Troubleshoot Common WiFi Mesh Issues With These 5 Steps

Check for firmware updates

Sometimes, your WiFi mesh system may perform poorly because of a bug in the software that manages your bandwidth. Fortunately, a quick update of your Wi-Fi mesh’s firmware can fix the problem. Other than performance improvements, utilizing updated firmware also addresses security vulnerabilities that could be affecting your connection. Make sure to always update your Wi-Fi mesh’s firmware to its latest version whenever possible!

Placement is key

From TP-Link Official Website

The distance between your mesh nodes is critical to enjoying optimum speed and latency. The farther your mesh nodes are from one another, the higher the risk that their connections can be interrupted, resulting in a dropped signal. Placement isn’t just about distance–other factors like your home’s building materials [1]  and other devices could also be interfering with your connection. If you’re experiencing slow speeds or sudden disconnection from your network, try moving your Wi-Fi mesh to a location that won’t be hindered by these factors.

Check for signal interference

Did you know that home appliances such as microwaves and cordless phones could be interfering with your WiFi signal? Check to see if there is signal interference from other devices by downloading WiFi analyzers like NetSpot. You can also try moving that device or your mesh node farther from it. If the interference is caused by other devices using the same WiFi band, you can change it to one that is less congested.

Change your passwords every so often

Changing your password may not seem like it’ll improve your network’s performance, but your network’s security is essential for optimum use. If you haven’t changed your network’s login credentials for some time, or worse, you didn’t change it from the manufacturer’s defaults; you’re more prone to unauthorized users accessing your network and stealing your bandwidth. Password changes prevent unauthorized users who may already have access, and possibly speed up your network.

Check for compatibility

Not all WiFi mesh nodes are built the same and work under the same firmware. In order to ensure that your mesh system functions optimally, make sure that your mesh system is from the same manufacturer and using the same firmware. So if your mesh system consists of different nodes (for example, one node is the TP-Link Deco M5, while the other is an M4) there might still be firmware differences that’s causing sub-optimal performance, or even frequent disconnections. Stick to one kind of mesh node to avoid further issues!

We hope these troubleshooting tips help improve your internet’s performance! PLDT Home’s Fiber Plus plans utilize robust WiFi mesh systems to give you whole-home coverage–giving you ramped-up productivity and enhanced streaming and gaming. Subscribe to PLDT Home, and experience the difference today!