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Meshing with my head...

zudecke233

Casual Member
Hi,

I've got my new CF installation.

In a bid to improve wifi signal, I've reinstated my x3 Deco M5 units, albeit in different (higher) physical locations around the property.

(Wifi) Results are much more impressive than my old set-up - probably owing to a combination of both swithcing to CF (from VM), as well as a slightly different physical locations of the Deco M5s.

Topology is as follows:
CF Linksys SPNMX56 router <-WIRED-> (Main) Deco M5 <-WIFI-> Deco M5 <-WIFI-> Deco M5


Notes:
1) My Deco M5 units are in "Access Point" mode
2) The wifi signal (when tested via Deco app) is really solid @ ~600Mbps

Questions:
1) Why am I getting such varied speeds (on Ookla) from my Android Pixel 7 phone vs Microsoft laptop?
2) Do I need to change anything in the Linksys router? It is still distributing a wifi signal (SSID), so if nothing else, ig uess it is cluttering the airwaves, no?

Thanks in advance

UPDATE screenshots attached
1000077377.webp
1000077376.webp
 
Last edited:
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How is the laptop connected?
Everything connected via WiFi, including the Windows laptop

Update - just added screenshots of the set up + Deco speed test results to my OP


Update 2 - standing right next to my Linksys router (and main Deco M5 unit), these are my last few speed tests results via my Android Google Pixel 7 device.. Highest is around 90Mbps., but averaging around 60Mbps.

1000077385.webp
 
From the laptop, can you ping your gateway (which is probably the linksys according to your OP)?
 
From the laptop, can you ping your gateway (which is probably the linksys according to your OP)?
I can, but FYI, both the Deco M5 mesh set up and the Linksys are emitting WiFi.

I changed the SSID names and these are the available SSID networks as the appear on my Pixel 7. I am connecting to KRDNDKMESHING5 on all devices, including the Windows laptop (which is now not connecting to the Internet at all).

... Not sure why Linksys is also emitting the KRDNDKMESHING5 SSID.

Hopefully these screenshots help understand a little better.

1000077392.webp


1000077386.webp


So, which gateway to ping?
 
Note - the KRDNDKMESHINGLs SSID is the Linksys network SSID, which nothing (should be) connected to. However, fwiw, the Linksys app does still report all nodes connected....

Not sure if the UI is suggesting that that said nodes are connected via the other SSID (the Deco M5), but it is confusing..

1000077395.webp
 
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I turned off the WiFi on my router, if you have your Decos in AP mode it is not of any use. Are any of the other 15 devices mentioned Sky Q and Minis per chance ?
 
I turned off the WiFi on my router, if you have your Decos in AP mode it is not of any use. Are any of the other 15 devices mentioned Sky Q and Minis per chance ?
Hi - no, no Sky or Minis.

Just the network as illustrated and a bunch of IoT plugs + 2x laptops and 3x phones.

It was working fine yesterday, with perfect signal, no dropouts and fab speeds for the whole day!

The today, I had to unplug a few things and plug them back in and then it had a complete meltdown.

I will try disabling WiFi on my Linksys router... Actually, could you tell me how to disable WiFi using the Linksys app? I can't seem to find a setting like that...
 
In AP mode the Decos go a bit dumb and the WiFi settings and SSID come from the router. I had days of frustration with Sky Q which is why I asked - it seemed as if it was swamping the Decos WiFi. The only solution was to wire the Sky Q devices to the Decos - which is of no help in this situation whatsoever but I thought you may be wondering why I asked about Sky Q.
 
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@zudecke233 are you stuck using the CF Linksys SPNMX56 router, could you replace this with a Deco?
Was about to say. Why don't you just completely take the Linksys out of the equation and do ONT > 1 Deco in router mode > Mesh to the other units. The Linksys is just a router not a modem and basically redundant.

Would solve so much problems.
 
Yeah, true. Good point lol.

You're right. The Linksys is redundant and just acting as a pass through.

I did just learn how to disable SSID broadcasting in the Linksys Smart Link web app (you need to click the tint "CA" link in the bottom right corner of the footer to be presented with these options), so I'll see if this improves things before just reverting back to the Deco-only set up and retiring the Linksys altogether.

What a headache!
 
Sounds like your hiding the SSID rather than turning off the WiFi. Some routers have a button on the back/side to save having to go into the menu on the interface to turn WiFi off. Not saying yours has.
 
There was an option to hide and disable, which I selected for both bands.

... On this topic though... If I wanted to reinstate the Deco M5s and replace the Linksys router (like I had it before), what config changes would I need to make in the CF router?

With the VM Hub 4, there was an option the kick it into "Modem only" mode. Would I need to do the same with the Linksys, and if so how?
 
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There was an option to hide and disable, which I selected for both bands.

... On this topic though... If I wanted to reinstate the Deco M5s and replace the Linksys router (like I had it before), what config changes would I need to make in the CF router?

With the VM Hub 4, there was an option the kick it into "Modem only" mode. Would I need to do the same with the Linksys, and if so how?
No. The linksys is just a router. The thing on your wall acts as the modem. Think of that as the virgin media hub 4 but it's permanenlty in bridge mode.
 
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