THG3000 with Mesh ?

[SubaruWRX2003]

Currently have the THG3000 with Gigafast 500 and looking at possibly adding a TP Link Deco Mesh system as I live in a 3 storey house where the THG3000 is in the centre floor. 

Been getting some wifi reception problems especially in the kitchen and with constantly adding smart plugs and other things that use wifi I am thinking of the TP Link Deco X20 as it's got wifi6 to work with the Samsung mobile.

I understand that I'll need to turn off the wifi on the THG3000, anything else that I need to know before going ahead?

Thanks

[MARViN2003]

I had problems with the WiFi from the hub droppiing out occasionally, so I decided to get the tp-link Deco Mesh M5 (a twin pack)  I have to say it's fantastic.  I chose the M5 as it allows parental controlls for individual things connected to the WiFi network.

I had to disable the Voda WiFi Hub WiFi, and then I have the master Deco attached via network cable to the hub at the front of the house in the hallway.

My second unit is upstairs at the back of thehouse, giving mesh coverage on 2.4 and 5 Ghz (wiht a single SSID and password)

I am very impressed with the speed, it's almost as fast as a wired connection (whereas the Vodo WiFi was about 1/3 of the wired speed)

All my WiFi connected devices work so much faster now

[SubaruWRX2003]

I went with the Deco X20 3 pack as they seem to be on offer at certain places less £50 compared to what I'd been finding before. Had to set them up as Access Points so no parental control but no children use it so not a problem.

Coverage especially in my kitchen was a problem before but not now. Took a bit of fiddling around reconnecting most of the devices but got it sorted in an evening and a few minutes the next evening following Tapo bulbs needing a reset and finding out how to do that.

Next step is to try and replace the Vodafone THG3000 which I understand need to get password etc from them but I think I'm right in thinking that you lose your VOIP phone if you change to another device as they refuse to give you the info for that? No one ever rings it or uses landline except got a telesales call yesterday which I hung up on 😁

[Cynric]

.@SubaruWRX2003 If your devices can cope with "double NAT" you can plug another router behind the THG3000. You can then leave the VOIP connected to the THG3000 and other things connected to the second router.

When I did this with the THG3000 I was lucky and had no problems at all, even remote working was fine. So when I changed the THG3000 for a ZyXel one all I have to do was move just one wire.

[Jayach]

@SubaruWRX2003

As your phone is VOIP,  and you are on FTTP the TP-Link Deco can replace the Vodafone THG3000. You may then be able to connect the THG3000 to the Deco just to provide the VOIP. 

The easiest way to get your username and password from Vodafone is via live chat.

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/bbservcd/

[SubaruWRX2003]

I got my username and password which was quite painless and quick via the chat link. Now need to look at my options of what's around and costs.

Any pointers for this on here?

Info I found doesn't seem up to date and can be a bit conflicting as to the results. Would like something that will not break the bank and not lose any functionality, want to improve on the THG3000.

Thanks

[Jayach]

You shouldn't need anything else, the Deco can connect directly to the ONT or whatever Fibre connection box you have. Are you on Openreach or CityFibre?

You will just take the Ethernet cable direct from your fibre connection box to the Deco.

Deco X20 & X60 & W3600 V1 & V2 User Guide | TP-Link

[SubaruWRX2003]

Hi,

I'm on Cityfibre, but will that lose my landline if I do that? I assume it will as nowhere to plug the landline into.

[Jayach]

Yes you will, but it may be possible to plug theTHG3000 into the Deco and just have it provide the VOIP phone.

Unfortunately I'm still on FTTC so can't test if it will work, but without the THG3000 there is no way of using the VOIP at the moment.

Hopefully someone on FTTP may be able to confirm if it will work that way.

[SubaruWRX2003]

OK, thanks for the info. Wait and see if anyone has tried it.