TPLINK Deco M4 with pfSense

[Hismuth]

Hello everyone,
Couple of questions here, I previously was using Deco M4 in my networking setup, but now I decided to use pfsense for routing but
I am running with some issues regarding wireless connectivity.
Previous setup as follows:
Modem -> Main Deco M4 -> Unmanaged Switch (tl-sg1016d) ->Rest of the network including slave Decos

Now, the setup looks like this:
Modem -> PC running pFSense -> Main Deco M4 -> Unmanaged Switch (tl-sg1016d) ->Rest of the network including slave Decos

I know that this setup is not ideal and is the cause of many issues, but I would like all wireless devices to be able to discover each other so that I can retain creature comforts like chrome casting or opening the door with my phone. All smart TVs are connected to the switch.

Is there anyway I could have a more resillient setup while being able to retain those features?

[JKnott]

@hismuth

Is that Deco in access point or router mode? If you're using it with pfsense, you want access point mode and leave the routing to pfsesne.

[Hismuth]

@jknott
It is set in ap mode. The wireless system is very unstable as of right now.

[stephenw10]

Define unstable? Clients getting disconnected?

Unless you have setup VLANs I wouldn't really have expected much to change. The network topology remains the same.

One thing that could be an issue is that those mesh wifi devices often lose some of their mesh features when the base is running in access point mode.

Steve

[Hismuth]

@stephenw10
Hm.. I was thinking of upgrading my wireless setup to be the following:
Modem -> pFSense -> Ubuquiti USW-LITE 16 POE -> 2 U6 Lites

Do you think that will solve my issue? And will it retain the features that I want i.e. chromecast + doorbell

[akuma1x]

@hismuth said in TPLINK Deco M4 with pfSense:

And will it retain the features that I want i.e. chromecast + doorbell

The easiest way to do this is to have your phone and chromecast and doorbell and smart TVs all on the SAME subnet. If you start separating your networks, ie. LAN, GUEST, IOT, other networks, etc., this is when it gets tricky on if communication with/between all of this stuff will still work.

By the way, your rough network map in your last post, if setup correctly, will work just fine.

[stephenw10]

Mmm, still not really sure what you mean by 'unstable' here.

[Hismuth]

@stephenw10
By unstable, I mean that devices within the network don't communicate properly, for example: I came late last night and I couldn't get through the fence door because my phone althought connected to the wifi doesn't want to detect the doorbell system.
The doorbell system is a bit old but used to work just fine without pfsense, it is a two piece unit that has a main unit hooked to the wall inside the house while a mechanical lock and a camera doorbell is outside connected to the unit by ethernet. The main unit connects to the wifi network.

[stephenw10]

So are either the bell or you phone disconnecting from the wifi?

That traffic does not go through pfSense at all. Both device are on the same wifi subnet I assume.

The only difference here is you have changed the operating mode of the wifi 'hub' device. As I said on some units that breaks mesh wifi causing everything to act as an access point or repeater.

Steve

[Hismuth]

@stephenw10
If I get the U6 Lites, would that solve the issue?
And will that allow me to move around without the wifi signal acting up?
As of right now, I noticed that the wifi signal keeps bouncing while I am stationary in my bedroom, there is an access point in the hallway and one under my room in the guest reception area. The signal keeps bouncing off my phone between the one in the hallway and the one under and it keeps doing this a lot.

[stephenw10]

@hismuth said in TPLINK Deco M4 with pfSense:

U6 Lites

I've never used them so it's hard to comment. There are not a mesh system though as far as I know. So if you require a mesh to get full coverage now you may need to run more Ethernet lines to position APs in different places.

Steve

[RobH 0]

@stephenw10 said in TPLINK Deco M4 with pfSense:

@hismuth said in TPLINK Deco M4 with pfSense:

U6 Lites

I've never used them so it's hard to comment. There are not a mesh system though as far as I know. So if you require a mesh to get full coverage now you may need to run more Ethernet lines to position APs in different places.

Steve

They can be meshed if that's really what you want, but it's best to avoid meshing if you can hardwire.