Question 1

Does each access point need its own ethernet connection, or do they connect to each other wirelessly? If the latter, do they need line-of-sight? We're looking for something to provide access on three floors of the same house.

Accepted Answer

Access points can connect to each other either via wireless OR with an ethernet connection.  No they do not need line of sight.  My primary is in the basement and I have two upstairs.  If you are able to connect them via ethernet it will give slightly better speeds.

Question 2

Can you add more than three units for a home over 4500 sqft?

Accepted Answer

You can expand the network more than 3 but according to the overview and specifications it has a cap at 10.

"EXPAND YOUR WI-FI IN NO TIME
Need more Wi-Fi coverage? Just add a Deco unit! Three units cover up to 4,500 sq. ft., and each additional unit adds another 1,500 sq. ft. of coverage. You can place up to 10 Deco units on your home network to bring strong Wi-Fi coverage to every room."

Question 3

Can I use this with a wired VPN device between my cable modem and the first Deco M5 unit?

Accepted Answer

Yes

Question 4

is this device POE?

Accepted Answer

Not PoE and no bridge mode as of now. The specs are impressive as well as performance Just wait until they drop a firmware update (supposedly in June) which adds bridge mode, because without it, this is useless.

Question 5

Can the Mesh Deco M5 be connected behind a Router hence connecting to a LAN, or must it be connected to a WAN? Our home business is approximately 5000 square feet and is wired with a CISCO RV325 Gigabit VPN Router.

Accepted Answer

The TP-Link Deco M5 Mesh WiFi System includes 2 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, allowing it to connect behind a router such as the CISCO RV325 Gigabit VPN Router.

Question 6

May I assume that I can connect my desktop hardwired (Ethernet) to one of the units, rather than wirelessly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can connect your desktop hardwired (Ethernet) to one of the units, as each unit has 2 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports.

Question 7

What is the recommended mounting position for best performance of DECO network?

Accepted Answer

I have not studied that specific detail. In the past, locating a wifi router higher up allowed it to have to negotiate fewer blocking objects. With the mesh system, that might not be as critical. Right now, I have all three sitting flat at about 3'-6' off the floor, and the signal is strong even on my back porch. What surprised me, though is that if you flip it over, there are no mounting features in the plastic, only four radiused rubber-type feet.

Question 8

Does the anti-virus and malware protection require a subscription payment?

Accepted Answer

No. Never prompts for payment info, still reports threats have been thwarted.

Question 9

Does this system have Fast Roaming?  Meaning the network itself (instead of the client device) does the work of switching devices from one access point to another as one moves through the house?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

Brand	TP-Link
Model	Deco M5 (3-PACK)
Type	Office Products
Router & Satellite Counts	3-Pack (3 Routers)
Covered Area	5,500 sq. ft.

LAN Ports	2 x Gigabit Ethernet
Other Ports	1 x USB type C (for power)
Wi-Fi Standards	IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz
Wireless Data Rates	400 Mbps on 2.4 GHz 867 Mbps on 5 GHz
Security	WPA2 - Personal
Antenna	4 x Internal antennas 1 x Bluetooth antenna
Bluetooth Enabled	Bluetooth 4.2

LED	Single LED
Button	Reset button (under side)
OS Compatibility	Android 4.3 or later iOS 8.0 or later
Dimension	1.34" x 4.72" (H x Diameter)
Weight	0.47 lb.

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Item#: 9SIC28HKTB4249