 Ethernet backhaul, firmware was updated, WPS was disabled, WPA2/WPA3 security was enabled, and a separate IoT network was created for compatible home devices. We then confirmed the wired links, mesh status, roaming, internet connectivity, and wireless performance throughout the home.

Results

  • TP-Link Deco nodes connected through CAT6 Ethernet backhaul
  • Cleaner and labeled basement network equipment layout
  • Finished RJ45 wall plates and wall-mounted mesh units
  • Verizon Fios gateway and Deco system configured to work together
  • WPA2/WPA3 security, updated firmware, and a separate IoT network enabled
  • Whole-home wired and wireless connectivity tested